Prospecter
Well-known member
I buy tools this way, too. Sometimes with the same result, though often once I have the tool, I find unanticipated need for it.
Harry J Epstein Day 2026
- Thread starter NUTTSGT
- Start date
NightSky
Well-known member
I recognize '24 & '26 (top & bottom of left pic) and '25 (bottom of right pic). The others are Before My Time (BMT). Got the release years for the other 4?
Edit: Looks like top in middle pic has a date of 7/4/2014. I like the "Like a Kid in a Candy Store" themed one.
I got an email the other day apologizing for the delay, to which I replied, "Take all the time you need!"
Yesterday, I got an automated email saying my shipping label has been printed. So, either we're waiting for the box art, or one of the things I ordered, or just for USPS to show up and pick up my package. Either way, this is exciting!!!
Mike
Yesterday, I got an automated email saying my shipping label has been printed. So, either we're waiting for the box art, or one of the things I ordered, or just for USPS to show up and pick up my package. Either way, this is exciting!!!
Mike
I don't know the release years, not sure all those were "official" Epstein Day ones either...
NoahG
Well-known member
I have a bunch at this point (8 or more?) but the original construction cat is still my favorite.
I’d love a hi-viz with that ferrous feline on it.
I’d love a hi-viz with that ferrous feline on it.
My first order arrived Thursday. Some Channel Locks and HJE Wilde’s. Crescent 6”& 8” USA adjustables. Norseman TiN bits. Mayhew long picks. Koken wing nut socket. Clown hammer for my brother and service wrenches from Wright and Martin. I’ve been buying cheap wrenches and cutting them to get on hydraulic fittings on my skid steer and mini excavator but the angled service wrenches work better most of the time. Box art was Mt Rushmore with American Flag and fireworks as a backdrop for our 250th. Have a few back ordered items still to come.
Thanks Jori and the HJE Team
NightSky
Well-known member
These arrived a week or so ago in two shipments including one with box art - Beatles performing "Hard Day's Night". Appropriate for the HJE band of boxers. Paul is there playing left handed bass, too. @RCCSUPER, from my Fab four to your Fab four, the Mt Rushmore box art gets our vote for best of the event.
Starting with the required bomb tethers, then onto a couple of tweezers, steel S-hook (no use case for the hook as yet but they look like more fun than a barrel of monkeys; I will have to order a few more), and a couple of 2026 Epstein's day shirts (one for a Christmas gift),
Norseman Hi-Molybdenum bit set, Magnolia pan brush, combo pocket stone, Felo impact bit set, Lutz chainsaw file handle, Wright 1/4 & 3/8 ratchets, two Felo screwdrivers (mystery box), Bondhus metric balldriver set, 10" Cresent adj wrench, anniversary pliers, Nicholson 12" rasp and Magnolia bench brush.
As others have said, much thanks to the staff and management at HJE.
Starting with the required bomb tethers, then onto a couple of tweezers, steel S-hook (no use case for the hook as yet but they look like more fun than a barrel of monkeys; I will have to order a few more), and a couple of 2026 Epstein's day shirts (one for a Christmas gift),
Norseman Hi-Molybdenum bit set, Magnolia pan brush, combo pocket stone, Felo impact bit set, Lutz chainsaw file handle, Wright 1/4 & 3/8 ratchets, two Felo screwdrivers (mystery box), Bondhus metric balldriver set, 10" Cresent adj wrench, anniversary pliers, Nicholson 12" rasp and Magnolia bench brush.
As others have said, much thanks to the staff and management at HJE.
brglasp
Active member
I stopped by the store yesterday to pick up the plier set and pipe vise I won and also doing my part and bought some 6-foot boxes. It was great to see the store on pancake Saturday. It was very busy. I didn't stick around long Jori had his hands full and I didn't want to distract more than I already did. Really appreciate everything Jori. I'm really enjoying the short videos and the shenanigans.
Lumberjack_bw
Member
Crabman
Well-known member
@Lumberjack_bw
This question probably better posed as a new thread in the vintage tool forum. Cool stuff.
www.garagejournal.com
This question probably better posed as a new thread in the vintage tool forum. Cool stuff.
Vintage Tool Discussion
The place to rap on and on about all things vintage - from wrenches to lathes...
www.garagejournal.com
Prospecter
Well-known member
I use my hand me down tools that are useful. As useful keepsakes, I get more enjoyment that way. Un-useful keepsakes are typically on the wall of the shop.
Odd-job
Well-known member
curious minds want to know what the use case may be for those 6 foot boxes
NightSky
Well-known member
Looks like one might ship a pair of pipe vises in each...curious minds want to know what the use case may be for those 6 foot boxes
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Not actually from HJE day, but a follow up order from them:
Lumberjack_bw
Member
Wow, those are in nice shape. I have a hammer from my grandfather (RIP), completely covered in random paint splatters. Seriously, I have no clue how someone could get that much wet paint onto a hammer! I've been using it as-is...
-----
My HJE Day order status is unchanged: "Label printed."
Mike
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Runs about 3:00
David99
Well-known member
My order arrived today-
The Grayvik Hammer & Folding Hex Keys were the mystery box items.
Thanks Jori & Crew. Everything arrived intact & well packed as always.
The Grayvik Hammer & Folding Hex Keys were the mystery box items.
Thanks Jori & Crew. Everything arrived intact & well packed as always.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Who won the Klein stool?
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Another order... I asked for Godzilla for my wife.... She liked it, thanks artist.
Ordered a few wright ratchets.
On the right, an open head 1/4 and 3/8" ratchet (3482). I wanted it for when I am in the muck or water and want to be able to just spray it clean... I was avoiding it but like it much better than I expected. A few comments on it. First, easy to change direction even with gloves. If something is very light and too much backdrag prevents putting something on or off, you can turn the gear manually. The handle looks uncomfortable, but holds well in my hand; surprised.
The center ratchet (3429 N2F) has 80 something teeth, a flex head, a bent handle, and the oddest comfort grip. I have not tested under load yet, but...
The 80 something teeth is much better (for me). Much smoother and nicer.
The flex head has 7 detents that hold well, but you only have 7 positions. I think it will work fine but until I ask trying to teach those crazy things who knows.
I think I would hate this sad excuse for a comfort grip on a straight ratchet, but it feels fine in my hand on the angled handle.
The last ratchet is a long time favorite of mine, a 3/8" ratchet(3440) in a 1/4" size flex head. The flex head has those 7 detents as mentioned above but not nearly as stiff as the other. I really like this queen space is a little tights and I still want a 3/8" they're than a 1/4". The handle holds well and is usually almost completely contained in my hand.
Still waiting on some things from a previous order.
Ordered a few wright ratchets.
On the right, an open head 1/4 and 3/8" ratchet (3482). I wanted it for when I am in the muck or water and want to be able to just spray it clean... I was avoiding it but like it much better than I expected. A few comments on it. First, easy to change direction even with gloves. If something is very light and too much backdrag prevents putting something on or off, you can turn the gear manually. The handle looks uncomfortable, but holds well in my hand; surprised.
The center ratchet (3429 N2F) has 80 something teeth, a flex head, a bent handle, and the oddest comfort grip. I have not tested under load yet, but...
The 80 something teeth is much better (for me). Much smoother and nicer.
The flex head has 7 detents that hold well, but you only have 7 positions. I think it will work fine but until I ask trying to teach those crazy things who knows.
I think I would hate this sad excuse for a comfort grip on a straight ratchet, but it feels fine in my hand on the angled handle.
The last ratchet is a long time favorite of mine, a 3/8" ratchet(3440) in a 1/4" size flex head. The flex head has those 7 detents as mentioned above but not nearly as stiff as the other. I really like this queen space is a little tights and I still want a 3/8" they're than a 1/4". The handle holds well and is usually almost completely contained in my hand.
Still waiting on some things from a previous order.
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curious minds want to know what the use case may be for those 6 foot boxes
Smuggling muskets to the rebels in Myanmar?
four.cycle
Well-known member
wait.... what????
they're using muzzle-loading flintlocks?
srsly?
they're using muzzle-loading flintlocks?
srsly?
NightSky
Well-known member
Bureaucrats at the top spent the budget on smart uniforms.
Is that like "smart casual???"
And no, I still don't really know what that is, either.
---
My HJE Day box shipped!!! ETA is Friday, but it's USPS, so...
Mike
NightSky
Well-known member
Smart as in old school smart. According to definition 3a from Merriam-Webster:
"neat entry 1, trim entry 2
soldiers in smart uniforms" (a bit of a circular example, in this context)
Congrats on the shipment of your HJE order. Wishing you the very best service that the USPS can muster.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The balance of my HJE Day order arrived:
Yes. When I started that google search last night I was looking for rebels in Bhutan. Last pic I had seen of muskets there was maybe 20 years ago, but that was also the last time I had read anything about tensions in Bhutan. (I may be misremembering which Himalayan nation it was. Tibet it wasn't.)
More here:
Now to get back on topic, just got my 4th HJE order:
Needles from C. S. Osborne in NJ, one of America's oldest companies.
12" non-metric ruler from PEC - I wanted black in hopes of better visibility. Looked better with a little WD-40. For all of my pooping on the measuring system using a king's foot and fractions, the other day I needed a ruler, not a measuring tape, and realized I was rich in metric steel rules, but not something like this.
Scraper by Dexter-Russell, this one is thinner and quite flexible compared to the last one I bought. It looked better after WD-40 cleanup, too.
From Newell, a
The PEC ruler was a blemished factory liquidation deal. I like the 1/8ths marking edge, my eyes can see that.
Like the other Dexter-Russell Green scraper I recently got, this one is MADE TO ORDER. I guess that's their way of saying, "If you come at us with a warranty claim we know this wasn't one of our standard model numbers, and if you want to buy another, we don't normally have these around." I guess it's also a way of saying, "If you really want these, order 500, then we can talk."
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But not too much! They're in the part of the world that sews clothing for cheap!
The balance of my HJE Day order arrived:
Those are fencing pliers, right? I always knew what the hammer tip part was for, fencing staples. Is the pointy part for removing staples?
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes they are fence pliers and the point is for removing staples. Funny occurrence, I bought two pairs of those pliers. One I was going to keep and the other give to my son who has some fencing to put up (which I intend to help with). Turns out he bought the same pliers this morning. I told him to return the ones he bought and use the free ones I just gave him.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
When you're standing in the middle of a cow pasture in 90-degree heat, you would be amazed what you can accomplish with that device.
It's a hammer, wire cutter, pry bar, wire stretcher, nail puller, pliers, gouge, and bottle opener (if you're tricky.)
Barbed wire fencing is younger man's work, though. I don't think I've used mine since the mid-1990s.
You lookin' for a pair?
Ending3852
Active member
Received the majority of my order today! Finally got my first set of Norseman bits, anxious to try them out!
Council 3.5 LB Double Bit Axe w/ Black Fiberglass Handle (352MRFG)
Council Tool 6 LB Wooden Handled Sledge Hammer (PR600)
US Made Leather Axe Sheath for Double Bit Axe (A7)
Norseman SPM-29P Magnum Super Premium Mechanic 29 Pc Set (SPM-29P) (66820)
US Made Yankee Serrated Tip Tweezers Unbranded (TW-STTU)
250th Anniversary HJE 10" Pliers (Made in the ol' USA) #1776
5" Goodell Flex Tape Knife (FTK5)
Wilde 6pc Roll Pin Punch Set (RS906.NP/VP)
Shinwa Stainless Steel Fractional Taper Gauge 1/16" - 5/8" (62606)
Enderes 5 1/2" Micro Bar (D37)
Lutz 6" Acrylic Protractor (6180)
General 2-1/4" Telescopic Inspection Mirror (5601M)
Wilde 1" Pull Scraper (516C.B/CC)
US Blade Hanging Dispenser Utility Blade (100 pack) (HDP)
A couple items left to fulfill but I’m in no hurry
US Made Top Grain Leather 2 Pocket Electrician's Scissor Sheath (H11)
Ullman 4 Piece Hook and Pick Set (PSP-4)
Council 3.5 LB Double Bit Axe w/ Black Fiberglass Handle (352MRFG)
Council Tool 6 LB Wooden Handled Sledge Hammer (PR600)
US Made Leather Axe Sheath for Double Bit Axe (A7)
Norseman SPM-29P Magnum Super Premium Mechanic 29 Pc Set (SPM-29P) (66820)
US Made Yankee Serrated Tip Tweezers Unbranded (TW-STTU)
250th Anniversary HJE 10" Pliers (Made in the ol' USA) #1776
5" Goodell Flex Tape Knife (FTK5)
Wilde 6pc Roll Pin Punch Set (RS906.NP/VP)
Shinwa Stainless Steel Fractional Taper Gauge 1/16" - 5/8" (62606)
Enderes 5 1/2" Micro Bar (D37)
Lutz 6" Acrylic Protractor (6180)
General 2-1/4" Telescopic Inspection Mirror (5601M)
Wilde 1" Pull Scraper (516C.B/CC)
US Blade Hanging Dispenser Utility Blade (100 pack) (HDP)
A couple items left to fulfill but I’m in no hurry
US Made Top Grain Leather 2 Pocket Electrician's Scissor Sheath (H11)
Ullman 4 Piece Hook and Pick Set (PSP-4)
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Disclaimer: I own a set of Channellock fencing pliers and keep them in my ATV. The problem is that they aren't worth a damn for anything other than pulling staples.When you're standing in the middle of a cow pasture in 90-degree heat, you would be amazed what you can accomplish with that device.
It's a hammer, wire cutter, pry bar, wire stretcher, nail puller, pliers, gouge, and bottle opener (if you're tricky.)
Barbed wire fencing is younger man's work, though. I don't think I've used mine since the mid-1990s.
You lookin' for a pair?
When you're standing in the middle of a cow pasture in 90-degree heat, you would be amazed what you can accomplish with that device.
It's a hammer, wire cutter, pry bar, wire stretcher, nail puller, pliers, gouge, and bottle opener (if you're tricky.)
Barbed wire fencing is younger man's work, though. I don't think I've used mine since the mid-1990s.
You lookin' for a pair?
Nah, I'm good. No livestock here.
Oh, and back off topic:
Which doesn't mean that both the Myanmar rebel and government aren't using drones against each other! Bombing, recon. The world has gotten kinda scary.
NoahG
Well-known member
Alright, the unboxing is finally here!
Box art: surrealist hot dog dreamscape. No ketchup.
Went hard on Wright cause I wanted the free shirt, and I wanted to upgrade a lot of random sockets to American made or a larger drive size. Im a chaos agent and my socket drawer is very mixed yet very comprehensive. (And I’m a Midwest sucker for a promo item)
The chrome collection:
Impacts:
Everyone’s favorite pliers, and a few combos. I’m mostly set on combos now after previous HJE days.
Had fun in the Felo section
And of course , my Koken wing nut sockets, as requested.
Love the shirt
Box art: surrealist hot dog dreamscape. No ketchup.
Went hard on Wright cause I wanted the free shirt, and I wanted to upgrade a lot of random sockets to American made or a larger drive size. Im a chaos agent and my socket drawer is very mixed yet very comprehensive. (And I’m a Midwest sucker for a promo item)
The chrome collection:
Impacts:
Everyone’s favorite pliers, and a few combos. I’m mostly set on combos now after previous HJE days.
Had fun in the Felo section
And of course , my Koken wing nut sockets, as requested.
Love the shirt