i need your opinions about this new tool ...

[freudianfloyd]

I agree with a majority of what has been posted already, but I also know that if your tool had a Snap on logo on it, guys on here would be snatching these things up right and left. Gimmick tools are only gimmicks if the tool truck brands don't have them it seems.

 

[CR888]

I don't think the tool is anywhere near as bad as folks are making it out to be. Its different to a simple right angle attachment. Facom did something similar with a ratchet where you could break the fastener loose then twist the handle to turn the drive anvil. Tall poppy syndrome is rampant, many will want to cut you down because you've achieved something they'd struggle with. Good on you for having a go and making something clever.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Why don’t you send one of your tools to everyone that gave you a neutral or positive response. Include a questionnaire and request them to show it to others and include a level of expertise from don’t know what end of a hammer to use qualified mechanic. The person or original point of contact must have at least one entry for each level for your documentation. Two or more per level would be acceptable even better.
Contact the point of contact act first to find if they will accept your terms and give it a proper effort. Guess you would call it a beta test of sorts. If someone wants to buy it during your test send another unit and keep it going. Of course the original tester would get to keep the tool for their efforts.

 

[CR888]

I agree with a majority of what has been posted already, but I also know that if your tool had a Snap on logo on it, guys on here would be snatching these things up right and left. Gimmick tools are only gimmicks if the tool truck brands don't have them it seems.

Soooo damn true, if Snap On released this these guys would be all over it for $299 retail like a fat kid with a cupcake.

 

[measuredtwice]

Can't believe this topic is still going. If he dropped the part about needing opinions, it would be spam. It's already patented. You don't shell out the big bucks for patent if you need opinions. Advertising without paying a penny to Garage Journal is a much more likely reason for this topic. Three pages of posts have kept it up top for several days.

I assume marketing it was your intention. You went through the cost and effort to get the patent. Better sell a lot of them to earn enough money to defend your patent.

^^This

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

Soooo damn true, if Snap On released this these guys would be all over it for $299 retail like a fat kid with a cupcake.

My completely true and honest opinion is I probably wouldn't spend my money on it, regardless what the branding is.

I'm not trying to be harsh or inconsiderate of OP, I just honestly would never buy it.

To be completely truthful, it looks like a hassle and something I'd never really appreciate and would end up getting lost. I feel as though I would spend more time trying to find the thing and fidgeting with it then I would to just go without one.

I also agree with others here as well, your asking the opinions of alot of guys who have an enthusiasm for tools. This is a tool specific forum after all, and alot of the members here have to use tools everyday.

I think that's where this has gone wrong.

You are definitely going to have much better luck selling this to non professional, non enthusiastic, home gamers. It could be the type off thing they could sell as a bonus item with a cheap socket set or something.

 

[3baygarage]

Soooo damn true, if Snap On released this these guys would be all over it for $299 retail like a fat kid with a cupcake.

Hahahaha! Green frosting, I mean part # please?

 

[lis2323]

Hahahaha! Green frosting, I mean part # please?

The fat kid would be smarter than the rest of us choosing the cupcake over the tool.

 

[acuamundo]

Hello, I want to thank you all for your opinions, I invested a large sum of money to obtain the patent but that is nothing compared to the amount that I have to invest to be able to produce and market this tool, that is why I asked for your opinions.
I would like to have presented a more professional video but I still have not been able to get it, so I had to do this myself and I am not very good with computers and cameras, I also have problems with speech so I could not explain anything during the video .
For those who think that the tool is made of plastic, I want to tell them that it is built of iron and is very strong, I have been using it daily in my workshop for more than two years and it still works perfectly.
Once again, thank you very much to all who took their time to watch the video and share their opinions, thanks to you now I have an idea of what I should do.

 

[HaroRider]

For the father that said you were dumber than a bag of hammers and predicted that you would NEVER amount to anything!

Lmao. Hey lets face it, some guys really dont give a rats *** about the tools they have. ANY bs tool would make them happy.

I have the craftsman "dog bone" wrench in my toolbox. I never used it once or even thought about using it. Only a few draws up I have any socket or wrench Id ever need. I honestly dont know why I still have it. But it was a gift.

Not everyone is like the tool people from gj.

I told my gf I wanted a few new hammers, her response.."Why?" Lol

 

[PugetDude]

... hire a marketing guru tomorrow if not sooner.

Too bad Billy Mays is dead. He'd have been my first choice.
Phil Swift would be a good second choice.
I believe Ron Popeil, is still alive, too.

 

[BarryWells]

Soooo damn true, if Snap On released this these guys would be all over it for $299 retail like a fat kid with a cupcake.

Maybe.
How much per payday is the relevant question there

 

[JJ99SS]

I think it will appeal to more than a few people. I personally am not sure it would have place in my box, unless its right next to my CM dog bone wrench I got for X-mas. But with my amount of sockets, adapters, ratcheting flex everything I'm not sure I'd use it. Those of us on here represent top percentage of people who absolutely love tools and have over 20+ years worth of accumulated tools. Or people who absolutely starting out, but still have a passion for acquiring top quality tools.

Some of what I saw could be applicable for the home gamer. The average person with a small too box and limited options to get that one fastener. Don't get discouraged by us. Make it beefy, make it well, and I'm sure it will sell to the lower 90% of tool amateurs. Try a strength test on it to demonstrate it's toughness.

I saw a few demos in the video that I thought I could do with a 1/4" nut driver (with a socket) that has the 1/4" adapter for the ratchet to go in the top of the handle. I have two of those that rarely get used as well...

 

[ChevyEFI]

Your tool was very tough to find when googling because EZ triggers results from an existing toolmaker. Figure out a more easily remembered, searchable name.

 

[4xdog]

I give you credit, acuamundo, for having the determination to see the patent through to issuance. That takes work (and cash). All of my patents have been through my employers, and even corporations have to gulp sometimes when they reach in their pockets to go through that process.

To be honest, your patent's first claim is one of the longer I've ever read. The *specificity* that the examiner forced you to use really puts you in a box. Yes, it defines your invention and the monopoly granted to you, but it does it with SO much detail that a change in any one of a number of areas could be a way to not infringe on your rights. You really need to think about how strong is your patent.

The idea to combine twisting and turning in a ratchet is not new. One of the more well known versions in the market now is the SBD Facom/Stanley/Proto/Blackhawk/Bostitch rotator ratchet. You'll have to make it clear how your right angle drive is a better solution than one of these.

Here's a thread on this forum where the community has discussed rotator ratchets.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148023

Here's more detail on the SBD rotator ratchets.

image credit: Ultimategarage.com

 

[nikerret]

The part I see value in is allowing the ratchet to keep working when the fastener is free, but doesn’t have enough tension to reset the ratchet.

 

[acuamundo]

Hello
This tool has three fundamental advantages over the other ratchets,
The first is its speed, it is able to multiply the rotation speed of the socket making it much faster than the rest of the ratchets, this makes it very useful when we cannot use power tools.
The second is its effectiveness, regular ratchet stops working once the screw loosen and we have to finish unscrewing it by hand, this tool solves this problem and is able to continue working and multiplying the speed until the screw comes out completely without matter how loose the screw is.
The third is its maneuverability, this tool can be used as a right-angle tool and this added to the fact that it does not stop working when the screw is loose and that it multiplies the speed, makes it ideal for working in places of difficult access.

 

[Vvmvbb]

—-snip

To be honest, your patent's first claim is one of the longer I've ever read. The *specificity* that the examiner forced you to use really puts you in a box. Yes, it defines your invention and the monopoly granted to you, but it does it with SO much detail that a change in any one of a number of areas could be a way to not infringe on your rights. You really need to think about how strong is your patent.

—-snip

Agree - this may be quite serious.

 

[Superbec]

Some of you guys can be harsh. I know the OP asked our opinion but I’m betting he has put his heart and soul, not to mention some bucks into this project. Cut him a break.

I don't get it , why cut him a break? He will go on with this anyway no matter how much it costs , it will probably fail , best case scenario will fill the sale baskets in some brick store .

Using world resources to make useless "tools" has been done before but we should know better by now.

This is an engineering fail from start .
It's sad people put time and money in such a fail, probably some understanding of basic engineering philosophy is needed.

Less useful than sanded toilet paper.

 

[jgromada]

There are a number of ratchets that work by twisting the handle. So this is not a unique idea.

I think Proxxon (from Germany) is one of the best

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0043XY0JM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[acuamundo]

yes, I agree, proxxon is one of the best, but does it have the ability to multiply speed?

 

[readhead]

I am puzzled by your fixation on speed. You mention it in every post. Can you explain?

 

[kythri]

I am puzzled by your fixation on speed. You mention it in every post. Can you explain?

What he means is that for every rotation of the driving end of the tool (what you're operating), the business end rotates X-times more.

So, what would normally equate to one rotation of the fastener without this geegaw actually equates to 1.5 or 2 rotations of the fastener.

The doodad is gear or chain driven. It's not really a force multiplier, but it is a rotation multiplier, hence it's "faster" to install/remove a fastener using this than not using it.

 

[readhead]

I got that. He explained all that early on. I’m trying to figure out if speed is a sales feature. I don’t think I have ever considered speed when buying a ratchet, extension, screwdriver thingy.

 

[lis2323]

Would that mean when the fastener is TIGHT it requires MORE effort to break it loose??

That would be a great selling feature : Build your wrist muscles while using our tool. Ditch that gym membership!

 

[kythri]

I got that. He explained all that early on. I’m trying to figure out if speed is a sales feature. I don’t think I have ever considered speed when buying a ratchet, extension, screwdriver thingy.

Then I'm at a loss, as I figured it was obvious that "speed" was being used as a sales feature of this thing.

 

[acuamundo]

Hello, I work with ratchets every day repairing marine engines in boats and sometimes car engines too, most of the time I work outside the workshop under sunlight and without my power tools that is why speed is very important, so i created this tool to make the ratchets work faster.
This tool can be used in the same way that a normal ratchet is used so no extra force is needed to break the torque when the screw is very tight, once the screw is loosened then you have the option to multiply the speed by two or three times and this causes the screw to come out quickly; Also, this tool, unlike regular ratchets, keeps working until the screw comes out completely and this makes the job faster, thanks to this tool I can disassemble a part of an engine and reassemble it in half the time which requires when using a regular ratchet and without having to use power tools. It is also very small, light and having no handle, we have the option to choose which handle is more comfortable for the work we want to do, it also gives you the option of using it as a right angle adapter. This tool may not be necessary for those who always work in the comfort of a workshop, but for people like me who work in uncomfortable places carrying the least amount of tools possible and with little time, this tool could be a good solution. At least it has been for me for the past few years.

 

[readhead]

That seems reasonable. Thanks for the explanation.