The WORST home centers for tools (Home Depot vs Lowes vs Menards)

▼EXPAND THIS SECTION FOR IMPORTANT INFO▼

★THIS VIDEO WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY★
*Please help support us by using the link above for a quick look around!*
(If you use one of these affiliate links, we may receive a small commission)

*Tools used in this video:*

*Some other useful links:*

★SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHEAP TOOLS★

★SOME OF MY FAVORITE HAND TOOLS★

★SOME OF MY FAVORITE POWER TOOLS★

★SOME OF MY FAVORITE OTHER TOOLS★

(If you use one of the affiliate links above, we may receive a small commission)

[StumpyNubs]

▼EXPAND THIS SECTION FOR IMPORTANT INFO▼
★THIS VIDEO WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY★
*Please help support us by using the link above for a quick look around!*
(If you use one of these affiliate links, we may receive a small commission)

*Tools used in this video:*

*Some other useful links:*


★SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHEAP TOOLS★

★SOME OF MY FAVORITE HAND TOOLS★

★SOME OF MY FAVORITE POWER TOOLS★

★SOME OF MY FAVORITE OTHER TOOLS★

(If you use one of the affiliate links above, we may receive a small commission)

[freddupriest]

As a DIY person, the retirees that Ace hires are worth a lot to me. Helping and teaching are part of their business model.

[sjmaguirepdx]

When it comes to specialty fasteners I’m Ace Hardware all the way. Their selection is quite impressive.

[babyhuez]

I’ve always felt that Lowes caters more to home owners while Home Depot is geared towards contractors and hard core DIY’ers.

[thomassmith]

Yes, I agree with your evaluation. I would also add that Home Depot and Lowe’s special drawers of hardware are either empty with what I need or they are mismatched with random pieces of hardware that people threw in there so they could go on break.

[dermotpeacock]

As a 27-year ex veteran of Lowes. i can agree with you completely although I do not have any experience with Menard's. There are a lot of reasons why each retailer carries the items they do, and it is not always a cut and dried choice. I look forward to your video about the tool Companys. A long time ago we sold the new Dewalt 12" compound miter saw for less than what we paid for it. Many of my customers thought we were crazy for doing that and many out right called me a liar to my face. It was what we called a Loss leader at the time, and it lasted for a long time. The black and decker snake light was another. But it wasn't used to make money it was used to get you into the store, we made up for the loss easily with what we call add on sales like blades accessories etc. All retail company's do this. One thing i did take pride in though was knowing what i was talking about when it came to tools and hardware, I have been a woodworker for 40 years and grew up with a father who was a tool and die man. we were raised to know tools and treat them correctly. and as a tool / hardware dept manager for most of my years with Lowes I made sure the people working for me knew as much as they could. However, in recent years knowledge like that is no longer required by the big box stores. I still run into old customers here and there and all can remember the help i gave them many long years ago. To me that is what retail is bonding with your customers giving them whatever it is they need. But customer service has been replaced with corporate service now that's why most woodworkers use smaller places like Rockler or Klingspor or online stores but even that's ok because the big box stores are not looking for those types of customers anyways Any ways you should do a video about screw nut and bolt companies if you think brand choice is limited.
Thanks for great videos and displaying those wings (I'm an ex-Detroiter as well)

[TheMrawesomest]

Regarding Lowes staff not knowing where things are, I usually go to Home Depot near where I live, and use their website while at the store to find where the items are in the store.

[crapenwiggle]

I worked at Home Depot for 8 years back in the late 90s. At that time, the employees were actually expected to know their area. So much so that I ended up apprenticing as an electrician after all the random crap I had to know about working in the electrical department. Not to mention at that time, our store manager was big on preventing liability so would give bonus points if you took the time to study whatever appropriate building codes for the local area were (always being clear that you were not a licensed blah blah). Times have changed however as labor was always one of the costs they were looking to trim. So hence, you now have the automated summon button that calls Jeff from lumber over to help you find that exotic fastener you need. Hard to know the area when your "area" is half the store.

[djurgens]

I’ve been a cabinet maker for over 20 years. It was funny listening to this video. Your assessment is 100% accurate of the various situations with the big box retailers

[smusicfanatic]

My father-in-law is an Italian immigrant who came to the U.S. in the 60’s, He worked as a terrazzo grinder for many years until he retired and his favorite tool was (and still is) the Mikita angle grinder. So much so that whenever I may be helping him with any job requiring the use of an angle grinder, any make or model or size, he’ll say “Go-a give me the “Makeet”.

[twain]

In my area Lowes and Home Depot duke it out. The Third alternative is Ace hardware, which is a bit pricier, but the hardware selection is great, and there is always somebody on the floor to help you find stuff.

[scottfoster]

I think where Lowe's shines is when you're decorating, not woodworking. Their selection of colors, patterns, styles, etc is the best in my experience.

[SirDishs]

I've seen every "project farm" video and have to say I'm pretty surprised how well the masterforce saw blades held up in the test. That being said I was also surprised how often craftsman comes up on top of recommended brands, tape measure and shop vac come to mind.

[riverflyswatter]

Ryobi rocks on the construction site. 1# you can forget them and come back in the morning and they are still there.
All the others seem to grow legs on a busy job site when your back is turned.
Been a carpenter all my working life . I’m 60 and still framing, roofing, doors and trim.

[I_like_pears]

Best places for fasteners and hardware, Ace Hardware wins hands-down by me. Particularly if I don't need 100+ of the fasteners; forget buying individual bolts and screws at Lowes or Home Depot (we don't have Menards in FL).

[mavision]

I think you have one of the greatest woodworking channels in all of YouTube. I enjoy your videos very much. I realize harbor freight may not be your most favorite place to shop, but as someone who's diverted of DeWalt has the years have gone by Hercules brand at harbor freight equals or exceeds dewalt particularly sliding miter saw job site table saw and now their newest addition the planer. I use these tools every day and they've been more reliable than my previous DeWalt versions. I believe these Hercules products are as good as any brand you'll find at the big box stores.

[williamlloyd]

I used to be an Hatichi nail gun guy. They lasted forever. As a trim carpenter, I never had to worry about showing up at a speck home builder's subdivision. My guns never failed.
But with the purchase by Matabo, the same look a like guns, are crap.
Enjoy ur videos

[DrewskisBrews]

I've been disappointed to see Lowe's steadily ditching quality items in favor of no-name, "barely viable" stuff over the past 10 years

[wild_lee_coyote]

One store I think you need to include is Ace Hardware. They may not have the huge selection of tools. My local one is mostly Milwaukee. Their hardware selection is by far the best. Also they seem to have the most knowledgeable staff and a lot of them, so you don’t have to search for an associate.

[ZeeroDubs]

I was pretty broke when I started getting into some woodworking so I ended up with Kobalt cordless tools. So far they have served me well. I've been using them for a little over 2 years now and I really have no complaints. For whatever that's worth. I understand they aren't premium tools but they get the job done and are cheap to buy extra batteries for.