Return of the Bionic Crowbar! You can get them now!

[benjamin.eby]

Hello All, I have not been on here for a while. You may remember my Triple-Lock Socket and my bionic crowbar the Anailator. There was a lot of interest about a year ago in both products, I have since formed a company- E.B. Tool Company to produce them so I am very happy to announce that both will soon be available for purchase.

The first one out will be the crowbar/nailpuller which has been renamed the KwickGripper. It will be available early this summer with the Triple-Lock coming out not long after.

Here is a video we put together for the new KwickGripper

It is much better than the old vid if you remember it, and we still pull nails and log spikes out by the pointed end.

I just wanted to sincerely say thanks to everyone on here who went to the website a year ago and signed up for the discount when they go on sale. I was able to use that proof of interest to get an investor and make this happen. thank you all -Ben Eby

 

[rockchucker]

Looks like it works pretty good. Where is this Tool going to be manufactured?

I still use a Cat's Paw and a good set of Diagonal Cutters. I wouldn't carry it around in the Nail Bags due to it's size but it would work well for clearing Nails out of wood that was going to be reused if there was a lot of it.

Cool Tool though. Thanks for being innovative!

 

[lwlobo]

I do remember your triple-lock socket. I've thought about it several times, was wondering how it's coming.

Just to clarify, when you say "get them now", you mean in May? How much, where will they sell, can we pre-order?

Good luck, I hope it goes big.

 

[dledinger]

I think that's slicker than snot. I remember you getting quite a bit of grief over the original video... Good luck!

 

[volpster31]

i really like that tool.....i love seeing someone with an idea make it happen and i WILL be buying one of these(if its u.s made)

 

[Sh1thead]

Good video and promising product ... best of luck

 

[dieselmike]

these are going to be made in USA right?

 

[balane]

Really great. Seriously, well done.

 

[Slingshot Engage]

Foreign or Domestic?

 

[Bull]

I have had many projects around here where that would have been preferable to hammer and prybar/cat's paw. I am also curious about where it is made.

My hope is USA, but if that was not economically feasible, I hope people understand.

 

[Hoss356]

Looks like you rehashed the old school Crescent nail puller.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002N7SD/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[csargents1546]

That is great. When and where will they be available?

 

[mtkst19]

if billy mays was still alive i think he could sell the **** out of these. I really cant find any faults in the design. does something better than what is already on the market afaik

Do you have a patent for this? If you can get this stocked in sears i could see this selling like hotcakes around Christmas time.

 

[benjamin.eby]

.

My hope is USA, but if that was not economically feasible, I hope people understand.

Unfortunately you have hit the nail on the head (no pun intended) I spent considerable time trying to find a forger/ casting company that could produce them here and I just could not find anyone that could come close-my shelf price would have to be around $200 per bar to make it work and I won't sell many at that price.

I have no choice but to get it made offshore for now- until I can afford to build my own forge /casting plant that is- I noticed most quality made in the US stuff is made by companies that have the capabilities to do everything in-house. It was a hard descision to make but at the end of the day I had no choice.- there is good news though, I still will be employing people to warehouse, assemble, ship, and pack these so I will still be creating a few jobs, and if I can get big enough to do everything in-house I will create a whole lot more.

I am actually shocked how many companies just assemble offshore parts here and call it "made in the USA". I would be very interested to know how many tools I have that I thought were American, that were just assembled here.

 

[benjamin.eby]

I do remember your triple-lock socket. I've thought about it several times, was wondering how it's coming.

Just to clarify, when you say "get them now", you mean in May? How much, where will they sell, can we pre-order?

Good luck, I hope it goes big.

We will have production out this summer- but you absolutely can pre-order them at www.ebtoolcompany.com - the website is still under construction, but you can still pre-order- they are going to be around $35-40 retail, but you will get a discount for pre-ordering, like with the Triple-Lock

Thanks!

 

[Bull]

Unfortunately you have hit the nail on the head (no pun intended) I spent considerable time trying to find a forger/ casting company that could produce them here and I just could not find anyone that could come close-my shelf price would have to be around $200 per bar to make it work and I won't sell many at that price.

I have no choice but to get it made offshore for now- until I can afford to build my own forge /casting plant that is- I noticed most quality made in the US stuff is made by companies that have the capabilities to do everything in-house. It was a hard descision to make but at the end of the day I had no choice.- there is good news though, I still will be employing people to warehouse, assemble, ship, and pack these so I will still be creating a few jobs, and if I can get big enough to do everything in-house I will create a whole lot more.

I am actually shocked how many companies just assemble offshore parts here and call it "made in the USA". I would be very interested to know how many tools I have that I thought were American, that were just assembled here.

I am glad that you made these points.

I hope people look at it this way: you are the "little guy" here, and not in a position to get these domestically produced at a price point that would work for anyone. So, you did what you had to do in order to bring your product to market.

Buying these would still support YOU, an American inventor, and a veteran, IIRC. It will also support the Americans whom you employ.

It seems that you have had to invest a heck of a lot of time and effort in order to turn your ideas into products, and it's not something most people would have the gumption to follow through with. But, it's what America was built with.

The offshore production, assuming the quality is there, is not a deal-killer for me for the reasons I just expressed.

 

[pop pop]

Well, good luck to you, but I don't run into many nails already pulled up an inch. Most are flush or below the surface and I don't see you making any pictures of doing that. Am I missing something?

 

[Addrock]

Looks like you rehashed the old school Crescent nail puller.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002N7SD/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have this, the best thing about it is the handle is a slide hammer to get at buried fasteners, I don't think the Bionic does that.

 

[blue dog]

I like the concept, of course i would have to use it in person to give a honest opinion.

Questions.

price point
where will it be sold
country of origin
warranty
will there be only one size

Good luck

 

[benjamin.eby]

Looks like you rehashed the old school Crescent nail puller.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002N7SD/?tag=atomicindus08-20

There are definite similarities that is for sure, I actually compared the KwickGripper to the Crescent in the first few videos years ago

There are some key differences though- The Kwickgripper has much more grip- someone who has used the Crescent can probably back me up that it would very difficult to pull a nail out by the pointed end with the crescent, it's really more for getting small embedded nails out- hence the slide hammer. The pricipal is the same but the geometry is completely different

The crescent is also much heavier, doesn't have a cat's paw or other prying end, and has a list price of $45-80. Mostly because it is so specialized for one reason- embedded nails. It does do that rather well, never tried it on staples but might be good there too. I am not saying it is a bad tool, just that it was developed for a different purpose.

 

[benjamin.eby]

Well, good luck to you, but I don't run into many nails already pulled up an inch. Most are flush or below the surface and I don't see you making any pictures of doing that. Am I missing something?

You're absolutely right- I should have shown that in the video! it does pull anything down to the surface- if it is embeded you need to get it up a bit with the cat's paw but it does get nails only .0625 (1/16th in) above the wood's surface.

 

[benjamin.eby]

I like the concept, of course i would have to use it in person to give a honest opinion.

Questions.

price point
where will it be sold
country of origin
warranty
will there be only one size

Good luck

30-40$

Any Store I can get to carry it (home depot, sears etc) plus my website -www.ebtoolcompany.com

Some China, some Korea, assembled in WI

yes there will be a warranty

there will be a total of 4 sizes a very small 5inch, a 10inch that fits on a belt well, a 17 inch and a monster 30inch

the 17 inch will be the first to come out- it is the one in the video, the 30 inch closer to the model in the older videos where I really pull out crazy stuff- that one will be a monster

 

[cotjocky]

The video was well done and the product looks really cool. The Triplelock socket looks interesting!

 

[lennoxlennox]

thanks... i put my name down for pre-order ... product looks cool and willing to help someone get started... good luck

maybe you should go on "shark tank"...

 

[trboxman]

Very nice concept. I use groove joint pliers to achieve a very similar result, I really like the way the rounded jaw on the groove joints make it one smooth rolling action. Did you or have you considered rounding off the head of your qwick gripper instead of having that abrupt angle?

 

[srmofo]

is that big flat surface also a hammer head? to start pounding the nails out from the back?
...or just designed for leverage?

 

[472scout]

Congrats. I was just thinking the other day about how so many tools that are in use today were designed by Americans.

 

[benjamin.eby]

is that big flat surface also a hammer head? to start pounding the nails out from the back?
...or just designed for leverage?

That is kind of a sticky subject- for insurance reasons I cannot sell it as a striking instrument, so technically that is a striking surface for pounding the cat's paw under a nail with another hammer, but the head does lock in place so I am sure people will use it like a hammer from time to time- I have done it with the prototype in the video for years, actually that bar in the vid has had the SH&# beat out of it. I have been using it for demonstrations and loaning it to people for years, the night before the shoot I had to repaint it and polish the head out to make it look nice again.
here is a 3d model of the production version, it's even stronger and more ergonomic

it will also have a rubberized grip that is not in the vid.

 

[Addrock]

Good luck, I would try one. I am always up for trying a new tool.

 

[benjamin.eby]

Have any of you guys heard of the NailJack / NailHawk ? It looks like a tool that would complement mine rather well, I am thinking of trying to sell them on my website along side the KwickGripper.

Just wondered what people on here think of it before I try to strike a deal with them.

 

[Rocket1]

I remember the crowbar but not the socket. This product looks very interesting, how far does the nail or staple have to stick out for it to be able to grab?

I might have to give it a try

 

[benjamin.eby]

I remember the crowbar but not the socket. This product looks very interesting, how far does the nail or staple have to stick out for it to be able to grab?

I might have to give it a try

We have pulled smaller nails with as little as 1/16" or so but to pull the head thru you really need about 1/8"

 

[Rocket1]

Thanks for the info. I think I'll sign up on your site. From the video it looks like a great tool and the price point doesn't seem bad if it works well.

 

[rodknocker]

Its hard for me not to think that if you have the capabilities to contact a manufacturer overseas, give them the blueprints, have them make it, ship it back overseas, that you really did exhaust all American possibilities. I think a lot of pride is lost in that.

 

[mikew13]

Since it partially smacks of China, I won't buy period!

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Why do you need ratcheting wrenches when you have ratchets and sockets already??

--------

benjamin, I like it this KwickGripper. I has some specific fights with nails that this would have been really handy for.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

And I am pretty disappointed people here would **** on someone's venture. Until you've walked in a person's shoes, you really have no idea what it takes.

 

[archirelic]

Since it partially smacks of China, I won't buy period!

Thanks for your contribution. I sure hope everything in your home is good ol' U.S. of A.

 

[RKA]

Its hard for me not to think that if you have the capabilities to contact a manufacturer overseas, give them the blueprints, have them make it, ship it back overseas, that you really did exhaust all American possibilities. I think a lot of pride is lost in that.

"Unfortunately you have hit the nail on the head (no pun intended) I spent considerable time trying to find a forger/ casting company that could produce them here and I just could not find anyone that could come close-my shelf price would have to be around $200 per bar to make it work and I won't sell many at that price."

I thought he did a reasonable job of explaining this, but I guess not. He's not asking to have 100,000 of these made, he's probably looking for an initial lot of 5,000 so he can test the waters. For a small run of a tool, I'm not surprised he hit a dead end with US manufacturing. If this business of his ramps up, it seems like he would like to bring the manufacturing back here as long as it could keep costs within reason. It's a delicate balance.

 

[BrianJ]

thanks... i put my name down for pre-order ... product looks cool and willing to help someone get started... good luck

Ditto! I signed up as well.

Brian