Pro Stuff We Love: Best Gifts of 2022
Updated: Sep. 29, 2022Find the perfect present for any construction enthusiast with this list of our most popular tools and gear from the last year of SWL.
Find the perfect present for any construction enthusiast from this year’s most popular tools and gear from SWL.
Crescent Self-Adjusting Pipe Wrench
The spring-loaded head design of this new Crescent wrench grips pipes and fasteners with fast ratcheting action. No more adjusting your pipe wrench. The quick grip and release function of this wrench allow for easy one-handed use.
The extra slim profile of this wrench makes it much easier to reach those awkward spots. You’ll definitely reach for your small old school pipe wrench or channel lock pliers a lot less with this Crescent wrench in your tool bag.
Milwaukee Large Capacity Chalk Reel
Calling this chalk line “large capacity” doesn’t really seem to do it justice. It’s got 150 feet of line and can hold up to 24 ounces of chalk at once, so refills are much rarer. To handle that much line, Milwaukee put a 4:1 gear retraction ratio into this tool that retracts the line quickly and efficiently.
Bench Dog Trim Installation Tool
Bench Dog’s Trim-Loc Casement Trim Installation Tool is something that anyone who regularly trims windows (or anything, really) should always have in their tool bag. Â The Trim-Loc is a square and a set-up tool with built-in tape measure hooks and 45-degree and 90-degree guides for quick marking.
Klein Tools Cap Visor Clip Light
Your hands should be holding tools while you work, not a flashlight. This Cap Visor Clip from Klein Tools snaps onto the brim of any hat and can run off two AAA batteries on its highest setting for up to four hours, freeing up your hands for the job at hand. This light uses five LEDs to provide illumination and has a pivoting head for a wider variety of lighting angles.
Rigid EZ Change Faucet Tool
This light and compact tool handles most wrenching tasks of a faucet install and will even replace your traditional style basin wrench. It works with shut off valves, supply valves, basin nuts and strainer baskets.
To lighten the load of tools for your next faucet installation, this ingenious Rigid faucet tool is the way to go. It seems gimmicky at first, but once you get ahold of its various applications it’s well worth the cost.
Worx Hedge Trimmer
This hedge trimmer from Worx is a beast. It runs off two compact 20V batteries, giving the tool impressive power without making it too bulky or cumbersome. With great safety features and an impressive cutting capacity that can trim hedges up to 3/4-in. thick, the Worx Cordless Hedge Trimmer is definitely a tool every landscaper should check out.
Stryder Ratcheting Straps
People put a lot of trust in tie-down straps — not just the people hauling stuff around in trucks, but everyone else driving nearby. Stryder’s Retractable Tie Down Straps are a reliable way to keep things strapped and steady in a trailer. They roll up into a neat, convenient and easy to store package.
A Hinge Stand
Door Stands from HingeStand are the ultimate door painting system. The stands use the hinges and pins from the doors to hold them in place, then small plastic separators to keep them up away from the floor. That makes it easy to quickly and efficiently paint every inch with a sprayer.
Roamwild Pull Saw
The Roamwild Multi Pull Saw Pro is made for cutting through laminate, melamine, contiboard, PVC pipe, plywood, pine, oak, and other hardwoods — so pretty much everything. This pull saw is technically two saws in one, with a 12-inch edge for general cuts and a 6-1/2-in. edge for finer cuts. There’s even a tack puller and hammer built into the base of the handle for convenient pounding and pulling.
Bungee Flag
Driving with materials jutting out the end of your truck bed isn’t just a safety concern. It’s also potentially illegal, especially if the materials aren’t marked by a flag. Keep a few of these bungee flags in your truck at all times so you can haul extended loads without getting in trouble with the law.
Master Lock For Trailers
If you leave your trailer at a job site, you want it to be there when you return. This bright red Master Lock hitch lock is one of the best trailer theft deterrents out there.
Its universal size fits all ball hitch couplers. The installation and removal is simple and its locking mechanism is tough enough to resist picking and prying. And the thick finish will resist rust and corrosion. The low cost of this lock will buy you a whole lot of peace of mind.
Klein Wrist Band
Keep small metal objects like screws and nails on hand at all times with Klein’s magnetic wristband. It contains rare earth magnets for a strong magnetic hold. It’s made from durable material and breathable mesh so that it holds up to abuse without making your wrist too sweaty. It can also be attached to things like belts, bucket handles and tool bags.
Lufkin Tape Measure
When Crescent Lufkin designed their new Shockforce tape measures they knew they didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. They just had to make the standard tape measure a little better in a few key ways.
Shockforce tapes are packed with smart design decisions like a durable rugged casing, a nylon coated double-sided blade, and an oversized end hook that makes it easy to latch and hold onto surfaces. There is also a “Nite Eye” version of the Shockforce tape that includes a high-visibility, no glare blade with green marking for easier readings in all light conditions.