Fedwrench's SEMA 2022 TOOL Observations

[Fedwrench]

Here are some of my 2022 SEMA Show Tool Observations:
ASTRO: Always developing new items had a prototype flex head ratcheting flex head handle for 3/8 drive Nano sockets. This will give you the offset many of you crave in an extra long flex head wrench but, in a stronger handle format. Using this handle with the large 3/8 nano socket set would give coverage from 6 mm through 24 mm at a fraction of the cost of an XL flex head ratcheting wrench set.
Ko-Ken: Had a large booth manned by really nice people. The 72 tooth ratchet in 1/4 and 1/2 drive should reach distributors in early 2023. If you look closely at the ****** photo of the drawer of Ko-Ken Goodness, you'll see that they also have quick release versions of their ratchets coming out around the same time. Locking 3/8 drive extensions are on the horizon too but, you need to tell Ko-Ken to add knurling around the female square drive end.
TEKTON: Nice booth manned by dudes that couldn't answer questions. They said they were "actively working" on getting ratcheting wrenches back in stock but, there were challenges. I mentioned that they should come out with longer flex head ratchets in 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2 like their long comfort grip breaker bars but, the booth dude said people want shorter ratchets not longer ones. My confidence in Tekton lowered slightly after this encounter.
VIM: watch Koon trucking's you tube video on VIM tools at SEMA 2022. VIM has several new wrenches, dual drive sockets, and other tools in the works. I'm not sure if they were trying to see what interested people but, they have several new tools in the works that look promising and some stuff I'm not too sure about..
MAYHEW/CHANNELLOCK: I'm lumping these together because, both companies are releasing new made in the USA screwdrivers. Initially, they're releasing hard handle models with the handle shape of the blue bottle opener pictured below. Soft or dual material handles will follow. The Mayhew version with red, yellow, or red handles are shipping early 2023.
HARBOR FREIGHT: one of the largest tool booths in the upper south hall. I'd say watch their You Tube videos for highlights. Series 3 storage garnered a lot of attention. Dead blow Ball Peen hammers in 16 & 24 oz trim are coming out. Compact impact wrench, an off road floor jack with tires, and many other tools were on display. Love them or hate them, they're growing like weeds.
SK: They had a couple of nice carts on display. One had 4 or so drawers with open storage at the bottom and the other one a full drawer unit. Imported. The SK green was looking good. I posted in another thread about what and where they're making in their PA plant.
KNIPEX: Nothing really new to report on but, they had great giveaways daily at 1100. Tuesday was an orange t-shirt, Wednesday was a 12 inch long pair of Cobras. Thursday was a pliers Rack, and Friday is the mini cobras in the Christmas decoration. Thanks to Knipex for having great giveaways.
WERA: Had their new stuff on display like the Zyklop Pocket tool. not sure what's coming out next.
OK, that's a quick rundown on what I saw. thanks for reading it,

 

[Kent_B]

Kinda sorry to hear about your interaction with Tekton, but I always view your posts and opinions as being rational and unbiased. Thanks for the report

 

[Fedwrench]

Kinda sorry to hear about your interaction with Tekton, but I always view your posts and opinions as being rational and unbiased. Thanks for the report

SEMA can be hard on the exhibitors and attendees alike. No one knows what questions they were bombarded with prior to me showing up. I still like many of their products. I just wasn't impressed by their answers. They didn't offer any show discount codes either.

 

[sweet victory]

Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to the new koken products, and that SK cart looks spectacular. Hope their new communist overlords keep them around for at least a little while.

 

[M6erfan]

Great info @Fedwrench! Thanks

 

[toolmutt]

Thanks for the report. I'm still fighting the Koken discount code temptation you posted.

 

[Qualitytools]

Thanks for sharing. So does KNIPEX make a plier rack now?

 

[Retroman]

Nice review and nice to have the large conventions back in town.
These shows employ lots of people at good wages.
Traffic around the convention center sure ***** though hopefully the new subway will alleviate some of that.

 

[m6z]

Thanks for the info.

I'll be picking up one of those Astro ratchets for the nano sockets.

 

[Outahere]

ASTRO: Always developing new items had a prototype flex head ratcheting flex head handle for 3/8 drive Nano sockets. This will give you the offset many of you crave in an extra long flex head wrench but, in a stronger handle format. Using this handle with the large 3/8 nano socket set would give coverage from 6 mm through 24 mm at a fraction of the cost of an XL flex head ratcheting wrench set.

Do you know the length of this new ratchet?

 

[Fedwrench]

Thanks for sharing. So does KNIPEX make a plier rack now?

I think it's a rebadged Ernst or Hansen maybe. Kind of Tall.

 

[Fedwrench]

Do you know the length of this new ratchet?

I think it was 15 inches overall.

 

[Fedwrench]

Nice review and nice to have the large conventions back in town.
These shows employ lots of people at good wages.
Traffic around the convention center sure ***** though hopefully the new subway will alleviate some of that.

Within the Las Vegas Convention Center, the tesla loop was outstanding at cutting long treks like from south hall to the new, mammoth west hall. I originally thought we would hop into driverless Teslas for the trip but they all had drivers. The tunnels are pretty huge. I'm not sure how I missed the loop being built but, it's impressive. I don't think it reduced external traffic unless you went to that new huge resorts America complex, which wasn't there pre pandemic. When they expand that tunnel system to the airport and other points, the impact will be noticed. Having a 140,000 plus people roll into Vegas for a week is going to stimulate the local economy. I don't think Vegas has fully recovered from the pandemic yet. There's still a lot of buffets closed. Water will be an issue in the near future. Hats off to Vegas law enforcement as their presence was noticeable, and as far as I know, there weren't any major incidents.

 

[Luciferi]

Why does Harbor Freight have a booth at Sema? Are they selling their products wholesale to other stores?

 

[danski0224]

Advertising.

It worked.

 

[dnschmidt]

I think it was 15 inches overall.

I think that was the length of the prototype Chris made by welding one of their long ratchets to the flip head but during our discussions the idea was to make the final length 18" so I'm not really sure how long the final version will be. In either case it's going to be one handy tool.

 

[Lt CHEG]

I noticed the Harbor Freight Icon pry bar on their seam section of their website has USA proudly printed on the handle. Does it appear to be a Mayhew rebrand? Did they have other length prybars as well? Lastly, i thought I saw an Icon ball joint press someplace but can’t find any coverage on it. Is there an icon ball joint press, amd what was your impressions on it? Thanks!

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

We can make the wrench as long at about 18.25-18.3" with current forge works in Taiwan, so that's what we'll do.
Under $30

 

[d.mcfarland]

Add that to my purchase list for sure! Good development @Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

 

[Snapped-off]

The Astro Nano wrench handle and the Thor boot are going on the wish list.

 

[Fedwrench]

We can make the wrench as long at about 18.25-18.3" with current forge works in Taiwan, so that's what we'll do.
Under $30

how soon before we see them? June 2023?

 

[Fedwrench]

I noticed the Harbor Freight Icon pry bar on their seam section of their website has USA proudly printed on the handle. Does it appear to be a Mayhew rebrand? Did they have other length prybars as well? Lastly, i thought I saw an Icon ball joint press someplace but can’t find any coverage on it. Is there an icon ball joint press, amd what was your impressions on it? Thanks!

I'm not sure on the ball joint press. there was a new press next to the new ICON master fuel pressure test kit but, I didn't pay too much attention to it. Harbor Freight just released a video on the USA made Pry Bar. I only saw the monster size one. Yes, it appears to be a dominator in Icon trim.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

how soon before we see them? June 2023?

Hard to say for sure yet, but drafting tooling paperwork for it now

 

[Outahere]

We can make the wrench as long at about 18.25-18.3" with current forge works in Taiwan, so that's what we'll do.
Under $30

It's on my "to buy" list.

 

[toolmutt]

My wallet hates this site! I, on the other hand, .

 

[four.cycle]

SEMA can be hard on the exhibitors and attendees alike.

Any show is hard on the exhibitors and attendees.
I worked shows (APAA and SEMA, among others) as both a buyer and as a vendor.
When you're wearing the purple badge (buyer) at APAA, you've got people coming out of the booths literally pulling you into their booths to give you the pitch. Barely-clad girls sidling up to you right in the middle of the aisles. Cards shoved into your jacket pockets inviting you to "hospitality suites" after the show - complete with free hookers and booze for buyers - just sign that purchase order!
As a vendor, you're up at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning, in the hall by 8:00 am at the latest to get all set up, and then you get hammered all day long until well after dinner time by people who want to tell you their life story. All while you're standing on a concrete floor.
"Brutal" is a gross understatement - either way.

Just a wild guess, but from your first post, it sounds like you didn't hit the Tekton booth when the "A Team" was at bat. On multi-day shows, sometimes you have to juggle your crew around - usually two or three guys can handle a booth for a two-day show easily. No idea how long SEMA runs any more - last time I went was 1984 - Las Vegas - hated every minute of it - was hotter than hell the whole time.

BK

 

[slowtwitch73]

'actively working' on getting ratchet wrenches.

WTF other kind of 'working' is there?

 

[demarpaint]

We can make the wrench as long at about 18.25-18.3" with current forge works in Taiwan, so that's what we'll do.
Under $30

Subscribed, count me in.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Thanks for the feedback, Fedwrench.

 

[Lt CHEG]

Thanks for the feedback, Fedwrench.

Yes, thanks for your coverage of SEMA and for answering our questions FedWrench.

 

[Qualitytools]

I think it's a rebadged Ernst or Hansen maybe. Kind of Tall.

Thanks

 

[dnschmidt]

Any show is hard on the exhibitors and attendees.
I worked shows (APAA and SEMA, among others) as both a buyer and as a vendor.
When you're wearing the purple badge (buyer) at APAA, you've got people coming out of the booths literally pulling you into their booths to give you the pitch. Barely-clad girls sidling up to you right in the middle of the aisles. Cards shoved into your jacket pockets inviting you to "hospitality suites" after the show - complete with free hookers and booze for buyers - just sign that purchase order!
As a vendor, you're up at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning, in the hall by 8:00 am at the latest to get all set up, and then you get hammered all day long until well after dinner time by people who want to tell you their life story. All while you're standing on a concrete floor.
"Brutal" is a gross understatement - either way.

Just a wild guess, but from your first post, it sounds like you didn't hit the Tekton booth when the "A Team" was at bat. On multi-day shows, sometimes you have to juggle your crew around - usually two or three guys can handle a booth for a two-day show easily. No idea how long SEMA runs any more - last time I went was 1984 - Las Vegas - hated every minute of it - was hotter than hell the whole time.

BK

The show has dramatically changed since then. In the good old days of hookers and ****** sliding up to you (man those were the days). Now the ****** are gone (what a shame) and nobody gives out any SWAG which use to be standard fare. I worked the SEMICON trade show in San Francisco when I worked for Alcoa and we gave out Victorinox Swiss army knives to anybody that passed by. Now it you get a pen you're lucky.

 

[kbeefy]

One of my favorite parts of SEMA is the new products gallery. I always stop there first to see if theres anything I need to add to my 'must see' booth list.

Thanks for the report @Fedwrench !

 

[ZRX61]

free hookers?

 

[four.cycle]

oh ****.... I knew I'd get called on that one....

1984.... Chicago.... McCormick Place... got an "invite" to one of those hospitality suites... was my first time at a show, and they sent me solo.
I was completely clueless - the proverbial country bumpkin in the big city.
Went up to the suite ... was like on the 39th floor of some fancy-schmantzy hotel ... they had big table loaded with food.. big hams and stuff... lots of fruit... (I remember the fruit because that was ALL that I consumed during the 10 minutes I was there) ... big room.. about five guys and half a dozen girls...

I asked "Where's everybody at?"
"This is it."
"What?"
"Yeah, we did this for you."

At that point in time, we were down to six stores, but we had the local market on batteries. Nobody could get close to us on batteries, rebuilt water pumps, or rebuilt clutches. Not even close!

We were moving anywhere from 400-600 units a week.

These guys seriously wanted the business.

If you think it was ********, let me assure you - this is the way business is done.

I managed to gracefully extricate myself from the situation in about ten minutes... I went down to Rush Street and got good and drunk.

 

[DIYNY]

We can make the wrench as long at about 18.25-18.3" with current forge works in Taiwan, so that's what we'll do.
Under $30

I have been using gearwrench 86117 with your 3/8 nano sockets. it's 17 something inches and DBE with 120xp flex ratcheting head. it's a perfect wrench for nano sockets except one thing: it doesn't have retaining ring for those 5% of cases when I needed socket to stay firm in a ratcheting head. No big problem as I use paper towel or put spinner on top of socket. So I would suggest to take into account three things:
1. Double box end - fixed end to break fastener loose and then put socket into ratcheting end to spin it off;
2. 17-18 inches for XL wrench is sweet spot;
3. there should be also a set of 3 wrenches like the one above - XL, regular (11"-12") and stubby (5").

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UBCHNE8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[anndel]

Looks like I'll be picking up an Astro ratchet when released. Mahalo Fedwrench for the summary.

 

[Steve_P]

Here are some of my 2022 SEMA Show Tool Observations:

TEKTON: Nice booth manned by dudes that couldn't answer questions. They said they were "actively working" on getting ratcheting wrenches back in stock but, there were challenges. I mentioned that they should come out with longer flex head ratchets in 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2 like their long comfort grip breaker bars but, the booth dude said people want shorter ratchets not longer ones. My confidence in Tekton lowered slightly after this encounter.

I'm a Tekton fan, and have multiple of their 90T ratchets, and like them, but their ratchet selection *****. Most of it seems to be driven by warranty concerns; but they have a short 3/8 drive, 8"?, and a super long 3/8 drive, but not a 9.5-10" 3/8 drive which is the sweet spot to me- more leverage than an 8", but not crazy long so that you can still use it 95% of the time. Besides missing that size, the easy solution would be to offer longer length flex heads and just stamp them "no warranty"; I'd be fine with that since I'm not paying Snap On prices

 

[Dave.R]

TEKTON: Nice booth manned by dudes that couldn't answer questions. They said they were "actively working" on getting ratcheting wrenches back in stock but, there were challenges. I mentioned that they should come out with longer flex head ratchets in 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2 like their long comfort grip breaker bars but, the booth dude said people want shorter ratchets not longer ones. My confidence in Tekton lowered slightly after this encounter.

Hey Fedwrench,

Not sure if I was in the booth when you stopped by, but it sounds like it wasn’t me you spoke with.

Truth of it is, those ratcheting wrenches are frustrating us too. We’re all pretty cautious to give out a date and accidentally over promise and under deliver.

They are a hard “should” be in by January 2023. The supply side things has been all over the place, and trust me, we’d rather be selling them.

As far as the feedback, you’re totally entitled to have opinions on things we should offer and they shouldn’t be so quickly dismissed.

I’ll probably be at most of the Sema shows from now on, shoot me a message and we’ll make time to go over anything you have a question on.

Also, I appreciate the feedback on the team as we are always looking to refine and do these things better.

Thank you again!

Dave

 

[Madjik Man]

Hey Fed,

Not sure if I was in the booth when you stopped by, but it sounds like it wasn’t me you spoke with.

Truth of it is, those ratcheting wrenches are frustrating us too. We’re all pretty cautious to give out a date and accidentally over promise and over deliver.

They are a hard “should” be in by January 2023. The supply side things has been all over the place, and trust me, we’d rather be selling them.

As far as the feedback, you’re totally entitled to have opinions on things we should offer and they shouldn’t be so quickly dismissed.

I’ll probably be at most of the Sema shows from now on, shoot me a message and we’ll make time to go over anything you have a question on.

Also, I appreciate the feedback on the team as we are always looking to refine and do these things better.

Thank you again!

Dave

Well if this is the appropriate place I'd like to give a shout out to Taylor at Tekton. Seems like every time I call he answers and is great to deal with. Always provides me with great information/answers and if he doesn't have them (he has to speak to an engineer) he gets the answer and gives me a call back.