Morning.
Three weeks ago in Garage Reset, we got the garage organized. Shelves up. Tools visible. Floor you can actually walk on.
Now what? You've got the space. Time to fill it with tools you'll actually use — not the Harbor Freight impulse buys collecting dust next to the Christmas decorations.
Today's edition is workshop upgrades - power tools that turn a clean garage into an actual shop. The kind of gear that makes your neighbor ask "can I borrow that?" (You can say no.)
Let's build something.
TLDR: 🪚 DeWalt DWS780 Miter Saw (Save $200) | 🔧 Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2-Tool Combo + FREE Tool ($399) | 🔋 Ridgid 18V Starter Kit (52% off + LIFETIME Warranty) | 🗜️ IRWIN 6" Bar Clamp (64% off)
PS: Trivia at the bottom. This one's about power tools. Also — the referral program launches Friday. Details below.
DeWalt DWS780 12" Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
$699 | $499 at Amazon (25% off)
🪚 Cuts so clean your father-in-law has nothing to say.
This is the miter saw that woodworkers upgrade to and never replace.
The DWS780 has been DeWalt's flagship sliding compound since 2012, and there's a reason it's still the benchmark. The XPS LED shadow line system throws a visible cutline onto your material before the blade touches it — no calibration, no fuss, just accurate cuts every time. It's the feature that separates this from the cheaper DWS779 (which uses a laser that drifts).
Here's why this earns the BIFL stamp:
✅ 15-amp motor + 3,800 RPM — Powers through 2x14 dimensional lumber at 90° and 2x10 at 45°. Crown molding up to 7.5" nested. This isn't a trim saw — it handles framing.
✅ Dual horizontal steel rails with linear ball bearings — The sliding mechanism that doesn't wear out. Cheaper saws develop wobble after a few years. DeWalt's rail system stays tight because it's built like industrial equipment.
✅ 3-year warranty + 1-year free service + 90-day money-back — DeWalt's service network is everywhere, and replacement parts will be available for decades. This saw is repairable, not disposable.
The 75%+ dust collection actually works (rare for miter saws), the cam-lock miter handle snaps to common angles without hunting, and the tall sliding fences support vertical work without aftermarket jigs.
The catch: At 56 lbs, this isn't a jobsite saw you're carrying up ladders. It wants a permanent home on a miter saw station. Also, the stand is sold separately — budget another $150-200 for the DWX726 rolling stand if you need mobility.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2-Tool Combo Kit + FREE Tool
🔧 Two tools, a free tool, zero excuses left.
Pro Tool Reviews ranked this the #1 cordless drill kit. Period. And right now Home Depot is bundling it with a free tool worth up to $179.
The kit includes the M18 FUEL 1/2" Hammer Drill (2904-20) and M18 FUEL 1/4" Hex Impact Driver (2953-20), plus two 5.0Ah RedLithium XC batteries and a dual charger. Then you pick your free tool: the FUEL SAWZALL, a 3/8" compact impact wrench, an angle grinder, or several other options depending on store inventory.
What makes Milwaukee M18 FUEL the pro's choice is the POWERSTATE brushless motor — it delivers more torque than competitors while running cooler (longer lifespan). The AutoStop control mode prevents the drill from spinning when it binds, which saves wrists and saves stripped screws.
The 5-year warranty is two years longer than the industry standard. Milwaukee doesn't void it for "professional use" either — this is genuinely built for daily jobsite abuse.
The catch: This is a Home Depot exclusive bundle, and the free tool selection varies by store. Check availability before driving across town. Deal expires January 31.
🔒 EXTRA DEAL LAUNCHES FRIDAY
Starting Friday, every edition of Dad Deals will include a hidden deal that only referrers can see. Same BIFL standards. Same verified discounts. Just exclusive to the dads who spread the word.
1 referral = The Insider Deal. Every edition. For good.
If you've already referred someone - you're in. Access unlocks automatically on Friday.
Haven't referred yet? Get your first one now and you'll have access as soon as it launches. More reward tiers are coming for the dads who keep sharing.
One dad friend. That's the unlock. Share the link below ⬇️
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Ridgid 18V MAX Output Starter Kit
🔋 Free batteries. Forever. No, really.
Here's the sleeper hit of this edition: the best warranty in power tools, and nobody's talking about it.
Ridgid's Lifetime Service Agreement covers batteries, brushes, motors, switches — everything. Not 3 years. Not 5 years. Forever. Your battery dies in 2035? Free replacement. Motor burns out? Free service. The catch is you have to buy from Home Depot and register within 90 days. Do that, and you're covered for life.
This kit includes two 4.0Ah MAX Output batteries (which deliver more sustained power than standard lithium packs) and a rapid charger. At $149, you're getting batteries alone worth $150+ and a charger worth $70 — then the lifetime coverage on top.
The catch: This is the starter kit only — no tool included. You're buying into the Ridgid 18V platform at a discount. Pair it with a Ridgid tool bundle (many are also on sale right now) and everything gets LSA coverage.
IRWIN Quick-Grip 6” Bar Clamp
💡 The No-Brainer at $10
You can never have too many clamps. Every woodworker says it because it's true.
The IRWIN Quick-Grip has been the industry standard for one-handed bar clamps for decades. 300 lbs of clamping force, converts to a spreader with one button, and the pads actually stay on (unlike the Harbor Freight versions). At $9.99, buy four.
IRWIN backs these with a lifetime warranty on manufacturing defects. Most dads still have the same Quick-Grips their fathers handed down.
The catch: None. This is just a good clamp at a great price.
Dad Trivia - Get 6 out of 8 monthly questions correct and you’re entered to win a $100 Lowe’s Gift Card.
The first portable circular saw was invented in 1923. What was it originally called?
Coming Friday: Smart Home 🏠
We're getting into the gear that makes your house actually intelligent — not the stuff that stops working when your WiFi hiccups. Video doorbells that don't require subscriptions, smart locks with real security, and the automation that's genuinely useful vs. gimmicky.
See you Friday.
Know a dad still using the drill he got as a wedding gift in 2008?
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Fine print: Some of these links earn us a small commission if you buy. Doesn't cost you a cent more. We don't recommend junk - life's too short.