11 Fireball Tool Products Under $50 Worth Adding To Your Collection

Whether you're working in a professional fabrication shop or doing DIY projects at home, it's important to have the right tool for the job. That's what inspired Jason Marburger to launch Fireball Tool. Marburger started as a welder and, finding himself frustrated at the limitations of existing welding squares, he set about creating a better one.

With the help of a few buddies and a plasma cutter, Marburger created his first square, designed specifically for the unique demands of metalworking. Later, as interest and demand for his welding square grew, Marburger enlisted the help of a local aluminum facility to cast his squares and launched the Fireball Tool brand.

Building a better welding square was only the beginning. Marburger and Fireball Tool have since designed and released additional tools and accessories designed with the welder in mind. The story of Fireball Tool is the story of a welder making tools for welders, utilizing years of on-the-job experience. Today, you can find a collection of Fireball Tool originals, from shims and drivers to advanced welding tables, alongside products from other tool manufacturers. If you're looking to add to your tool collection, and you don't have a lot of wiggle room in your budget, here are twelve Fireball Tool products that users swear by, all under $50.

Joining materials permanently usually involves an adhesive, fasteners, or welding, but you might need some help holding materials together while you put those permanent solutions in place. That's where a good clamp comes in handy. Hardware and home improvement stores sell ready-made clamps of various sizes and designs, but they have limitations. If you need a particularly large clamp, you might need to make it yourself.

Fireball Tool's Mini Maximus Bar & Dog Clamp Kit is essentially the two ends of a clamp without any connecting material. The ends slide over any one-inch by half-inch material, like metal bars, lumber, or tubing. Instead of buying differently shaped clamps for each job, you can use this kit to create universal clamps at whatever length you need. You can even slide multiple clamp sets over the same tube or bar to create a tool with multiple clamping points precisely where you need them.

The Mini Maximus has 3.5 inches of throat depth and a five-inch spindle, 4.75 inches of which is threaded. The kit can be used to clamp objects together or spread them apart, and the length and strength of your clamp is limited only by the joining material you choose. Fireball users say you may not need this clamp often, but when you do, it can be a game changer.

Hex keys, also known as Allen wrenches, take their name from their hexagonal shape. They're common tools used to drive fasteners, but they're also easily lost. This magnetic hex key holder from Fireball Tool is designed to organize your hex keys and hold them securely.

Importantly, the magnetic function is limited to a strong magnet on the bottom of the holder that produces two pounds of magnetic pull force, keeping the key holder securely mounted to a metal surface. Magnets are not used to hold the hex keys. Instead, a spring around the center creates tension that holds your hex drivers in place. Additionally, a circular mounting pattern means you can remove individual hex keys without needing to move the L bends of others out of the way.

Users can choose between Metric and Imperial, ABS plastic or aluminum, and low-profile or tower designs. You can also choose between just a holder, for as little as $14, or a holder and a compatible hex key set for $27. Users have called them "An absolute joy. Just one of those perfect objects that makes life better."

Locking pliers, also known as vise grips, come in many different jaw styles and are characterized by the locking mechanism that maintains constant pressure on its own. The Curved Jaw Locking Pliers from Fireball Tool are designed to clamp around flat or rounded objects. They come in a two pack for $35 and can handle objects as wide as 2.5 inches or pipes with a diameter of up to 3.25 inches.

To use these pliers, you set the jaw size using the bolt on the back. When the pliers are closed over an object, they lock into place until the locking mechanism is manually released. You may have seen vise grips used as a temporary lever to, for instance, open the crank windows on your old beater. They're also useful for holding pieces of metal together before welding.

These locking pliers are designed to fit through the openings of a Fireball Tool welding square, making it easier to hold your projects together while you weld. The teeth also give them better grip but make them capable of damaging softer metals. Fireball Tool recommends using cast iron welding squares, as these pliers can damage softer aluminum squares. Despite those limitations, Fireball users have said, "Works great. Should have bought more."

C-clamps, also known as G-clamp or G-cramp, are designed to hold woodworking or metalworking materials in place. Fireball Tool's Locking C-Clamp Set has a locking mechanism to keep pressure on the clamps so they won't slip.

They come in six-inch and eleven-inch versions, depending on your needs. The larger version has a deeper throat and larger clamp capacity. They're sold in two-packs and a four-packs, and you can choose between two of one size or two of each. You can also choose between rounded tips or swivel pads at the clamping ends. You can get a pair of six-inch round tipped clamps for $28 or a pair of six-inch swivel padded clamps for a dollar more. The eleven-inch set is $38 or $41, for rounded tips and swivel pads respectively. Finally, you can get a mixed kit of two six-inch and two eleven-inch clamps for $59 or $65, depending on the tips you choose.

The swivel pad tip is recommended to better distribute force and prevent damage if you're using aluminum squares or softer materials. When using cast iron squares or dense materials, the tip shape comes down to user preference. Fireball users have said "Very nice clamps, durable and easy to use" and "I think they are great. I'm going to buy more."

Chain pliers or a chain wrench is a type of strap wrench, a tool which wraps around an object and uses static friction to hold tightly. They can be useful if you're working with oversized or awkwardly shaped objects, or in hard-to-reach places. To use them, you wrap the chain around your desired materials, fasten the end to the hook, and tighten them down, locking the wrench in place.

These Locking Chain Pliers, available from Fireball Tool, have a quick release trigger and can grab onto a single object or a collection of objects all at the same time. You can get a set with a 24-inch chain for $29 or a 48-inch chain for $33. Users have said, "If you've not seen or used one of these, you are missing out. It securely clamps materials... I've used it to fit weld pipe, glue large diameter PVC, hold my ground to the work and even as an adjustable arm rest. Great value and function. Can't beat the price."

When working on a project in the workshop or at home, you might need to work with both Imperial and Metric tools, which are similar but come in slightly different sizes. How many of us have gone to the hardware store to pick up some nuts, bolts, or other fasteners only to get home and find that they're not quite the right size? A thread checker saves you from that problem by letting you test the hardware you have at home before you go to the store.

The Original Thread Checker, from S&W and available from Fireball Tool, is strung on a wire with a loop for storage between uses. It comes in a 23-piece Imperial set and a 21-piece Metric set. Each unit on the string has its size stamped on the side and can test both the nuts and bolts of its particular gauge. Just so there isn't any confusion, the Imperial set is zinc plated and has a conventional shiny metal finish, while the Metric set is finished with black oxide. Users have described them as a "Perfect time saver when dealing with nuts and bolts," recommending them for all workshops. A thread checker costs $37, whether you choose Imperial or Metric.

Not all screwdrivers are the same. Fasteners come in different shapes and sizes, and you'll need a variety of drivers to deal with them. When you're out on the job, you never know what sort of hardware you're going to encounter, so it makes sense to keep a well-rounded kit of drivers with you.

The 36-piece Wiha GoBox Electronics ESD Precision Micro Bit Set costs $42 and features a single driver with a diverse collection of precision bits. The kit includes six slotted screwdrivers in various sizes, five Phillips head, ten Hex bits, five Torx, six pentalobe, one standoff, one Y-type, one magnetic micro bit extension, and the handle.

The bits are made of premium quality tool steel and the whole kit fits into a compact molded storage box for easy transportation. At just 1.75 inches wide by 4.25 inches long and weighing just half a pound, it's small enough to fit in your pocket. Users say it's "the best quality precision screwdrivers I've ever used" and that it's "very good quality in both the metal and the plastic used. It feels sturdy in your hand while using it even on very stuck screws. All around very pleased with this product."

Water pump pliers, also known as tongue-and-groove pliers or slip-joint pliers, are useful for grabbing hold of awkwardly-shaped or round objects like pipes. Their adjustable size makes them a nearly universal tool capable of tightening, loosening, and holding objects big and small.

These water pump pliers from Knipex and available from Fireball Tool have 18 preset positions and a quick adjustment mechanism. Pressing the locking button in allows you to slide the bottom jaw up and down freely. If you set the top jaw on your target, press the button and slide the bottom jaw upwards, then release the locking button, you'll get the correct sizing every time.

The water pump pliers feature teeth hardened to a 61 on the Rockwell hardness scale (HRC), giving them improved grip, and you can choose between a 7.25-inch or 10-inch handle for $41 or $43, respectively. Users have said, "I love these pliers, they're excellent EDC. Made like a brick, excellent value for money, highly versatile, and good adjustability and lockability. This design is excellent." Another user said, "I don't know how I made it without them! I carry them in my pocket and use them daily. They actually grip well and don't slip."

Having the appropriate eye protection is crucial when completing metalwork projects, as you need to protect yourself from the bright lights produced by your welding equipment. The Fly Safety Goggles from Arcone and available from Fireball Tool are shaded with infrared protection for torch and plasma cutting jobs. When you wear these goggles, you'll look a bit like an insect, as the lenses are large enough to fit over prescription lenses or other safety eyewear.

The oversized lenses can look a little goofy, but they're worthwhile if customer comments can be believed. The oversized lenses are so wide that you can't see the edges while you're wearing them, giving you an unobstructed view. Several users have said they even forgot they were wearing them after a few hours.

An adjustable strap and padding on the rims keeps them comfortable long-term, and ventilation slots reduce the likelihood of fogging during sweaty shifts. One safety goggles user said, "These are great, fit right over my glasses. No reflections because they fully cover your peripheral view and so comfortable you forget you're wearing them."

You've probably heard the old advice that you should measure twice and cut once. So much of completing any project is making the right preparations, and metalworking is no exception. When building metal constructions big or small, it's important to get your angles just right, which is where a bubble level comes in handy.

The Die Cast Torpedo Level from Stabila, sold by Fireball Tool, is a multipurpose tool with several bubble levels at different angles. It comes with two vials, three vials, or a three vial with protractor format. Fireball lists the two vial version for $53 and the three vial version for $64, but you can find the three vial version on Amazon for $45.73, just beneath our $50 threshold.

The three vial version features a horizontal level, a vertical one, and one 360-degree adjustable level you can position however you want. To adjust the 360 degree level, squeeze it between two fingers and twist it into the desired orientation, then release it. Powerful magnets allow the level to stick to metal materials to keep your hands free, and a V-shaped groove on the bottom helps it settle onto pipes and other rounded objects. Users say, "Great level. I'm an electrician and have been in the trade for over a decade. No other level comes close. In my opinion, this is the best level out there. If taken care of, it'll last you years and years."

Mantis grip pliers are similar to C-clamps but with a slightly different construction. As the name suggests, the plier arms angle outward while opening, like the arms of a mantis. Instead of two medium-sized arms, they have one big arm and one small arm. As a result, mantis grip pliers are more versatile because the small arm can squeeze into tight spaces other pliers can't.

Fireball Tool's Mantis Grip Pliers come in two sizes, eight inches and eleven inches, for working with differently sized materials. An eight-inch single mantis plier costs just $14, while an eleven-inch one costs $21. You can also get a four pack or an eight pack of either size, or a combination pack with both sizes. Users are overall impressed with the functionality of the mantis clip pliers, saying, "These are the best clamps you can own" and "I have a whole drawer full of 'vise-grip' style clamps, but the Mantis clamps are my first choice every time."

To be included on our list, a product had to make it through several checkpoints. The first is the most obvious; To be considered, a product had to be available for under $50. We combed through everything Fireball Tool has to offer on the company website, filtering out anything over our $50 threshold.

The second and more important gate was customer satisfaction. While products from Fireball Tool are widely popular among metalworkers, a product didn't make our list unless it received largely positive comments from reviewers or consumers. To find the highest-rated Fireball tools, we dug through reviews on the Fireball website and comments in the Fireball forum, but we didn't rely entirely on Fireball. We also looked through Amazon reviews, comments on tool subreddits, reviews posted to the websites of other sellers, and recommendations from popular YouTube reviewers. Each product on this list is endorsed by its users and a worthwhile addition to your workshop collection that won't break the bank.