New Invention: The Tool Swing: New videos

Richsgarage · Jan 21, 2018

Hi everyone, Update 8/18/2025

New videos

Old videos
The Tool Swing Videos!

Watch The Tool Swing stand up to a Sledge Hammer!

How I use The Tool Swing in my shop.

The Tool Swing with a Bench Grinder

The Tool Swing with a Bender

Hope you guys enjoy these. I'm not very good at this kind of thing so try not to be to harsh on me

If you enjoyed the videos, here's some background on me and The Tool Swing:

My Name is Rich Meyer. :beer:

I'm an old farm kid from out in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. I now live in Omaha NE and I'm a truck driver. Been here for about 18 years. A friend of mine told me about this forum. Gotta say..... WOW! This is incredible!!! Sooooo much great stuff here!!!!! Not sure how to even explain how over whelming it is!!

My shop.... up until about a year ago was just in my small 2 car garage connected to the house. Started on a new shop in the back about 2 years ago and moved in about 1 year ago. Really wish I would have known about this forum while I was building. So many great ideas!!!!

So the reason I'm here now.... Mainly because I'm looking for a little feedback on my invention....The Tool Swing. My ultimate goal is to make a licencing agreement with a tool company someday soon and let them do what they do best.... sell tools and hopefully.... my tools.

About 10 years ago I started building and selling The Tool Swing on Ebay. Built them in my shop and sold them on Ebay. I ultimately quit only because it became way too time consuming. I felt like I needed to spend that time marketing them to a company. Well.... I've now procrastinated on that for the past 10 years.

At the time I was selling them... I was patent pending. I was later granted a full utility patent in 2011.

I recently made some videos that explain and show how they work and how I use them in my shop. I have a website.... thetoolswing.com but it hasn't been updated in 10 years. Gonna start working on that soon.

The Tool Swings are not currently for sale. At this time, I'm only looking for feedback on The Tool Swing. My ultimate goal is to have them for sale in your local tool store.

Rich, The Tool Swing Guy

victor252 · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

Loved the "abuse" video. Short and sweet. I think some weight ratings (100lb, 200lb, etc) would help quantify the strength of your design. We have become a culture of ratings and numbers, even if the precise numbers are not very relevant, though in your case, they are.

My advice for a new video:
State the load bearing capacity and the specs (what type and gauge steel, welded or bolted) up front when you first demonstrate the large grinder popping out. Then, hammer on some steel like you do in the "abuse" video.

Great design, I'm sure if you can market this correctly. Welcome to GJ, good first post.

MushCreek · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

Looks like a good idea! I imagine that the workbench it is attached to needs to be pretty stout for them to be effective. The only thing I wouldn't like is losing the storage space under the bench, but everything's a trade-of. I have enough room in my shop, so I wouldn't need one. I could use a horizontal version for my milling machine so I can swap out the vise and the rotary table without having to pick them up.

What's your plans for it, if you're not making any more?

royce · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

That is fantastic Rich.
I have a need for a couple of those.
You say these are not available, so my question is do you have any sketches or details of the construction of them and would you be willing to share them?
What a grand idea and product, good on you.

Royce

Richsgarage · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

Thanks!!!! My plan is to go full steam ahead on marketing them to a company. I thought maybe a thread like this that showed some interest would help that along.

I don't have plans or drawings. They were all built off of jigs that I made.

fordnut85 · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

I LOVE the idea, very simple and effective. Like others have said its a trade off with under bench space but for me the real estate on top of the bench is much more important.

On a side note, tell me a little more about that swing arm set up your welders are on in the second video!!!!

bczygan · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

Does the vise mount so the face of the stationary jaw is even with the edge of the mount?

Bill

fordnut85 · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

Forgot to ask what kind of price point your shooting for?

Richsgarage · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

bczygan said:
Does the vise mount so the face of the stationary jaw is even with the edge of the mount?

Bill

Yes I does. I mount my vice's so that you can clamp a piece of pipe or whatever vertically and it won't hit what the vice is mounted on. Generally with about an 1/8" gap.

Richsgarage · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

fordnut85 said:
Forgot to ask what kind of price point your shooting for?

When I was selling them on Ebay 10 years ago. I mainly focused on the bench grinder model and the vice model. Sold equal amounts of each. When I first listed them I had them set at a buy it now for around 80 bucks. Barely sold any until I moved the price up to the 135 range. Go figure.

LawnBoy-5247 · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

I would recommend giving your videos titles that are searchable so people can find them. Also consider filming in a horizontal orientation instead of vertical, that makes viewing of the videos on a computer much better. Finally as others have said come up with a list of specs/ratings for your product.

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

Threadkiller · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

looks like an awesome product. I love stuff like this!

iajonesy · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

That is a great looking product, Rich. They look sturdy and simple and I think you could be on to something here. Good luck with your plan and don't forget your GJ family, we love discounts.

Mike

yost69 · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

I would recommend getting a patent on them if you have not already.

L.Cheapo · Jan 21, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

My high school had the same thing in the Home Ec classroom...which was built in the 1960s. They had sewing machines on them. They're probably still there. The only difference was the latching mechanism.

HOTFR8 · Jan 22, 2018

Checking title change.

maxcarp709 · Jan 22, 2018

Love It!When can I get one?One piece of advice I would give is that folks who reload their own ammo would be another group you could market these swing mounts to.I have seen all sorts of reloading bench setups,from a small bench tucked away in a closet in a townhouse,to elaborate benches that take up half a garage.In all cases,more bench top space is always needed.

Alamedasam · Jan 22, 2018

Great idea! I really like it. Hopefully they will be available soon!

jonshonda · Jan 22, 2018

Great idea!! My only concern w/o having used one "yet" (cough..cough) is that people usually apply some pretty intense forces onto a vise. I would go as far to say that most users abuse their vise. With that said, I would anticipate some issues when the customer has a large item clamped in the vise and starts pounding away with a 5lb maul, or applies leverage trying to remove items with a chisel or punch. I am not implying that the design cannot withstand that abuse, just understand that people do to their equipment.

A bench grinder is an excellent application for the swing. But again i wonder how the pivots will handle the dust and debris from grinding various materials. Not doubting the design at all, that is just my thought process.

Regarding the patent process....i would skip it. Unless you have deep pockets to defend it when the Chinese get a hold of the design, you are all but SOL.

LXCam · Jan 22, 2018

I like it, it's a cool idea and good luck if you decide to market it.

2oolhound · Jan 22, 2018

Very nice! I also like that you introduce yourself with your name, something a lot of entrepreneurs aren't doing these days.

Looks like a few folks have responded who haven't read your 1st posts to see you have a patent, demonstrated beating on the vise and still plan to market them but in a big way.

Great products, good luck in your future plans in getting them manufactured and marketed.

APEowner · Jan 22, 2018

Interesting. I could see that being useful in the race trailer.

cliftonbros89 · Jan 22, 2018

I have to say I really like the idea. Not that I always like taking up shelf space. But this could defiantly have its own place. I’ve actually been thinking of a similar concept for my own shop for something like this. Only what I’m looking for is something for a chop saw that could mount to the side of a work bench. It’d be nice to have the chop saw mounted to the side of the bench with the cutting surface able to be flush with the top of the table when cutting longer material, angle iron, square tubing, and the like.

capww8 · Jan 22, 2018

Shut up and take my money

engineer2 · Jan 22, 2018

I could use one for my bench grinder. I was going to adapt a kitchen cabinet mixer shelf, but I rather have a purpose-built one.

Richsgarage · Jan 22, 2018

cliftonbros89 said:
I have to say I really like the idea. Not that I always like taking up shelf space. But this could defiantly have its own place. I’ve actually been thinking of a similar concept for my own shop for something like this. Only what I’m looking for is something for a chop saw that could mount to the side of a work bench. It’d be nice to have the chop saw mounted to the side of the bench with the cutting surface able to be flush with the top of the table when cutting longer material, angle iron, square tubing, and the like.

Thanks.... Funny you mentioned..... putting a chop saw on one. The very first one I ever built was to get my chop saw out of my way. Maybe 20-25 years ago. It's built right into a bench I was making at that time. I have since mounted a dry cut saw on it so it no longer operates because the new saw was to tall and wouldn't clear to pivot down.... So I just leave it out. It actually sits out in front of the bench.... I went out and took a quick video of it to show ya how slick it works out front with a simple roller system.

When I was building The Tool Swings and selling them 10 years ago.... I built them for chop saws, bench grinders, vices, and miter saws. In the end.... The demand was so much greater for the bench grinder and vice model that I narrowed it down to building just those 2 models.

If I was in the tool selling business..... Which I'm not.... but if I was I would have several models and sizes available. Hopefully someday soon there will be a company doing exactly that.

Richsgarage · Jan 22, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

victor252 said:
Loved the "abuse" video. Short and sweet. I think some weight ratings (100lb, 200lb, etc) would help quantify the strength of your design. We have become a culture of ratings and numbers, even if the precise numbers are not very relevant, though in your case, they are.

My advice for a new video:
State the load bearing capacity and the specs (what type and gauge steel, welded or bolted) up front when you first demonstrate the large grinder popping out. Then, hammer on some steel like you do in the "abuse" video.

Great design, I'm sure if you can market this correctly. Welcome to GJ, good first post.

Yea. Thanks. I couldn't agree more.

Richsgarage · Jan 22, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

fordnut85 said:
I LOVE the idea, very simple and effective. Like others have said its a trade off with under bench space but for me the real estate on top of the bench is much more important.

On a side note, tell me a little more about that swing arm set up your welders are on in the second video!!!!

Thanks.. The welder set up is just a large arm that I built so that my welders don't have to be on a cart. My shop is only 26x26 and I can pull the welders anywhere I might be welding. That is one of the handiest things I've ever built. No more tripping on power cord or fighting with a cart that always seemed to be in my way. I was thinking I'd do a video on that thing as well. Maybe start a thread on it.

driftpin · Jan 22, 2018

Like the guy who mentioned the Home Ec classroom w/the sewing machines on something similar, well, I've seen the same thing in an office, for the typewriter at a secretary's desk. I think it's probably an old idea that Rich has hauled-into the garage.

This reminds me about the guy who put pivoting handles onto the end of a wheelbarrow, so when you dumped its contents, you wouldn't have to change your hand position. During the patent search, they discovered there was little in the way of wheelbarrow patents, and wondered if they might be able to get one. But, the wheelbarrow has been in the public domain for so-long, no 'wheelbarrow patent' for a basic wheelbarrow was possible.

Richsgarage · Jan 22, 2018

Re: The Tool Swing

yost69 said:
I would recommend getting a patent on them if you have not already.

Yep. Already got one. Utility patent was issued in Feb of 2011.

gearhead1 · Jan 22, 2018

I like it, but was skeptical until I saw the video of bending the metal in the vise with a sledge hammer. Not being heavy duty enough just went out the window. I’d seriously consider buying one.

Richsgarage · Jan 22, 2018

capww8 said:
Shut up and take my money

Slackerzinc · Jan 22, 2018

What a great idea! I would be interested in acouple of these for my shop.

Chortler · Jan 22, 2018

Awesome! I hope you get them for sale soon, I would definitely buy one, if not several.

Great work!

ca90ss · Jan 22, 2018

https://www.fastcap.com/content/submit-an-idea

Richsgarage · Jan 22, 2018

ca90ss said:
https://www.fastcap.com/content/submit-an-idea

Thanks. At a quick glance..... This looks super interesting!!!!

Bessy · Jan 22, 2018

Definitely a cool invention, good on you for thinking that up! It reminds me somewhat of something i saw at familyhandyman.com which used a pair of long style gate hinges mounted and bent such that you could swing a bench grinder from underneath the bench 180 degrees to the top. Your solution seems much more elegant in comparison, so I look forward to seeing where it goes.

Good luck!

usdemt · Jan 23, 2018

I am impressed. Not only by the Tool Swing but super jealous of your garage. I would love to see this work out for you and love to see more of your custom setup

Richsgarage · Jan 23, 2018

jonshonda said:
Great idea!! My only concern w/o having used one "yet" (cough..cough) is that people usually apply some pretty intense forces onto a vise. I would go as far to say that most users abuse their vise. With that said, I would anticipate some issues when the customer has a large item clamped in the vise and starts pounding away with a 5lb maul, or applies leverage trying to remove items with a chisel or punch. I am not implying that the design cannot withstand that abuse, just understand that people do to their equipment.

Yea. mmmm.... Maybe a test using even a larger sledge?? :lol_hitti

MacHR · Jan 23, 2018

1. Looks well thought out and sturdy construction. That you have a patent, personally use it for a variety of tools, and have for so long lends credibility. More so than the dude down the road who just made a thing, used it a couple times and it didn’t break, so he thinks he’s awesome- not so credible.
2. Vids are strait forward and have a clear point ++
3. You speak clearly and slowly enough to understand ++
4. Your background story is worth telling in a video. Most of us are interested a product but the story that comes with it is what gets our buy-in and loyalty.
5. Second that about searchable titles on vids
6. Would putting predrilled holes at common tool base dimensions sacrifice the integrity?
If I could have a couple of these and can slip a bolt through and capped it with a nut and put any of my tools on it, I would be more likely to buy rather than if I needed one for each tool. Would also allow anyone to use their existing organization system.
7. I have very little marketing experience but I’m wondering if “shopping” (sending the vid and story/goal) your vids by sending them to some guys on YouTube who seem like they could use them or putting your link and goal on YouTube comment threads might get you some feedback from folks who have worked the process. Also, maybe there’s trade shows where new products are shown to folks in the industry? Google probably knows.
7. A cheap lighting rig or a couple good lightbulbs, that make for good vid lighting (can’t recall which variety and watt is recommended I.e. soft light 100w, day light 60w) would take this from great product and good vid to pretty damn good vid.
8. Thanks for sharing. It’s motivating and inspiring to see someone going through the process. Makes me think- maybe I can do that too...someday.
As always, take with a grain of salt and your mileage may vary [emoji106]
Back to another day of garage organizing for me!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

New Invention: The Tool Swing: New videos

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