The Great Two Dollar Challenge

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** July 27, 2015, 12:53:30 AM

Lately I have been wondering what would happen ifsomeone needed a tool but only had $2 to spend. Are there any good tools in that price range or would you be better off saving your money for a candy bar?

My plan was simple- go to eBay and purchase the first ten tools I found for under $2 each, including shipping. Now you'll note in the photos below that some are slightly over $2, because they are listed in Canadian Fun Bucks, and I'd planned to use US dollars, just to be reasonable.

Some of you who are sharp eyed and can count will see that there are more than ten there. In fact, there may be even more- these are the ones that were Buy It Now for $2. There were a few that I had to bid on as well, so the last night get slightly bigger.

Also, some of these may get disqualified. For example, the pry bar might just be a pry bar, and therefore may not be able to compete with multitools.

Some are knockoffs of actual tools like the CRKT Eat'n Tool, CRKT KERT and Leatherman Brewzer. These may end up being more fun to compare to the real versions. The Gerber Shard might be the most interesting of the bunch, as it is (presumably anyway) a real Gerber Shard, a tool I have always been quite fond of.

I'll grade these on looks, numberof functions versus number of useful functions and carryability.

captain spaulding · **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2015, 12:56:24 AM

Love this idea!

detron · **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2015, 01:24:22 AM

very interesting

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2015, 01:27:27 AM

I think so. If I'd done the $5 challenge the list would be a lot longer!

Def

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2015, 01:36:55 AM

Want a small monetary donation?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2015, 01:53:06 AM

Thanks, but I got it covered, eh!

Def

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2015, 03:02:03 AM

Don't have one of these laying around?

Think I have a Looney out in the car console..

And have a Canada $5 ~~Monopoly~~ note.

Mike 56 · **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2015, 04:47:49 AM

I wish it was 5.00 I bought a nice PST with a broken blade. I regrown the blade and made a nice PST Stubby. I have been carrying it for a few weeks. Great little tool.

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Grathr · **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2015, 06:09:15 AM

This will be interesting.

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dks · **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2015, 07:42:20 AM

true utility and any edcgear ones should be OK

Sweety-Sama · **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2015, 07:47:40 AM

A real challenge might be to actually producing a two dollar tool, that wound break on first opportunity.

-----------------------------
Using a future communicator stolen from the NCC-1701

Corwyn · **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2015, 07:52:10 AM

I'm looking for an OPT with a prybar, wrench, light and thin, but strong, with rainbow finish and under 10 USD?

Any suggestions? I only saw the skull/Punisher tool, but I find it too thick and long and the TiSurvival Prybar which is ridiculously overpriced and missing the wrench ...

Etherealicer · **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2015, 10:16:16 AM

Quote from: Corwyn on July 27, 2015, 07:52:10 AM

I'm looking for an OPT with a prybar, wrench, light and thin, but strong, with rainbow finish and under 10 USD?

Any suggestions? I only saw the skull/Punisher tool, but I find it too thick and long and the TiSurvival Prybar which is ridiculously overpriced and missing the wrench ...

Buy a PocketWrench II. I know its above your budget but this is probably the best OPT I have ever seen.

Kampfer · **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2015, 10:33:19 AM

I bought a Piranha 2 for $12, you can't beat that.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2015, 11:36:53 AM

Quote from: Etherealicer on July 27, 2015, 10:16:16 AM

Quote from: Corwyn on July 27, 2015, 07:52:10 AM
I'm looking for an OPT with a prybar, wrench, light and thin, but strong, with rainbow finish and under 10 USD?

Any suggestions? I only saw the skull/Punisher tool, but I find it too thick and long and the TiSurvival Prybar which is ridiculously overpriced and missing the wrench ...
Buy a PocketWrench II. I know its above your budget but this is probably the best OPT I have ever seen.

The Pocketwrench II is indeed a hard one to beat. Assuming you don't have to have it rainbow finished there are lots of good small pry bars available at your local hardware store. Some might be a bit long but can be ground down into a use able size.

Def

Yadda · **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2015, 12:33:49 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on July 27, 2015, 01:53:06 AM

Thanks, but I got it covered, eh!

(Image removed from quote.)

Def

Shiny!

Chako · **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2015, 01:08:32 PM

I did something like this last year. Can't wait to see what your opinions on some of these will be.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #17 on:** July 28, 2015, 01:46:57 AM

So.... I went a bit beyond ten.

I found a total of seventeen tools for $2 and under, although four of them were bids and not Buy It Now, and may end up being more than $2, in which case they are disqualified. I can pretty much guarantee that I will get second chance offers on any I am outbid for, so I'm not writing them off just yet.

Even not counting them, that still leaves 13 tools. There has to be something worthwhile in there.

Def

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2015, 02:26:23 AM

Grant, want a CRKT Eat'N'Tool for a Tooney + shipping?

The Looney I have here is lonely. Wants a Twoney to go with the Looney.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2015, 12:10:06 PM

Send me a PM with your address and I'll see what I can do. I have several Eat'n Tools already so I'm good there!

Def

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2015, 05:25:22 PM

Well if you have plenty already I can leave it in the drawer. Should of assumed you would be swimming in tools. Had bought a few on close-out one Christmas season for about $6 each. This one is a left over.

Weight for weight I'd rather carry a Snow Peak titanium spork.

Now of I could find a pair of packable chopsticks.. even tried to carry a pair in a hatband..

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2015, 07:37:29 PM

Now that the smoke is cleared I see I have purchased 16 different tools at $2 or less. There were a few more that I was outbid on by a dollar or so, but I will have to try them again when I do the $5 challenge later on.

I'm at work now but when I get back to a computer I'll post all of the tools I managed to get and final prices for each.

Def

Outback in Idaho · **Reply #22 on:** July 30, 2015, 05:00:27 PM

A few years ago one could get a PST for about $5 from a TSA auction. Am surprised you're finding anything that low in price.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #23 on:** July 30, 2015, 05:20:04 PM

Most of the stuff I have found is brand new one piece types, the kind that you can cut a thousand out of a $20 piece of sheet steel.

I'm just assembling photos on my computer, I'll start posting them later.

Def

Dragon Lord · **Reply #24 on:** July 30, 2015, 07:37:39 PM

Grathr · **Reply #25 on:** July 30, 2015, 08:17:09 PM

Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #26 on:** July 31, 2015, 03:44:13 PM

Contender #1:

EBay Listing Title:
1pcs Creative Carabiner Cap Stainless Steel Bottle Opener Keychain Ring Tool SM

Seller Description:

Product Information:
Material: Stainless steel mixing light processing surface
Features: This is a fixable afraid of losing key creative key chain with opener function, mixed light processing technology, not afraid to wear flowers, fashionable fashion, it is the key to your daily carry a good partner!

Package includes:

1 x Stainless Steel Bottle Opener Keychain Ring Tool

Auction Photos:

Total Cost:
$1.88

Def

edited to add price

Grathr · **Reply #27 on:** July 31, 2015, 03:49:14 PM

Its a good thing, its not afraid to wear flowers...

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Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #28 on:** July 31, 2015, 03:58:08 PM

Contender #2:

EBay Listing Title:
5IN1 Stainless Multi Tool EDC Pocket Survival Bottle Opener Screwdriver Keychain

Seller Description:

100% brand new and high quality
Material: Steel
Handy Multi-Purpose Survival Tool
Stainless steel with handy storage case
Fits easily into your vest, pack or pocket
Function: knife, screwdriver, bottle opener, concave knife, fire extinguisher opening with high- quality pocket
Length: app.8.5cm
Hardness: 57 degrees
Color: As the pictures shown
Quantity:1 Pc
Note: Due to the difference between different monitors, the picture may not reflect the actual color of the item. Thank you!

Auction Photos:

Total Cost:
$1.66

This one appears to be a copy of the SwissBianco Swiss Key Tool.

Def

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #29 on:** July 31, 2015, 04:10:54 PM

Contender #3

EBay Listing Title:
EDC Mini Multi Crank Stainless steel crowbar Staple wire scraper tool keychain

Seller Description:

Size: 76mm*12.5mm/3"*0.5", thick and hard.

Material: Stainless Steel

It's not only a crowbar, but also a scraper, and even cable tiny storage, crank handle design.

Package:
1 x Crowbar

Auction photos:

Total Cost:
$1.90

That's it for now- I have to run out to work now, so I will post some more later.

Def

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