Harry J. Epstein Day 2025
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RTM
Well-known member
There are other 7" tools with dwindling inventory which may motivate me to jump the gun too.
LB-1911
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fishwatcher
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- Jan 26, 2023
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Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Looking on the HE site and I see this flex driver for $17 from Mayhew
A flex driver. OK, I think I need to buy one of these. Sorry, can't wait for "the day". Seeing if I can put in an order today.
Anyone ever use one of these?
Ordered one since I was putting in a wee little order anyway! Have another Malco coming my way because I needed yet one more.
Mayhew 1/4" Flex Bit Driver (45016)
Mayhew 1/4" Flex Bit Driver (45016) Mayhew 1/4" Flex Bit Driver (45016) Flexible bit drivers are used to drive hardware in tight spaces or difficult- to- reach places.
www.harryepstein.com
A flex driver. OK, I think I need to buy one of these. Sorry, can't wait for "the day". Seeing if I can put in an order today.
Anyone ever use one of these?
Ordered one since I was putting in a wee little order anyway! Have another Malco coming my way because I needed yet one more.
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Has anybody ever tried these pliers?
6" E-Z Lock Professional Locking Pliers USA (45260)
Jorgensen's E-Z Lock professional locking pliers automatically size themselves according to the thickness of the material being held. Tensioning screw adjustment. Chromed and nicely finished with grips. Max opening capacity 7/8". Made right here in the USA. - 6" E-Z Lock Professional Locking...
www.harryepstein.com
Here's something I got on a recent order. Looked handy. You can never have enough punches.
3/8 Old Forge Stubby Pin Punch (3804)
3/8 Old Forge Stubby Pin Punch. 4 overall length. - 3/8 Old Forge Stubby Pin Punch///brand_for_product_detail=Old Forge,close_out=Yes,companydescription=Old Forge - Made in the USA,condition=New,condition_google=new,cost=0.100000,countrymade=Made in the...
www.harryepstein.com
Another reminder from the Japanese currency situation, prices on Vessel screwdrivers are quite fair, considering the level of quality, and HJE stocks Vessel!
One example that I can vouch for, having bought last year:
One example that I can vouch for, having bought last year:
Vessel Tools Phillips JIS Tip Screwdriver Set, 6 Pc. (9806JSPB)
Tip Type - Phillips Size - Green:#0 x 75 mm (3")#1 x 75 mm (3")Red:#1 x 75 mm (3")#2 x 150 mm (6")Grey:#2 x 100 mm (4")#3 x 150 mm (6") Green Grip - Useful knurled blade for quick and slipless driving Red Grip - Forged hexagonal bolster for additional wrenching Grey Grip - Blade turns 12°...
www.harryepstein.com
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
I have three different sets of vessels, including that one. The megadors are really nice when I need to do fine kind of screwdriver stuff because they have such nice knurling. Then I have some wood handled things that work really well. If you're going to get them nice and greasy, they're still pretty easy to deal with and clean out. Nice. I guess the term is Wood-Compo. Someone that I think is kind of a fanboy of vessel products was really touting them for working on cars so I decided to give those a try. I can't say he was wrong. Yeah the reason I tried the other sets.Another reminder from the Japanese currency situation, prices on Vessel screwdrivers are quite fair, considering the level of quality, and HJE stocks Vessel!
One example that I can vouch for, having bought last year:
Vessel Tools Phillips JIS Tip Screwdriver Set, 6 Pc. (9806JSPB)
Tip Type - Phillips Size - Green:#0 x 75 mm (3")#1 x 75 mm (3")Red:#1 x 75 mm (3")#2 x 150 mm (6")Grey:#2 x 100 mm (4")#3 x 150 mm (6") Green Grip - Useful knurled blade for quick and slipless driving Red Grip - Forged hexagonal bolster for additional wrenching Grey Grip - Blade turns 12°...www.harryepstein.com
I'm in love with my 25 y/o Wihas, esp. the No. 2 Phillips, but all the talk here (and talk of JIS Phillips) got me trying Vessel. No ragerts! Quite nice.
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Southernbuild
Well-known member
Looks very similar to some Craftsman auto locking pliers (not robo grips) I had 20+ years ago. Tried to like them for a few years, but eventually gave them away. There's probably a use case, but I never found it. Though in fairness, I don't really use visegrips in general much.Has anybody ever tried these pliers?
6" E-Z Lock Professional Locking Pliers USA (45260)
Jorgensen's E-Z Lock professional locking pliers automatically size themselves according to the thickness of the material being held. Tensioning screw adjustment. Chromed and nicely finished with grips. Max opening capacity 7/8". Made right here in the USA. - 6" E-Z Lock Professional Locking...www.harryepstein.com
Southernbuild
Well-known member
I've got a different brand of one, I think its Wiha. It felt handy, but turned out to be extremely rarely used. I keep ratcheting bit drivers handy, which typically can handle screws in bad locations, quicker than digging out a specialty tool. But, for $17 maybe I should buy one to keep with my main tools....Looking on the HE site and I see this flex driver for $17 from Mayhew
Mayhew 1/4" Flex Bit Driver (45016)
Mayhew 1/4" Flex Bit Driver (45016) Mayhew 1/4" Flex Bit Driver (45016) Flexible bit drivers are used to drive hardware in tight spaces or difficult- to- reach places.www.harryepstein.com
A flex driver. OK, I think I need to buy one of these. Sorry, can't wait for "the day". Seeing if I can put in an order today.
Anyone ever use one of these?
Ordered one since I was putting in a wee little order anyway! Have another Malco coming my way because I needed yet one more.
On a similar note, I've got a 6" spring / flex socket extension that I've never used. It feels like a bad combo for torque / placement. Has anyone used one of them?
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
I have at least one that I don't use often and I've had it for a very long time. I've only needed to use it. Maybe five or six times. And I have had it for years and it has always worked. Even with some torque. Probably wouldn't handle a lot of torque but I managed to get some things tighter than I expected.
The flexible manual driver that I link to arrived today and I guess I didn't realize how long it is. It is insanely long.
It is in the top right. You'll also see some wright tools extensions. Decided to try an SK USA long nose pliers. I think I need to break them in. They're pretty tight.
You'll notice a bunch of wright grip 2.0 combination wrenches up to 30 mm. Wright does not make a 31 mm, so I picked one up from Tekton. And I was really confused as to why they did not include my 32 mm wrench until I realized I didn't order it... So I have another order coming from them.
If you look very closely also on that top right you'll notice a 3/8-in ratchet with this tiny little head that can get into anywhere. It has a flex head.
3/8" Drive Wright Miniature Flex Ratchet 5-1/2" Contour Handle (3440WR
3/8" Drive Wright Miniature Flex Ratchet 5-1/2" Contour Handle///brand_for_product_detail=Wright Tool,close_out=No,companydescription=Wright Tool - Made in the USA,condition=New,condition_google=new,cost=49.840000,countrymade=Made in the...
www.harryepstein.com
3440WR from Wright Tools. I now own two of them. I also have the 1/4 version. Put it on your list of things to consider.
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Yeah, since I posted that question, I searched some and found they're Jorgensons and reviews at GJ have been pretty mixed. Even though I'm a fiend for pliers and they're cheap, I can resist these.
My memory says that the little drawer that held, among other things, pliers in my little red three-drawer Craftsman box was mostly three Vise Grips and I'm sure I used them for everything but... boy, I hardly touch them now, and I'm not sure why... other than all of the other pliers I've bought since getting a much bigger tool chest, place for things, found GJ, all around the same time. And, you know, Knipex.
I think those were originally introduced by leverage tools. They work pretty well, but I never tried the ones HJE sells
US Patent: 2,751,801 - Self-Adjusting Plier-Type Toggle Locking Wrench
US patent 2,751,801 Self-Adjusting Plier-Type Toggle Locking Wrench was issued to John L. Hostetter of Murray, NE. It was granted on 06/26/1956. The adjustment is created by wedge-shaped components sliding past each other. The compression spring in the **** of the handle keeps the wedges in con
www.datamp.org
fishwatcher
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- Jan 26, 2023
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Here are a few things I bought from HJE (first timer) along with other tools for comparison.
Magnolia Tampico counter brush made in USA and HF bench brush (I previously stained and sealed the HF with polyurethane). The HF bristles are much softer and the handle is narrower. The Magnolia certainly feels like a good quality product.
Malco 7” straight jaw Eagle Grip vs Irwin 10” curved jaw vise grips. The Malco sure is nice, but very slippery. I assume my Irwin (bought 15 years ago??) are made in China since it doesn’t say made in USA. They seem fine to me. I still don’t think I’ll use this much.. as anything that needs this would likely get marred by the jaws.
Bonney 3/8” combination wrench replaces a missing Mastergrip in my backup toolset. I’ve had this set forever and just wanted to fill my gap. The Bonney is a higher quality tool, but most importantly.. it fit nicely in the blow mold case.
That’s it. I bought a couple of cheap file handles as spares. They look good, but I didn’t take pictures of them.
Great online shop. Wish I could go there in person.
Magnolia Tampico counter brush made in USA and HF bench brush (I previously stained and sealed the HF with polyurethane). The HF bristles are much softer and the handle is narrower. The Magnolia certainly feels like a good quality product.
Malco 7” straight jaw Eagle Grip vs Irwin 10” curved jaw vise grips. The Malco sure is nice, but very slippery. I assume my Irwin (bought 15 years ago??) are made in China since it doesn’t say made in USA. They seem fine to me. I still don’t think I’ll use this much.. as anything that needs this would likely get marred by the jaws.
Bonney 3/8” combination wrench replaces a missing Mastergrip in my backup toolset. I’ve had this set forever and just wanted to fill my gap. The Bonney is a higher quality tool, but most importantly.. it fit nicely in the blow mold case.
That’s it. I bought a couple of cheap file handles as spares. They look good, but I didn’t take pictures of them.
Great online shop. Wish I could go there in person.
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Another bit of HJE magic: ordering drill bits made in America, in union shops, in sets, or singles! Fill gaps in your index where the lost and broken have not returned:
Norseman 5/64" Moly Vortex Drill Bit Mechanic's Length (22583)
Norseman 5/64" Moly Vortex Drill Bit Mechanic's Length (22583)
www.harryepstein.com
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Those vortex bits are simply amazing.... I have a full set of them and they just drill through anything I want and they're also really useful if I need to enlarge a hole.Another bit of HJE magic: ordering drill bits made in America, in union shops, in sets, or singles! Fill gaps in your index where the lost and broken have not returned:
Norseman 5/64" Moly Vortex Drill Bit Mechanic's Length (22583)
Norseman 5/64" Moly Vortex Drill Bit Mechanic's Length (22583)www.harryepstein.com
And if you choose the right set and you can drill to almost anything
Alas, I bought my plastic cup container o' Norseman from HJE before the Vortex era! But I sure do like what I do have.
VORTEX–POINT™ Mechanics Length — Norseman™ Drill and Tool
VORTEX–POINT™ - Unique tip geometry reduces heat generation and increasing tool life.
fishwatcher
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- Jan 26, 2023
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What’s the quality of these Husky USA screwdrivers?
https://www.harryepstein.com/products/10-piece-husky-usa-screwdriver-set?variant=47458857943337
I actually have an 18 piece set, same stuff I think. But didn’t get it from HJE. I haven’t put them to use.
https://www.harryepstein.com/products/10-piece-husky-usa-screwdriver-set?variant=47458857943337
I actually have an 18 piece set, same stuff I think. But didn’t get it from HJE. I haven’t put them to use.
They are close to the same as similar era Western Forge Craftsman screwdrivers, with the same *new* Craftsman smell. They aren't all marked "wf" however.
Something else neat at HJE? American-made hatchets, axes, sledgehammers, and other implements of destruction from Council Tool, a 4th-generation American company in North Carolina.
Would you like a normal ol' wooden handled real hatchet, made in America, like you used in the Boy Scouts? HJE/Council has that for under $40:
Want an American-made leather sheath for that or some other ax?
If you want to spend big money and get something fancy, Council also makes some higher-end axes, and HJE also sells Gransfors-Burk from Sweden, and this thing from Japan which I have to assume is outstanding:
counciltool.com
Would you like a normal ol' wooden handled real hatchet, made in America, like you used in the Boy Scouts? HJE/Council has that for under $40:
Council Tool 2 lb. Dayton Axe Head w/ a 14″ Curved Hickory Handle
Council Tool 2 lb. Dayton Axe Head w/ a 14″ Curved Hickory Handle
www.harryepstein.com
Want an American-made leather sheath for that or some other ax?
If you want to spend big money and get something fancy, Council also makes some higher-end axes, and HJE also sells Gransfors-Burk from Sweden, and this thing from Japan which I have to assume is outstanding:
Kanetsune Danro Axe (KB158)
14.25" overall 4.75" axe head 3" cutting edge 1.5 lb overall weight White Oak handle Lanyard hole SC steel blade Brown leather belt sheath The KB-158 Danro Axe features a SC steel (mono steel) (high carbon steel) blade with oak wood handle. This hand axe, "Danro White", is a Japanese traditional...
www.harryepstein.com
Home - Council Tool
Browse Product Lines To view or download our Digital Catalog click here. Professional Grade, American-Made. Since 1886. At Council Tool, we specialize in professional-grade, American-made forged striking tools: axes, mauls, sledgehammers, pry bars, fire tools, and more. Our full product line is...
counciltool.com
Council Tool
The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidation
www.harryepstein.com
You can find all sorts of neat American-made leatherwork products for sale at HJE. If you search for "sheath" you not only find ax sheaths, but sheaths for various popular knives (and Mora!) and tools. They also have had two items for Opinel knife users, and this model # turned out to have another great use.
That's a 6" Smithey skillet but I've found it fit lots of larger skillets in our fleet. Leather eventually shrinks a little from heat and exposure to a little water in the sink. This one has a small crack on the bottom side. I don't remove this one anymore. Very handy for minor adjustments on the burner and careful moving of the skillet, without having to grab a potholder or mitt. (Anything serious, I use mitts.)
That's a 6" Smithey skillet but I've found it fit lots of larger skillets in our fleet. Leather eventually shrinks a little from heat and exposure to a little water in the sink. This one has a small crack on the bottom side. I don't remove this one anymore. Very handy for minor adjustments on the burner and careful moving of the skillet, without having to grab a potholder or mitt. (Anything serious, I use mitts.)
Top Grain Leather Knife Sheath for Opinel #7 and #8 (OP1)
Top Grain Leather Knife Sheath for Opinel #7 and #8 (OP1)
www.harryepstein.com
Prospecter
Well-known member
Squankum: I'm enjoying your HJE finds. Even added some of them to my list. Keep 'em coming! 
Tentatively interested in this stubby/odd angle ratchet: TOP RH-4SF. That's definitely a Taiwanese ratchet in a Japanese handle, though, right?
Squankum: I'm enjoying your HJE finds. Even added some of them to my list. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks! These weeks before the big weekend, I start thinking of all of the neat things I've seen people get there, and especially that I've gotten from them over the years.
An American-made brass hammer for a fair price:
They really do have a lot of hammers.
An American-made tape measure? I bought a 25 footer just like this years ago. These are the kind that look like metal, but its really just very silvery plastic, but they're still pretty darned durable. I'll be getting one of these for my road bag:
Got this last year for a pesky project I still havent had the courage to go after, but that will change soon:
10 pc Norseman USA Left Hand Screw Machine & Square Extractor Set
10 pc Norseman USA Left Hand Screw Machine & Square Extractor Set
www.harryepstein.com
I don't know, says COO Japan, and KoKen makes many ratchets in Japan, too.
I'd never heard of a wobble ratchet and now I feel like I've missed out!
I've not heard of TOP from Japan, so I checked HJE. Lots of fancy crescent wrenches! Luckily, nothing to tempt me.
Looking for that brass hammer by Grace earlier I stumbled across these padlocks:
They look quite nice, and American-made. Let me google to see...
Ryan approved!
www.garagejournal.com
Quite the history as a padlock company! Neat.
www.padlocks.com
They look quite nice, and American-made. Let me google to see...
Ryan approved!
Wilson Bohannan Padlock Company
These are my favorite padlocks. I use them on fences, tool boxes, and just about anything else that needs to be secured. They are based out of Ohio and all locks are manufactured in the USA. Check them out here.
www.garagejournal.com
Quite the history as a padlock company! Neat.
Padlocks and Padlock Accessories | Wilson Bohannan | Marion Ohio
Wilson Bohannan Padlocks Company History
www.padlocks.com
RTM
Well-known member
I bought this a year or two ago, and can’t find where I hid it. Knew I would need it someday.Got this last year for a pesky project I still havent had the courage to go after, but that will change soon:
10 pc Norseman USA Left Hand Screw Machine & Square Extractor Set
10 pc Norseman USA Left Hand Screw Machine & Square Extractor Setwww.harryepstein.com
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I got them to carry theseLooking for that brass hammer by Grace earlier I stumbled across these padlocks:
They look quite nice, and American-made. Let me google to see...
Ryan approved!
Wilson Bohannan Padlock Company
These are my favorite padlocks. I use them on fences, tool boxes, and just about anything else that needs to be secured. They are based out of Ohio and all locks are manufactured in the USA. Check them out here.
Quite the history as a padlock company! Neat.
Padlocks and Padlock Accessories | Wilson Bohannan | Marion Ohio
Wilson Bohannan Padlocks Company History
They have a website here: https://www.toptools.co.jp/english/products/I don't know, says COO Japan, and KoKen makes many ratchets in Japan, too.
I'd never heard of a wobble ratchet and now I feel like I've missed out!
I've not heard of TOP from Japan, so I checked HJE. Lots of fancy crescent wrenches! Luckily, nothing to tempt me.
I had a little trouble finding it the first time because their name isn't very searchable.
I have one of their 12" adjustables, which is well finished, though otherwise pretty standard. They made a big deal out of the worm screw, which looks exactly like every other company's as far as I can tell.
I have the funky "vertical motor wrench" for sale at HJE as well, which I needed for one bolt, once. Now I'm always looking for somewhere to use it. Maybe I'll frame it on a wall somewhere. I thought it would be bigger, and there's a pretty gnarly weld on the backside, but it does open to 88mm and not many wrenches do.
As for the ratchet, I'm convinced it's Taiwanese. TOP does manufacture other ratchets, but with less than 36 teeth.
I don't know how they got to the name "vertical motor wrench", but it looks very a very well built, slightly different crescent wrench. The tips as drain wrench is a good idea.
VERTICAL MOTOR WRENCH - TOP KOGYO
www.toptools.co.jp
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Whoa! Just went looking for the ancient crude WWII punches they used to sell, and found this instead, a Japanese hole punch for leather and cloth, with a minor Yankee screwdriver action to it.
Nonaka Japanese Multipurpose Screw / Hole Puncher (SCREW-PUNCH)
The screw punch is a screw-in type drilling punch from NONAKA Mfg.co.Ltd. Since the blade automatically rotates just by pushing it from above, you can easily make holes in leather, cloth, paper, etc. without using force. Well suited for leather crafts. The punch blades are manually sharpened one...
www.harryepstein.com
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four.cycle
Well-known member
echoing @Squankum's post (post #87) above - the "Old Forge" 3/8" steel punch @ $2.50 is too good a deal to pass up.
OK, I found the crusty old punches I was looking for earlier. Bought a set of these from HJE years ago. I have learned through experience that they're not even for thin sheet metal. Well, bang them with a hammer repeatedly, maybe, but it's abuse. Then again, they sure feel like they can take some abuse.
"1", 7/8", 9/16" - These are military hole punches probably made for the Korean War. They've never been used but they've sat in a warehouse for a long time and developed some surface rust."
For those of you who have ever loved a "woobie" poncho liner, how about a woobie shirt? Steve Sackin isn't just a male model, he can be seen wearing his in HJE videos.
"1", 7/8", 9/16" - These are military hole punches probably made for the Korean War. They've never been used but they've sat in a warehouse for a long time and developed some surface rust."
For those of you who have ever loved a "woobie" poncho liner, how about a woobie shirt? Steve Sackin isn't just a male model, he can be seen wearing his in HJE videos.
Sadly only available in medium or extra-small
RTM
Well-known member
I Think of those for leather, nylon webbing, or canvas, or wood veneer, gasket material and the like. Definitely not real metal, maybe copper or brass sheets for shim material.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Sad news from HJE:
DarkMonohue
Well-known member
I saw that jacket in the thumbnail and reflexively feared the worst. My heart goes out to Jori, of course, and to everyone whose life was touched by Steve one way or another.
Jori, thank you so much for sharing your dad with us. We'll miss him, too.