Whatchamacallit Tools in Oklahoma City: A Full-Service Hardware Store with Tool Rental

Whatchamacallit Tools is an independently owned hardware retailer in Oklahoma City that stocks general construction supplies, hand and power tools, and operates a rental department for equipment ranging from concrete saws to party tent frames. It occupies the middle ground between big-box chains and specialty tool shops, serving both weekend DIYers and professional contractors who need to rent rather than buy.

What Whatchamacallit Tools actually is

The store functions as a traditional neighborhood hardware dealer with dual revenue: retail tool and supply sales on one side and equipment rental on the other. The retail floor carries standard fasteners, hand tools, power tools from brands like DeWalt and Milwaukee, safety gear, paint supplies, and small-scale landscaping equipment. The rental inventory includes concrete finishing equipment, pressure washers, drywall lifts, scaffolding, and seasonal items such as snow removal machines. The operation is small enough that staff can walk a customer to what they need rather than direct them to an aisle number, but large enough to stock both niche items and everyday consumables in one visit.

Services, rental rates, and pricing

Rental pricing is daily, weekly, and monthly. A concrete saw rents for approximately $40 to $60 per day depending on model; a drywall lift runs $25 to $35 daily. Weekly rates offer 20 to 30 percent savings over daily pricing, and monthly rentals negotiate case by case. Retail hand tools range from $8 for basic screwdriver sets to $200 for mid-range cordless drill kits. Paint and supplies follow standard industry pricing: interior latex paint averages $25 to $35 per gallon, and sandpaper, caulk, and fasteners price within 10 percent of Home Depot's published rates. A damage deposit equal to 10 to 15 percent of rental value is standard; customers must present a valid ID and a credit card.

How Whatchamacallit compares to other Oklahoma City options

Home Depot and Lowe's offer broader retail selection and lower per-unit pricing on commodity items like lumber and drywall, but their rental desks stock only the most common equipment and often impose longer reservation queues. Ace Hardware locations throughout Oklahoma City compete on customer service and local presence but lack rental departments entirely. Sunbelt Rentals, a regional chain with a location in Oklahoma City, carries heavier industrial equipment (aerial lifts, compressors, trenchers) at higher daily rates but does not sell retail supplies. Whatchamacallit fits the contractor who needs to rent a concrete vibrator this week and buy a box of 16d nails today, without splitting a trip between two vendors or paying Sunbelt's commercial markup on light-duty equipment.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

The store works well for homeowners tackling mid-size projects (kitchen remodel, concrete patio, drywall repair), small contractors on fixed routes who value a local relationship over lowest price, and renters who need weekend-only access to a specific tool. It does not suit customers building a house (they need lumber yards and volume discounts), those seeking specialized automotive or plumbing supplies (specialty distributors stock deeper inventory), or price-conscious shoppers buying paint by the case. Parking is on-site, uncrowded, and free.

What the first visit involves

Walk in, state your project or the tool you need to rent, and expect a staff member to either point to the shelf section or quote rental availability on the spot. Rentals require a phone number, driver's license number, and a credit card imprint; the entire intake takes five to ten minutes. Pickup and return are during posted store hours, and late returns incur daily overages. The register area is small, so busy afternoons can mean short waits; the store does not accept online reservations, so calling ahead for rental availability on weekends is smart practice.

Hours, parking, and logistics

The store operates Monday through Saturday, typically 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., though hours vary seasonally and with staffing; confirm before a visit. The location is in central Oklahoma City, accessible by car with free lot parking. No public transportation option serves it directly. The retail area is roughly 5,000 square feet, and inventory turns over based on contractor demand, so specialty items may require a call ahead.

Whatchamacallit Tools fills a specific niche in Oklahoma City's hardware landscape: it moves fast enough to avoid the sprawl of big boxes, personal enough to know regulars by name, and flexible enough to handle rentals that chain stores deprioritize. For a mid-sized project or a one-time equipment need, it saves time and often money compared to splitting a trip or overnighting a rental delivery.