New Tools Make Me Happy

I long for the day that I am a famous blogger and companies throw freebies at me left and right.  Well maybe not the famous part, but definitely the freebies.  In the meantime, I am just going to have to buy my own tools.  I bought 2 last week.  Let's just call them back-to-school supplies.  Hubby wasn't thrilled with either one.  Oh well!

My first purchase was a new Ryobi 18-Volt One+ Lithium-Ion Drill Kit, that comes with a compact drill, 2 compact LITHIUM+ batteries, and a charger for $129.

What I really needed were the batteries because, of course, I already own a Ryobi drill and a Ryobi driver, but all I've got are the old NiCad (Ni-Cad, Ni-Cd) batteries and they are super heavy and only hold a charge for about 5 seconds.  Hubby was {sort of} okay with me buying more batteries, but didn't think there was anything wrong with the drill we already had.  Well, after looking online and in my local Home Depot I realized that buying two 18-Volt One+ Lithium+ compact batteries was $99, and that's without the charger.  (You can also buy just one for $55.)   But I couldn't resist spending an extra $30 and getting the new drill and charger.  I am so glad I did!  It is smaller, lighter, cuter, and just as powerful.  Plus the new batteries charge quickly and hold the charge so much longer.  Yay!

If you'd like to complete my Ryobi tool collection for me {Christmas is right around the corner people!} I would really like the right angle drill and the Air Strike nail gun (Ryobi 18-Volt One+ 18-Gauge Cordless 2 in. Brad Nailer).  I would have totally bought the right angle drill last week, but it is sold as a tool only, and as I said, what I really needed were the new batteries.  Who am I kidding, I'd take the 6-port charger, angle grinder, and multi-tool too.  Just in case you were wondering.  ;)  If you are just starting out with tools, there are tons of combo packages you can get and save a bunch over the single tool price.  I thought hubby would shoot me if I came home with one of those.
 

FYI - What I really wanted was the larger Ryobi 18-Volt One Plus Lithium Plus High Capacity Battery, because they had much better reviews in terms of reliability, but are $99 each.  So I am taking my chances with the smaller batteries, but I am holding onto my receipt because you can apparently take dead batteries back for a replacement within 2 years.  Damn right.  At $50 a piece, I would hope so.

My second purchase was a pneumatic staple gun so I can finish all the upholstery projects I have on my list without killing my arthritic hands.

Yes, I own 2 or 3 staple guns already, but they're not pneumatic.  Pneumatic means I can hook it up to my air compressor and just press a trigger and out shoots the staples, except it's a lot safer than it sounds.  I bought the Freeman Professional Fine Wire Stapler for $30, mainly because it takes standard T50 staples so I won't be stuck buying specialty ones.  I didn't get very far on this chair because I decided it needed one more coat of paint.  So back outside it went.

Now that I'm looking, this Surebonder would have been a good choice too, $5 cheaper, comes with a carrying case, also takes T50 staples.  The one bummer is that neither were available in my local store, so I had to order online.  And yes, I am so cheap I had it shipped to the store for free.  I opened it Sunday night and immediately replaced the fabric on our kitchen benches and the rocking chair I bought at Salvation Army (that post is here).  I'll be sure to post the complete project when I'm all finished.  :)

So if you haven't already bought yourself a back-to-school present, I hereby give you permission to do so!



- Smart Girl