bionic crowbar

[ksfarmboy]

That is pretty dang cool! And very handy! Have you tried Mayhew?

 

[Bull]

My favorite part is when the 2x4 just explodes as the carriage bolt is pulled through the back side.

For $25, I'd pick one up, so keep us posted on those legal ramifications.

Every time I demo a room in my house, I am left with hundreds of nails in the framing members from the old 1930s wallboard that they used. It *****.

Also, the DIY network had a show on within the last six months that you should have been on, where they put several inventors in a head-to-head, and the prize was to have their product mass produced.

 

[tatra]

interesting concept and video, although the nail extractor demo, you don't extend the handle so as to empahsize the extra leverage available to execute the task at hand...........little things like that make me suspect of new products when the full potential of a competiters product is not utilized.........could be your prospective clients had similar questions?..........myself, when i have had nothing but a crowbar , hammer and a broken head, it's quite effective to just beat the crowbar onto the remains of the nail and remove it..........as for "specialty tools", i have no prob going and getting the proper tool if it is available..........i can see some positive attributes but not enough to make me want one.......course if available to use in a real ife scenario may make a believer outta me

 

[benjamin.eby]

the thing to remember here is that most of the tool brands out there don't actually make tools, they just market them. Any one of these companies would probably be willing to sell my crowbar under their brand name- if I could produce it. the initial production would cost around 100,000$, and we have already spent close to that on patents and engineering. what we really need is an investor- which is hard to find in this economy. this board will help because there are 3 pages of people here who seem as axcited about the project as I am (thanks everyone!) which brings me to a question I would like to pose here-
My dad had an idea for a pre-buy option, where we would sell them for around 25$ to the first 4000 people before we had the production dies and molds bought. The first 4000 buyers would be the working capital to get started, they should get their crowbars within a year- they would be serial numbered special edition bars- if we could not get 4000 people to sign on in a specified period everyone would just get their money back but if we did we would go into production and the first crowbars should go up in value for the people who bought in early. just an idea what do you all think?

as for that crescent nail extractor, if you have ever tried to use one-get the nail in the jaws. hold it there, then extend the handle(which is actually a slide hammer) it is damn near impossible to do with the nail in the jaws, - long story short I will take the pepsi-challenge with anything on the market- even with the handle down it was longer than my bar- and they have a 35$ price point. I was just trying to show how difficult that thing is to use. thanks again everyone!

 

[toolphanatic]

Have you seen the new Nail Jack? It grabs the shafts of nails, but it can also be hit with a hammer to dig, and because it is a horizontal approach with pliers like design, you can just open the jaws and reset down to the shaft of nails and pull any length nail out. It is also brand new to the market.

 

[benjamin.eby]

that is pretty cool for a pliers-based puller, our engineered production version can also pull nails of any size, they just come through the bottom and you ratchet down the shaft, there are may nail pullers out there, but I still haven't seen another one pull the head through a board.

 

[toolphanatic]

The smaller Nail Hunter appears to pull the brads right through the bottom, but that's a small tool, and the wood is soft. But most baseboards are made of lower cost wood.

 

[1320stang]

I'd buy one, but are you limited on the length of the fastener sticking out, or are you just cutting them off to show how little you need to grip?

 

[benjamin.eby]

we actually do have a miniature version that uses the same technology but you grab from the sides so it can get up close so the edges in cabinets, the whole thing is only 8 inches long but it will still pull the head of a normal size nail through white pine. this version is not in the video, I will post pics on here if I can figure out how

 

[benjamin.eby]

I'd buy one, but are you limited on the length of the fastener sticking out, or are you just cutting them off to show how little you need to grip?

I was just cutting them off to show you don't need a few inches protruding, in out testing you only need 1/8 inch or sometimes less to grab, when you have a long fastener it will come through the bottom, you can theoretically pull an infinite length fastener- as long as the shaft is less than 1/2 inch in diameter

 

[Bull]

If you need help posting pics, just let me know. If the pics are hosted online (Photobucket) then it is easy as pie to embed here.

 

[geko29]

I'll buy 3, and I'll sign a waiver of liability if I have to. Let us know man, this is a positively awesome tool!

 

[mdbeck1]

I'll buy 3, and I'll sign a waiver of liability if I have to. Let us know man, this is a positively awesome tool!

X2.

I'll take one. Please post a price and don't forget to add shipping (to 73069).
Do you want the waiver first???


BTW: I've just finishing up remodelling the bathroom. This would have been a LOT of help.

 

[toolphanatic]

I will buy one, and I will also try and find you a buyer or let you have some space in my booth at the national hardware show. Let's see if there's a fit.

 

[Junkman]

Put me down for one also...

 

[Sick Puppy]

Count me in too- I don't care about international shipping or the fact I don't work with wood that often- it looks to one of those useful tools that will come in handy when needed

If you are looking at doing an initial marketing (sell 4000 to get seed money), go to the people that would need them- building recyclers etc. My 2c!

 

[ogorir]

put me down for one, too. after tax day, though, unfortunately. :/

 

[Art From De Leon]

Would putting a plastic face on the rolling fulcrum be useful in preventing marking the wood?

 

[Sick Puppy]

Hey Benjamin, what is happening with these? Any luck so far?

 

[scooby074]

Any updates?

As to a manufacturer, Have you tried Lee Valley? Theyre a very good bunch, plus manufacturer a ton of stuff right here in Canada. Theyre always looking for new tool ideas.

What about trying to get on Dragons Den? They could help you out with money and expertise, But they try to get too much of the company in return IMHO.


good luck, it look like a winner.

 

[iandh]

the thing to remember here is that most of the tool brands out there don't actually make tools, they just market them. Any one of these companies would probably be willing to sell my crowbar under their brand name- if I could produce it. the initial production would cost around 100,000$, and we have already spent close to that on patents and engineering. what we really need is an investor- which is hard to find in this economy. this board will help because there are 3 pages of people here who seem as axcited about the project as I am (thanks everyone!) which brings me to a question I would like to pose here-
My dad had an idea for a pre-buy option, where we would sell them for around 25$ to the first 4000 people before we had the production dies and molds bought. The first 4000 buyers would be the working capital to get started, they should get their crowbars within a year- they would be serial numbered special edition bars- if we could not get 4000 people to sign on in a specified period everyone would just get their money back but if we did we would go into production and the first crowbars should go up in value for the people who bought in early. just an idea what do you all think?

as for that crescent nail extractor, if you have ever tried to use one-get the nail in the jaws. hold it there, then extend the handle(which is actually a slide hammer) it is damn near impossible to do with the nail in the jaws, - long story short I will take the pepsi-challenge with anything on the market- even with the handle down it was longer than my bar- and they have a 35$ price point. I was just trying to show how difficult that thing is to use. thanks again everyone!

I think you're going about this the wrong way... you need to do these things gradually.

I own a successful manufacturing business. The way you start products like this, is to make them in the beginning using lasercut, plasmacut, and CNC machined parts, then hand assemble with rivets/pins/welds/etc. Then you sell them at a premium price to the high end professional market.

You take advantage of the clean lines and quality that come with CNC machined parts. You take advantage of the "made in USA" sentiment in your customers.

Pro's have NO problem spending $100+ on a tool that really works that they will use every day, and sometimes they'll spend a lot more.

First you sell in the hundreds... then the thousands. ONLY then do you start tooling up and purchasing forging dies and such.



I did engineering, R&D, industrial process design and automation, and manufacturing for over a decade, and now run my own business doing the same. I'd be happy to give you advice, or even share contact info to good, cost effective shops.

 

[KCarGuy]

I like your Invention, The concept is great, the way it works is great!

But be careful of the delivery of your message.
I rarely purchase anything, even if it works perfect, if I see a video that shows someone using other tools and acting as a complete spaz.
The guy looks like he cant even use a crowbar or hammer correctly...kinda insults the viewers intelligence!
I never buy anything from that style of Infomercial.
My guard is always up and on the defensive.

A good intelligent How-to video will go along way in promoting your goods!
I do hope it does well...Good Luck!

(just my $00.2)