Are dollar store tools any good? Saving money in financially strapped times. INFLATION WOODWORKING 

Back in 2000 I bought a ratchet screwdriver with interchangeable bits for $3 at the dollar store. It lasted for 15 years before I bought another one. I still have it as a backup but the ratchet is wore out. Some cheap stuff can work for a long time.

Another thing you can pick up at the Dollar Tree are silicone brushes for basting food. The bristles are long on them but if you cut them down they’re great for glue brushes and clean up easy.

Steve, former machinist here. Use the full length of your hacksaw blade. Long strokes. It will cut easier and your blade will last longer. Short strokes put all the wear in one place.

Steve it was great to see you back in the shop on a longer video,and entertaining as ever all the best

Hey Steve I also recommend harbor freight for real tools that are a little bit less junk

As an electrician I find a magnetic base torpedo level to be an essential tool for hanging panel tubs and making sure vertical runs of conduit are plumb.

I grabbed silicone cooking utensils from the dollar store for spreading wood glue

Love the shout out to Project Farm! We’re gonna test that!

Thanks Steve! I miss your regular videos. But you forgot the most important woodworking tool at the dollar store: the silicone basting brush used as a glue brush!

I have the very same cheap-o hex set. I was on my motorcycle one day (left my cell phone at home) My front brake caliper started to stick, and would not release, I was burning up my brakes.. The ONLY tools in my little tool bag was this hex set, one 17mm wrench and one phillips screw driver - which wasn't very good either. I couldn't push the bike the brakes were so tight. The bolt was the 10mm bleeder screw to release the over pressurized fluid. (Bleed the brakes on the fly). I took the hex keys apart with the screw driver. I used two hex keys 'inside' the 17mm wrench to reduce the size of the wrench. It was a bit of a struggle, but, I managed to release the 10mm bleeder screw just enough to relax the caliper. Don't ask me how I managed to loosen up that bolt but it worked. Since everyone has cell phones these days... No one stopped to ask me if I needed any help. Its all good. I managed. It would have been a 10 mile walk home; and I would have had to leave my motorcycle - which is a big no, no. I tossed them in the tool bag because if anyone stole tools; they wouldn't be getting much. Or, they'll see the el-cheap-o tools, and pass on the theft. Either way; those $1 keys saved me a 10 mile hike on a hot humid summer day. Dollar Tree used to sell $1 rubber mallets, and $1 tool boxes and other goodies. I set up a kid up the street one summer full of dollar tree tools + box. Not sure what ever happened to those tools, but, he really thought it was cool. But, hey; he was like 10 years old, and always wanted "tools" So.. I hooked him up. haha... Keep on... keepin' on. I like your channel. ~J

I am always tempted to pickup a few things while walking through the tools aisle at the Dollar store. But now I know what to get and what to pass!! Thanks Steve for somewhat wasting your $25 for the greater good 😝😄

To test a level, take a reading (doesn’t matter if it is level or not), then turn it 180 - should read the same,

To test if a level functions correctly, find a surface that it shows is level, turn it (the level) 180° on the horizontal plane, and it should show the same.

If we think back to our early days (like, 60 years ago?), all that stuff discarded on the floor was useful because we had no alternatives or experiences. As time goes on, we find what works, and what doesn't break, and we get a more sophisticated array of implements, mostly through a process of survival. To someone who has next to nothing, the "dollar store" option is pretty terrific. Periodically I spend a half hour or so just cruising the shelves at Harbor-F, finding all sorts of little useful devices for next-to-nothing. If I use one of five purchased, it's still a good deal. Spring clamps: I have 22 on a portable rack and they are invaluable when I'm doing 3/4-to-3/4 glue ups for jigs: most used clamps I have. Cheap tape measures: on average I misplace one tm a year, so periodically I just restock with a half dozen; They work. The magnet-on-a-stick thing will be helpful picking up all those driver bits you scattered on the floor (assuming they're not plastic?); sometime in your 70's you find out just how far away the floor can be.

One thing about the cheap sandpaper is it doesn't last long, the grit falls off right away, it's worth spending a bit more to get something that won't just disintegrate . Also harbor freight sells that style screwdriver you showed for 1$ (or it was a dollar, not sure anymore)

The levels usually are out of level actually... If you get 2 of them on top of each other the bubbles will be all over the place. You'll have to test them to figure out which one was set correctly. The sandpaper.... Don't waste your money... You start rubbing that on your project and all the grit falls off and you're left using a piece of paper trying to sand stuff lol i guess they are all very "fine" sand papers .. whatever grit the paper underneath it is

Dollar Tree was founded in 1986. A dollar from '86 is worth $2.70 now. Heck, back 22 years ago in 2000 (that makes me feel old) the 1986 dollar was already up to $1.50. I'm amazed that they've been able to keep prices at $1 as long as they did.

Some tools can be made, too. My "magnetic pick up tool" is an old radio antenna with a small speaker magnet glued to the tip 😁👍

Pick up some of the silicone kitchen spreader/basters for spreading glue. Let the glue dry and it peals right off.

The magnetic strip on my cheapo level was super useful this weekend for making sure drawer slides were straight in a kitchen cabinet!!

I knew a professional painter who showed me how he uses inexpensive slotted screwdrivers: he would run the blade along the painter's tape that he put in corners. It really sealed it down so paint wouldn't bleed under the tape. He said the blades would wear down and he would toss it and get another one.

MANY tools are not used often enough to truly necessitate the top tier brands. If necessary, buy the cheaper tools and replace what you use more often and what breaks. I have some no name junk brand tools that are 20+ years old and work fine. I also have had name brand tools that break on the first use.

Actually, the magnetic strip on my torpedo level came in handy when I was installing closet rods last summer. Just stuck it to the rod while adjusting and anchoring the ends.

The magnet on the torpedo level comes in handy. If you have to level an electric panel or junction box, it's nice having the level stay on.

Totally worth getting at the dollar store, if you see them, is a precision screwdriver set.

the magnet on the level has come in handy when hanging shelving brackets (L and J ones specifically) because I can slap the level onto the bracket and it stays attached while I adjust the bracket to be level and then mark my screw hols for anchors or pilot holes. I think that's the only time I really use it, but it works great for being up on a ladder by myself and trying to have 3 hands.

Caution about the foam brushes: I used them for my very first lacquer application on a table I made after finding your channel- the brush head fell off into the cup of lacquer and started to disintegrate… Try them first before you go out and buy more.

Steve, be careful with those spring clamps! I've had two of the explode on me while in the middle of a glue-up. The springs are a little too strong for the weak plastic body.

When I first started in carpentry in the mid 1960s there was a tool company named Globemaster I believe they were a Japanese made tool that was cheap...I bought several till one day I was cutting lumber and the other carpenter complained about it not being square cuts we checked my combination square against a framing square and found it was extremely out of square that was the last of those tools I bought....I went to Stanley which at that time was professional grade tools not the cheap crap they have today.

This is such a cool episode Steve! Thanks!👍

Magnetic strips on levels are for use on pipework and metal cabinets

I have used hollow plastic sanding blocks like that for close to 40 years. The only problem that I've had is that the pegs rip the paper sometimes.

It was nice to hear that i am not the only one forever fishing out my arbor nut with a telescopic magnet tool !

ThanksSteve, I appreciate you're input on these inadequate tools.

I will say this. I used a torpedo level for a million pictures and other simple decorative projects; but it wasn't until I did my back splash tile that I realized how important a real level is. I spent $40 on a good level and the accuracy difference between my cheap torpedo is incredible. I never realized the difference. That being said, I still reach for my cheap torpedo for anything non critical. You can tell when tile is not level; but you would never know if the difference with a painting on the wall was off by 1/8 of an inch.

That video was great! I'd love to watch some more, if possible. Thanks for a great content as always! :)

Excellent video, Steve! Thanks! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

Is it just me or is this Dude just a really likeable guy ?

After I watched the Weekend Woodworker I went to my local dollar store and bought several small silicone basting brushes to use as glue spreaders. I thought that would be your # 1 pick! I love those and you can't beat the dollar store price. There are some good finds in there.

Always a fun watch. Thanks Steve

As a former scaffolder, magnetic strips on bubbles are for sticking them to scaffold tubes so you can use both hands for truing the tube, and using your podger or spanner. Wouldn't use that dollar store bubble though... Stabila every time, buy once, lasts a lifetime 👍

@9:43 "We're gonna test that!" Before I buy anything, I check the Project Farms compilation. It hasn't steered me wrong yet. And those foam brushes may be OK. As for cheap screw drivers and allen wrenches, it's just not worth the time. Sure, when you're starting out, it may be OK. But life is just too short to be stripping out screws/blades etc. Cry once and buy a nice Wera or Wiha set. You'll never look back. It's like your "don't use drywall screws, get the Spax screws...it's worth it" from an old video. I can never go back to drywall screws after using Spax (or other quality screws like GRK).

The sand paper is very inconsistent. It's good for rough sanding, but each piece will last for a very short time.

Regarding tape measures. They do have their accuracy classes. I had some random brand which looked rigid for about 5 years. Got Class 2 tape measure recently only to find out my first measure is 2 milimeters (0.0787 inch) off on 30 centimeters (11.81 inches) distance. Might not sound like a lot, but on 5 feet board it would be 0.5 inch missing. If you need accuracy, that can be a problem.

I'm always tell my wife if she's ever anywhere and she sees a pack of foam brushes to pick them up. I've got a stockpile of them in my garage. There is no such thing as a cheap foam brush. They're all pretty much the same. A wooden handle and a piece of foam. The only problem with the packs is that you may get a lot of sizes that you may never use and not enough of the ones that you will.

When you imitated Project Farm “Made in China”. Needed more of that!!!

Steve, A good video. There are plenty of decent quality tools out there for not that much cost. Al depends on how much use you think they will have. You made my day by the way when you pulled that multi-tip screwdriver off of the wall. I am so glad that you still have and hope you find it useful. I was trying to find a picture of it in my archives but do not seem to have one. I know it has been at least more than 5 years since I sent to you. CtL

Great to see videos from you. Miss the weekly videos. You were getting out of the weekly videos as I was getting into youtube

I put a steel plate snugly inside the plastic housing of the sanding block. They chip/crack if your rough with them, but as you said, the block is nearly a free bonus in a $1.25 sandpaper pack

Thanks Steve for the info & demo!!!! 👍😎😁🤘

This video was awesome. Nice an relaxing. :)

I love your videos and humor!

Nice to see an old school wwmm vid. Thanks Steve!

😂😂 great video. I look so forward to your stuff. Thank you!

My grampa used to say he ain't rich enough to buy cheap. My only exception to that rule is whenever I try a new kind of tool, otherwise things we get become an investment for the future, keep replacing things for them to stay consistent is just a waste of time, money and energy.

Good tips. You reminded me that I should head on over to a dollar store to check them out. However, my wife and I are still masking up and not going to stores unless absolutely necessary. One more thing, I was once living in an apartment and had almost no tools. The supermarket had a bin of this stuff. I went crazy and bought a bunch of them. 40 years later, I still have and use some of them. One is a mini vise that screws onto the edge of a table or board. It was probably about $7, but I have used it countless times, especially for small things.

Love the video Steve.

I bought the mini hacksaw when I replaced my toilet. The bolts were too long for the new toilet, so I needed to cut about an inch off of them. But the shower and toilet are too close together in that bathroom, so my regular hacksaw wouldn’t fit to cut one of the bolts. Anyhow, it worked - took a while, though.

Funny video and great review. I've learned though, sandpaper isn't just sandpaper and you get what you paid for. I bought a huge packet of Parkside brand - and have been regretting it. It falls apart - very likely your dollartree paper will do the same - almost just be looking at it. I'll buy brandname paper from now on.

Gotta say, this is one of my favorite videos of yours in years. This video, the tape measure test & the handful of woodworking projects are all pretty much neck & neck

Watch out for those spring clamps, they're tragic. The spring is good, but the plastic is not very strong. It will spontaneously broke and shoot pieces into your face. Proven in practice... :)

Back in 2015, I bought a pocket knife from the dollar store. The blade holds an edge fairly well. The casing was fairly weak, but with a decent bit of epoxy, I bulked up the knife a little and made it stronger. Overall, it was a great knife for $1, plus about 20$ of epoxy. I have been using it to cut seed bags and fertilizer bags, among other things, since

Don't touch the cheap sharpening stones. They'll do more harm than good to your blades. They often are much coarser than they should be. Ex. a supposedly 200 grit stone I've tested was closer to 60. The bonding material also degrades rapidly so you'll end up gouging the stone, leading to an uneven edge. It's not worth destroying your blades to save a few bucks.

Your initial reaction to the ut driver kit was hilarious

The magnetic strip is for electricians. When mounting strut/conduit it's very nice. Also for bending pipe. Good magnets are why I have a 20 dollar torpedo level for work.

In my experience it's cheaper in the long run to buy quality tools instead of cheap junk.

Love your work 👍

The magnotic strip is for adhering to metal if you want it level it without holding the level.

for how well that sandpaper holds up.. you best Line the back of it with that cheap duct tape, the folding hex key set (maybe a better one) would be good for a car tool bag or box, could take off the crappy handle of that screwdriver kit and make your own handle. hack saw cut more like a coping saw might be ok on dowels especially if you have little kids that like to help ... on the kid note .. might be good distraction tools ... if they lose them its not that big a deal .. or make there own tool box of tools till they keep the interest before you make the additional investment

I definitely fell for the hack saw a number of years ago and have never used it. My favorite purchases are zip ties, the micro screw driver set, and the rubber mallet. I do use the bigger level as well. Drain snakes are the best deal there too, though admittedly that is not a woodworking tool. Great video!

Very good ideas Steve, thank you.

Sanding block: 3M used to make a plastic clamshell sanding block, like what you found at Dollar Tree. I gave mine to my older son (11 yo), for use at his workbench. One thing going for that design, is that you can store a couple more strips of sandpaper in a few common grits inside the clamshell. I've been looking for a similar one for my younger son (7) to use at his workbench, so this could be a good way to get him started, for occasional small-project use (like small wooden toy kits, etc.). Thanks for the idea!

Plumber here, magnetic strip on a torpedo is useful for installing dishwashers and metal brackets for tankless water heaters etc...

Fun video. FYI: foam brushes are available in a 12 pack of various sizes at Walmart for around $2.50.

At the dollar tree, I snagged some small 8" laminated cloth zip up bags. They are great for keeping things organized in my tool bag. I have all my small ratchets and extensions in one bag, and all my small drivers organized in several others. Chisels, cutting and pry tools in yet another group. It's nice not to have to rummage around in there, or to have to dump it out. They are apparently something called the Kylie Jenner collection, and they look pretty snazzy. She must be a pretty good woodworker.

For an all-in-one screwdriver alternative, Amazon sells a 12-in-1 Workpro ratcheting screwdriver for $18. It has Torx heads, it's comfortable to use, and the ratcheting action really saves my wrists. I've been using it for years now and I love it!

I use those gloves to work on my cars and keep a pair for at the gas pump. Thank you for your great videos!

I've never bought any of these items at my local dollar store with the idea that they would be long-lasting, though I have found a gem or two. You'd be surprised how long some of those "flimsy plastic" tools last. I have several tool boxes and organizers I've used for 8+ years now. It's the ideal spot when you need a quick tool in a pinch or can't afford better until later. Amazon has dramatically changed the game on "cheap tools", but if you're shopping at the dollar store, it may be that Amazon Prime shipping is not an option for you. Or in my case, it didn't exist with the same efficiency as it does today. Or I had no car and for some basic items, the dollar store or Kmart was a closer walk.

I bought a small vice for £8… one of my best purchases ever, you ain’t gonna forge an axe head on it or anything but for small diy or hobby projects it has been fantastic… 👌😊

To the Hack saw from Dollar tree, I bought a couple just for the fixtures, the parts that hold the blade, to used in making a foot powered scroll saw or something,

I have the second Allen key set. Love it.

Future video idea. Take the crappy dollar store all in one screw driver and make a better handle and compartment using a nice hardwood

good to see you doing a long form video. More Hallor for your Dallor!

One small use I find for the stupid plastic allen key sets is figuring out which size allen key I need. I use the small thing to quickly flip through the sizes...then go back to my shop and get a better tool in the correct size. :D Nice video. Thanks for sharing. As always, I love your humor.

The magnetic strip on my small level was invaluable to me when installing drawer slides in an old cabinet that was out of square.

Really enjoyed that, thanks Steve!!

Go to the beauty section in pound/dollar stores... They sell multi packs of stiff emery board nail filers. Useful for small sanding jobs in tight spaces 👍 Kitchen section usually has big packs of wooden ice lolly sticks. Good for mixing and spreading stuff like glues.

Magnet strip on the pocket level is useful if using on metal studs or you can stick it to a tool box or a stud finder if needed Lol !

I buy a lot of the foam brushes and plastic drop clothes from the dollar store along with regular bristle brushes

The magnetic strip on the level is for adjusting vertical level on any metal projects/boxes/fixtures. Sticks to the object while you adjust the object to get it level.

I love it when u went ' project farm' on that hacksaw. Love to see more videos like that with woodworking tools.

Where i'm from that "hacksaw" is most of the time used for pvc pipes or conduit. And magnet on a small or big level is very normal and handy feature. Either used on drywall C profile/posts for scaffolding or support and so on.

I only buy Stanley FatMax tape measures I've had the same 25' for years and use it everyday, a couple of guys I work with have been using Craftsman tape measures they're decent enough, they don't have the standout of the FatMax, but when I make cuts for them I have to add a good heavy 16th onto their measurements to make it fit good

Careful with this one Steve…. I've used that sandpaper and honestly it is completely abysmal. The worst part for me was that the grit doesn't stay on the paper and rubs off on your project (and also makes the sandpaper ineffective). I've used a lot of the other products on here other pretty good success!

I had a crib that broke down with hex key bolts. There were a couple bolts that because of where they were situated, a folding set wouldn't fit in the space near the bolt head, so the individual wrenches were definitely superior in that instance. I used to be resistant to using a power tool if a hand tool will do the job, but at some point I figured out that it's SO much faster to default to the drill/driver than turning bolts by hand if you are working with knockdown furniture.

You forgot your suggestion from a few years ago. Buying a silicone basting brush to use to spread glue. I went to the Dollar store then to get it.

Don't forget, with the sponge "brushes" you also get free dowels! :-)

The torpedo level: mine has a magnetic strip on it, and I love it! I keep it attached to my roll-around tool box-- easily accessible at all times.

Most if not all dollar stores have razor blades. Not for shaving but for cutting or scrapping paint off of glass. They're always a good bargain at the dollar stores. Same with the foam brushes and sometimes velcro strips. I'll sometimes grab a roll of blue painter's tape. They don't come with much but I keep a couple of those mini rolls around my shop. (I live in the north where it gets cold and I don't like keeping my good tape in my cold sub freezing shop in the winter time) I picked up a rubber spatula like for cake batter and use it for getting drywall mud out of my one gallon bucket.

Great to hear from ya. Here’s a top for ya on the arbor I epoxied a rare earth magnet to the end of it many years ago. It’s still there and helps putting the washer and nut on. Haven’t had to fish it out any more from dropping it.