I found some good cheap items at the local liquidation store.

[Chako]

I found quite a few interesting items at a local liquidation store. I was a bit surprised, as they never had anything of interest before now. Two of the items, I thought I had, but as it turned out, there are variations on a theme.

First up, a very nice and fetching 3 piece set done in red.



This ToolMaster set did come with one big surprise. The flashlight isn't even an LED type, but old school incandescent. How cool is that?



The larger MT is standard fare when it comes to cheap multi-tools. However, the handles are done in metal, and the tool has a nice substantial weight to it. My first impressions were let down when I pulled out the folded tools. At least the knife is sharp out of the box.



The smaller MT features the same metal handles as the larger tool. Standard cheap fare when it comes to the quality of the folding tools however.



The ToolMaster 3 piece set definitely looks great, and has a very nice presentation. First impressions of this set are good. You will be let down once you get past the nice handles however. The flashlight is all show with no performance.

Next up is another tool that I have seen before, except it was bundled in The Great Escape kit. I didn't bother digging it out though, so there might be minor deviations between the two. What I can say is that this tool is a solid brick of metal. The blades are sharp, the pliers feature a mechanism much like the 120mm Wengers, but without the quality. Overall, not a bad tool if you don't mind carrying around a lot of weight. On the plus side, you coulld throw this at an attacker...and hurt them badly with it.





the third thing I found was a cute little bicycle multi-tool.



I haven't ridden on a bicycle in quite some time, so correct me if I am wrong...but the eyeglass sized drivers on this tool leave me a little perplexed. Are there screws that are that small needing some TLC on a bicycle? A nice touch is a frame locked hex nut driver. An 8, 9, and 10mm socket is included in a red carrier.



The forth treasure I found at that store is a multi-tool flashlight. Now, I knew I already had a copy, but I bought this one thinking something was different about it. Because it was cheap, I took a chance in getting a duplicate. Well, I compared it to the older version at home, I was happy I got it.



Now the tool set found in the handle is the same selection found in both. However, there are some small variations. The biggest was the movement of the nail nick on the opposite side in the newer version. The old one has "Lightmates" on the handles.

The other side also shows some variation, mostly in the scissors.



Slight difference continue in the labeling of the switch.



The big difference between them however, was only revealed once I opened them up. Both are powered by 3 AAA cells, however, the older version has a battery carrier and a screw head. The newer version has 3 separate slots for the AAA batteries, and the head comes of via a bayonet coupler.





The newer version on the right has a different electronic board compared to the older version on the left.



That concludes some cheap and cheerful treasures found at the local liquidation store.

[Carlos]

Great write-up, Chako, as usually. 

Really interesting how that last tool evolved, assuming it is the same factory who've done it. If the second is a 3rd party clone is even more impressing.

On this picture...


which are the tools on the left side? They're seen closed. And what is the kind of light system it has (incandescent, single led, multiple small leds)?

[Zed]

some cool finds there chako, the second one down looks like it could of come from the same factory as these ones,next year ive decided to collect budget MTs as on my price range and ive used these 2 more than any MT ive has , i really like these 2  although i did remove the spring thingy for the pliers as didnt like it 
 

[Chako]

Sorry, I missed adding a photo I had taken.



The lights are 4 white LEDs with a smaller red blinking LED in the middle. The dimensions and other things lead me to believe that they both come from the same factory...but I could be wrong on this.

I hear you Zed. Nothing wrong with the cheap and cheerful crowd. I collect multi-tools in all their varieties, and I would be sorely remise if I passed up the lower end just as much as the higher end products out there. 

[Zed]

Sorry, I missed adding a photo I had taken.

(Image removed from quote.)

The lights are 4 white LEDs with a smaller red blinking LED in the middle. The dimensions and other things lead me to believe that they both come from the same factory...but I could be wrong on this.

I hear you Zed. Nothing wrong with the cheap and cheerful crowd. I collect multi-tools in all their varieties, and I would be sorely remise if I passed up the lower end just as much as the higher end products out there. 

Ive nothing against a MT cheap or expensive as long as its upto the job and Handy  i can see me ending up with a lot of cheaper MT's as i find some of them interesting, the ones i posted above i really like and find the pliers on both sizes really solid, both tools have all i need as a back up if ive not the proper tool and as i tend to scavange broken down bicycles this comes in handy lol 

[Adam Clark]

@ Zed

Who makes the two budget MT's you posted in the above pic?
I have the larger one in my drawer, the only thing it says on the outside is STAINLESS STEEL.

[5hif7y]

a light multi tool looks interesting. i like the idea of it.

[Zed]

@ Zed

Who makes the two budget MT's you posted in the above pic?
I have the larger one in my drawer, the only thing it says on the outside is STAINLESS STEEL.

i think there all from the same factory, my larger one is from Trail outdoor and leisure and the smaller one is from talon  i think there great tools for the price and look like they would last years,