I Bought More 5 Star Tools Under $20

[@NWEDC]

This one time, in band clamp, I stuck a 20mm clamp in my doghole.

[@wktaylor11]

how about a pair of channel locks to tighten down the countersink bit?

[@Thomamps]

Don't be logical, he is clearly a woodworker.

[@skippylippy547]

Or a mini-pipe wrench. LOL!

[@robertmcevoy24]

My wife and I look forward to your videos on Sundays we call it breakfast with Brad. I appreciate your honesty in testing products. Purchase most of my woodworking tools online and I always look for dependable vlogers testing them and their opinions. Happy New year to you and your family.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Glad I can be part of yalls breakfast routine, Happy New Year!

[@skyhigh24]

The 4$ Countersink Bit is a good value, IF youre willing to help yourself. Just take a File or a BenchGrinder and file/grind the Flats yourself. The Ammount you save is worth it, if you just need it for, lets say, one to ten Projects. if you want to use it for more, youll be happier if you buy a proper Bit

[@cuzimpoor7785]

@@skyhigh24 its not worth it at all. With every purchase you are ensuring no countersink bits will be made in your country. Keep racing to the bottom.

[@skyhigh24]

@@cuzimpoor7785 yeah... as if manufacturers will never relabel cheaply bought tools or outsource to countys like China just to maximize their margin. that totally never happened before /s And you know what? the other tools he liked, like the clamp, suffer the same problem you talk about. Ive never bought cheap Tools. BUT if someone buys it, cause it enables them to do their Project, im not going to judge them.

[@cuzimpoor7785]

@@skyhigh24 That is a terrible "what if" argument. "If" most tools were made in this country, and that happened, it would be an easy problem to deal with. Consumers would vote with their wallets and they would stop. Not to mention it is ILLEGAL. For now though, everyone keeps shopping at HF to get a circular saw for $29.95 while they are upside down on their house and paying $1200 a month for 2 cars (that they want to be manufactured in their country) they cant afford. If a garbage screwdriver is what enables them to do their project, they probably cant afford to do the project..

[@skyhigh24]

​@@cuzimpoor7785 What is illegal? Re-Labeling Products? hahahaha... you know this happens on a daily basis around the world, right? its called WhiteLabeling and common practice in the electronics industry but can also be found in other industries. These are "cost-effective" ways to start businesses or optimizing your value stream as an already established company. But yeah, angry stranger from the Internet, if you´ve never bought something cheap in your life, throw the stone. i dont care.

[@samuelmellars7855]

​@@cuzimpoor7785 people are always going to want the cheapest thing that has reasonable quality. The whole idea of "buy local" is great, but it is far more effective to pressure companies and politicians than it is to try to change the nature of consumers. And regarding re-labelling, "assembled in the USA (from global materials)" does exactly what you suggest is not legal.

[@castlevaniaking5]

I feel like the $5 ratchet clamp from Harbor Freight is better than that clamp you tested. That being said, will definitely pick up one of the Bessey ones for the self containment and the articulated heads.

[@tommypilfinger]

Its actually crazy the amount of useful quality tools being at AliBaba, Temu etc. Living in Denmark, I see the exact same tools re-branded as discount products but still costing 5 times the amount as those online sites.

[@Umbralcham0]

I was taught by someone to use a file at an angle to take edge banding off. Works really well! Still need a sander though.

[@negotiableaffections]

Hi Brad, I did fall for that 'blet' clamp system. I was building my 1st shadow box/frame with mitred corners and this was the only 'clamp' I had for that purpose. Yes it is fiddly to operate on all counts, e.g. the belt, the corners and the tensioning system are all janky (which is ultra frustrating during a 4 corner glue up) - BUT it worked! My mitre cutting may have been a lot better than I'd hoped but it did actually bring the box, 'squarely' together and grip it enough for a good glue-up - splines of course made it a lot stronger but I got it YAY! IF the bessy is so much better then definately go for it is my advice tho'

[@Itsnotmethistime]

I echo all of this. Fiddly but it works.

[@ammmze]

Same ...I have a DeWalt one that is more/less identical to the blet clamp that I got for cheap. Fiddly but can be done. Good to know there are better ones out there.

[@Skwish6952]

I bought that red dowel jig because I thought it looked good as well. I haven't needed to use it yet. I thank you for saving my drill bits.

[@nicholasmanovich4330]

So from Banggood, for just over 300 bucks I bought the km/hondui router plane with the extra set of smaller irons, a 24 inch square, 12 inch square, 4 inch square, the same dog hole clamps, two diamond stones, a couple other random things. The plane and the squares are spot on and well worth the money compared to buying km's plane elsewhere or going the woodpecker route. Ratcheting dog hole clamps are exactly what I needed. A few things haven't came yet but I suppose that's the cost of affordability, it takes longer. It would of cost me at least twice as much buying name brand. I think you just have to use common sense. It if seems to good to be true it probably is.

[@FlushtheSystem]

Yes, i saw that miter video, the same week it was out. LOL Thank you for all your videos.

[@gnic76]

I think you can get doghole reamers in 19 or 20mm if you need to redo the holes.

[@methosmomomax7470]

#5 drill and tap into the side of the threaded area. Then insert a bolt. Even smoothing a vertical part for the bolt to not damage the threads should help.

[@plunder1956]

Apart from the quality & benefits issue you always get with Ali-Express, thee biggest problem is keeping track of these tools when you need them. The edge banding cutter is the only item I WOULD buy - because I have the same problem you do.

[@marchuvfulz]

I think the old saw about getting what you pay for generally applies to Chinese tools. Some brands, like Hongdui, seem to be quite good. But their tools are comparable in price to not-China tools. You usually have to pay for quality.

[@Lamefoureyes]

Hey Brad, absolutely love your channel. Your shop furniture series really helped me get the confidence to try my hand at making some things; now I've started to outfit my house with custom book shelves etc. I've never been a builder, so this has been a really exciting development for me. If I could leave some general feedback, this type of video is my least favourite. I think I understand the appeal, since it's sortof showing how much some brands over charge for their products (or at least how much Temu can save by skirting some import laws), and I imagine this is more straightforward than planning a whole build. But still, I feel like this type of "shotgun approach" review is adding to the atmosphere where builders are tied to the things that they buy, rather than the expertise, creativity, or humility they show in their projects. I don't mean to be overly critical, I just thought I would share my perspective. Anyways, that's just my two cents. I really love this channel, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next video, whatever you choose to do next.

[@bumgarb42]

As another Brad, "me point bits" is awesome! 😂

[@tiffanys2992]

Went out & bought four of the Bessy band clamps after that old video lol Still love em!

[@logiman]

"Freedom adjacent"... LOL. Great video. Very informative. Greetings from Franklin.

[@ClintSatterwhite]

OG Flip Top Tool Stand Crew in the house!

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

yessss!

[@radiofriendlybox]

i have the same "cheap" band clamp from home depot. it works fine.

[@mikesionu]

ya I saw that miter vid, going to have to watch again so I can dial in my job site saw along with Tamar's vid on how to get the blade aligned with the rail guides, just so slightly off

[@JakeV.I]

Re: tool #1 ~ I needed to do a lot of edgebanding in '23.. so self-taught mself, and in so doing, bought + tried a LOT of e-banding trimers, including this one. My 2¢: this one good *AFTER* reduce 'exta' w/ another, better tool.. net: it has become my "inbetween tool" for when take off extra + before last step of sandpaper.

[@T_Jonesy]

Thanks for testing these out so we don't have to. I like the first two tools and the price is right. Thanks!

[@AnonVideos]

For some of these things, what you are buying is the concept. You can try out what they made at that price point. Sometimes it’s good enough and sometimes you realize you can make your own for a lot less money. For example the edge bander is a simple idea. You can make your own fairly easily if you wanted.

[@pedrorivera-soto7566]

I have Bessey clamps that look like the one that you failed to use on the box. I don’t see where you are having such issues with properly operating the clamp. I love it and use it just fine.

[@vetsus3518]

i love that the videos first tool opens with "the next one up..." lol

[@andrewbrown8148]

I have that same band/belt/blet clamp that I bought as a fledgling woodworker. I've used it for years and I still have it, although now I mostly use my Merle band clamps. My main gripe with the other was that the tail of the belt had nothing containing it other than the rubber band holding it around a plastic spool/pin. I see they've now "upgraded" to a zip-tie. LOL

[@andrewbrown8148]

Oh yeah, I definitely remember your old spline video when you put it out. 😉

[@sapelesteve]

I always look forward to your bargain tools updates Brad. I can't believe that it's been four years since that video you referenced! Keep up the great work! 👍👍🔨🔨

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Thanks, Steve!

[@Incaensio]

I built 50 picture frames or more with that cheap clamp that you rated one star. If there's a will there's a way.

[@L-36]

Why could you not use plyers to hold the round base on that last tool? Vice grips or channel locks for example.

[@johnperez2898]

Good videos like always 😊

[@chrissewell1608]

On the depth stop, counter sink tool- put it in the vise, and just use a flat file to file down some flat spots. Then you can atleast put a wrench on it, and get the unit to tighten up! No - You shouldn't have to do this. The tool should come better made! But since you already have it, you can salvage it. In tools, you generally get what you pay for! 🛠🗜

[@ob1coyote]

That Blet Clamp looks EXACTLY like the one I bought at Rockler many years ago, probably for 4x the price.

[@cabman86]

Just like the band clamp I bought at Harbor Freight!

[@tn9274]

actually there are many edge banding trimmer out there, however most of them is just the steel cutter like yours without the plastic body. the downside is, it is difficult to maintain the consistent angle and position while pushing/pulling the cutter along the way.

[@AlAmantea]

Brad, great video. It's always nice when you find a few gems in amongst the weeds... One thing though, as someone who lived in and near the Amana Colonies in Iowa for 20 plus years, I feel compelled to correct your pronunciation of the word Amana. It is "a-MAN-a", not "A-mahn-a". It is mostly an Amish and Mennonite colony, but has become somewhat mixed since the Amana Corporation and factory was sold. Amana is a Hebrew name that means "faithful" or "trustworthy". It comes from a Hebrew root that means "constant" or "faithful". While Amana Tool has no relationship with Amana appliances, the name is pronounced the same.

[@serbanradu3845]

When it comes to band clamps, wolfcraft has a model that in my opinion is seriously (extremely super insanely crazy mega incredibly seriously) underrated. Even though it's on the market for a number of years now, i only discovered it for a little more than a year ago and i was speechless when i got one and used it. I think it is not marketed very well since not many people know about it and it's also a bit difficult to find it at a good price. I would like to see a video with your thoughts about Wolfcraft 3681000.

[@thinkr8142]

The countersink bit is dirt cheap; buy a few and lock them with loctite or weld them (if you have a welder). Ok, replacing the drill would be impossible, but that's the difference between "throw away stuff" and "expensive reusable gear". Maybe a series on "how to solve the flaws of tested cheap gear" would make an interesting video.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

ohhhh, i like that idea. But yeah, I thought the same thing on the countersink. For the price, it's worth messing around with it

[@MCsCreations]

Great reviews, Brad! Thanks!!! 😊 Happy new year! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@DukeTran]

I know you have a 3d printer. Id love a video showing different 3d printed tools/jigs for use in the woodshop. I 3d print so many items for my woodshop and would like to see other uses.

[@Blitz6804]

5:45 The only thing that comes to mind here... "This one time, with the band clamp..."

[@chrissewell1608]

😂 🪈 😘

[@jeffbaker8808]

What happens at Band Clamp, stays at Band Clamp.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Pure gold....wish I'd thought of that one

[@SaltCreekFarmstead]

That was exactly what I thought of lol

[@BillMooney-r5c]

On the countersink, just grind out two flats and it should work fine.

[@brentjenkinsdesigns]

On the first tool. Would it help to pull it towards you instead of pushing it away from you?

[@joshuaquick5511]

If you need a budget level band clamp, I have had sucess with the Harbor Freight one.

[@woodworkingandepoxy643]

Another great video. Ny birthday was the 2nd and i asked for nothing but that chamfer plane and a couple of parallel clamps. Didn't get any of it so it was like second hand opening seeing the chamfer plane. Happy new year Brad

[@krazykyle0]

Find a buddy with a lathe and they can easily turn down those Bessey clamps so they will fit your table.

[@robs8882]

too much work drill out the dog holes to 20mm like they are meant to be.

[@Ranger7Studios]

I bought that edge banner off Amazon, they work pretty well.

[@nicevans6239]

Been watching since day 3 not day 1. Haha! Love the channel!

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

yes sir!

[@billdiehl156]

I guess I’m an OG. I remember, fondly, the mitered box

[@shawnevans827]

I discovered you through the flip to to stand at least two years ago!

[@islandseeker1260]

The great thing about a lot of these cheaper tools is they can be modified to work better with very little effort. Yeah, it would be nice if they worked right out of the box, but any budget-minded DIYer worth their salt could easily file, grind, or mill flats on a $4 item to make it as functional as a $35 item (for example). It still beats having to build it from scratch, which is something I've often done when seeing an awesome idea in expensive tools I can't afford.

[@aserta]

The Bessie is for metal working too. So it's bound to be bigger. For what they are and how much they cost, the cheapy ones are decent. And by the looks of things, there's not much that can break on them. Not much that can't be fixed either.

[@davedayton]

Maybe a silly question, but on the edge chamfer, would pulling instead of pushing be an easier start method?

[@SaltCreekFarmstead]

Have you tried the “band-it” edge band trimmer? I keep seeing it at the big box stores next to the edge banding.

[@jeremyt1917]

Hey, Brad! Where did you find that Bessey klilklamp that fit in the dog holes ? It looks like their magnesium clamp.

[@DaytonR.O]

Great info

[@MRrwmac]

You saved me money….. well maybe not cause I like one of them..haha! Hope you and the family have a wonderful 2025

[@Adi-S]

Ever heard of channel locks? (for the counter bore bit)

[@RiPCORD100]

Bessy makes a corner clamp just like that I have one.

[@GarysDIY70]

this was a great video, if your shaft has more mass than the other guy, what does it matter as long as your tool does the job, at half the price it will do for me, ( i like them clamps) 😃😃

[@EvanDunville]

I'm guessing the bushing wasn't hardened and your bit probably dug into it a bit. I would bet your drill bit is probably mostly fine.

[@travismazza6522]

Cheap tools are best tools to customize. Add a set screw. Flatten two sides yourself. Make it work better for you. For that price if it doesn’t work you maybe learn something

[@jimrosson6702]

Great video Thanks for sharing

[@jonblair5470]

That “blet” clamp is pretty similar to the one sold at harbor freight and I hate that thing, same issue the “elbows” come off the strap way too easy

[@js3217]

The Chamfer tool is on sale for even cheaper than the price in your video (as of 1/6/25).

[@XNerinoX]

seriously, already 4 years since that video? no way.....

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

yeah, wild

[@Lithanify]

Is it possible to move the affiliate links to the top right? They block cc subtitles in the bottom left.

[@arsenicjones9125]

I’m regularly clamping my blet with the economy and all

[@georgequalls5043]

Vicegrips should fix that last problem.

[@zafarsyed6437]

I remember that mitering video. It wasn't that long ago... was it??

[@cjnesi]

Would you consider making a video where you modify or fix some of these tools?

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

I love that idea!

[@73ella182]

have you heard of a hold fast clamp

[@rashkavar]

So with doweling/drilling guides, how does one use them properly. Obviously you need the right size opening for your drill bit or...see video... but it seems to me that even if you were using something with a perfect fit, you'd have an issue grinding the side of the bit against the hole with every little motion of the drill that's off center (and if you're not making slight movements and can just hold the drill at a perfect 90 no problem...why did you buy the guide?) I've certainly seen drill bits used to carve slots by using some sideways force between two overlapping drillholes to smooth out little V shapes left behind, and while that's certainly not a designed use of a drill bit, it's effective enough on wood. And while you might be doing very little damage overall, with metal on metal, surely you'd be slowly damaging your drill bit using them. But every woodworker I see on KZbin seems to be just fine using some form of them, be it a pocket hole jig or something for more sophisticated dowel joints...including more than one who is very much a by-the-book respect-your-tools sort of woodworker who would be completely aghast at using something for convenience that winds up damaging their bits. Which suggests it's not doing damage. So...how careful do you have to be with them? (Assuming you're buying from a reasonably reputable source that will actually have things measured out right and not the Ali Baba quality roulette)

[@DIY_Donkey]

It's because on the quality jigs they use hardened steel for the bushings so it's a lot harder for the drill bit to bite in and shave it down, cheap ones use either mild steel or very poorly hardened low carbon steel so they cut really easy

[@jaredsmith7487]

Nice shirt! Where can I get one?

[@tylerdavis1794]

OGs in the house!

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

my guy!

[@bioweaponsystem154]

"Freedom Adjacent Units" 😂😂😂😂

[@richarddpetersen169]

Ive bought a few Banggood tools, and you do have to watch to make sure its SAE not METRIC. I bought a router bit, said 1/2" 8MM,,,,, I thought it would fit in my router collet (1/2") but NOPE, its 8MM and has nothing to do (even the dia of the cutting wasnt 1/2") So be aware.. Also miter bars for saws and such, they are metric. The rest of the world is metric, its just US that are SAE.

[@alswearingen323]

No. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." Makes a lot more sense than "the proof is in the pudding," right? But yeah, ordering the chamfering tool tonight. Thanks, young man!

[@chrissewell1608]

With a tool named like "Blet Clamp", how can you go wrong!? 😅

[@danschramm1397]

I know you said Band Clamp but I heard Band Camp…”One time at Band Camp..”

[@Michael_Schm]

People keep complaining that the quality of stuff is getting worse, yet they keep buying crappy Chinese stuff. However will we change this tendency?!?!?

[@gwall1789]

I was just about to say, now can you review the same tools that are quality built in North America.

[@Otto-W]

​@@gwall1789The problem with many north American built items is the cooperative greed that focuses on speed and labor savings over quality. Not too different from some of the imported items.

[@jakewsimon]

Maybe when Asian cars stop completely destroying everything the UAW produces 🤣

[@A1BASE]

@@gwall1789sure. Just remember to put the price in the comparison. $40 vs $4… You get what you pay for, mostly, but the reality is that most home woodworkers couldn’t afford to equip their shop with all made-in-america stuff. It would literally be 10x the price… fine if you’re a millionaire, but otherwise you have to find cheaper alternatives.

[@woodworkingandepoxy643]

Most things these days are made in China

[@dukefrywokker6470]

Couldn't you put your flat spots on parts you want flat part on? I'd love to see if that really improves the ratings of these tools or not.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

a little quick work with a file would do the trick. But I wanted to test them "out of the box". Maybe a "Making Bad Tools Better" vid would be good!

[@jdrew500]

MLCS makes a better band clamp

[@nicomonkeyboy]

What they actually say is, _"the proof of the pudding is in the eating"_

[@scottanderson7306]

Nice!

[@erichenao6537]

"More mass in the shaft…" yeah we know we know...

[@no-page]

Bessey makes a different band clamp that is identical to the one you tested. You are comparing apples to oranges.

[@Whitepaint]

Oh, I know that belt clamp, it is a POS. Ratchet straps have worked better for me than any similar type of clamp.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

yeah, you'd be much better of using a ratchet strap

[@williamellis8993]

For drilling dowels, I'll stick with my Milescraft drill guide. They probably want you to use vice grips on the barrel of the countersink thing. Bill

[@tombauer5762]

I hate edge banding. Instead I just cut a thin strip of wood. Cut it to size and glue it. No iron or trimming required.

[@howardsmith5474]

I happened to watch this with my volume muted, and could accurately predict the real rating based on your facial expressions lol

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

lol, that's awesome

[@robs8882]

Freedom to be inaccurate units. Why not drill out your 3/4 inch holes to fit your nice 20mm clamps.

[@TheLukaszpg]

Just use pliers to hold that countersink bit. I have had one for years and as industrial as it is, it works.

[@martykimble9999]

"Freedom Units"!

[@chrissewell1608]

Hella yeah! 🇺🇸

[@Archeious]

Aliexpress really cut corners with the first one (in this case that is a good thing.

[@halbertwalston]

Point of clarification - AliExpress, not Alibaba.

[@krissbuddle]

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating..," Just sayin'

[@jeffbaker8808]

"Tasting", which is the (proper) metric version.

[@jimsiggy]

"Thirty feet of nylon rope", did you mean "nylon blep"?

[@dbf1dware]

I think it is funny you misspelled their misspell. Good one.

[@stfloppy]

Do you honestly think you're ruining your drill bits by putting them through a slightly undersized metal hole? How do you think metal workers do their job?