VIM 2020 Catalog

[Fedwrench]

https://www.vimtools.com/Catalog/2020_Vimtools_Catalog/mobile/index.html

I wass urfing around the internet and noticed VIM has their new 2020 catalog on their web site.

36 pages of VIM goodness

A Couple of items stood out to me. The DD2 1/4 compact ratchet head and bit driver with a female square drive so you can use it with a breaker bar. 1/4 & 3/8 drive. similar to the older KD version but updated & in 1/4 drive too.

Double wide magrails. this is going to hurt but, VIM is coming out with double wide magrails. The possibilities are endless but, expensive.

It will be interesting to see how many of these VIM items will show up branded as a tool truck label. I know MATCO has the double universal swivel extensions.

 

[jimmyin3D]

Yeahhh the DD2 for sure can’t wait!

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Thanks for posting, I may consider some double wide mag-rails for my cart. Has anyone tried their universal sockets? My gut tells me to just buy the Snap On E-torx set, but since I won't be using them that regularly, perhaps I could make do with VIM?

 

[dnschmidt]

You got to love these guys Harry. They make cool **** reasonably priced of the highest quality. What's not to like.

 

[Kaane]

U-Joint E-torx! finally, now if they only make a beefier or impact version.

 

[Spacey_G]

I wonder if those zero offset DBE wrenches on page 20 are new. I didn't know VIM made those.

Interesting that they're all 15" length...

 

[2ndGearRubber]

You got to love these guys Harry. The make cool **** reasonably priced of the highest quality. What's not to like.

I really hope VIM realizes this, and embraces it. They make very high quality innovative products, and sell for a very reasonable price. I put VIM up there with the best of the best, and they sell for mid grade money.

 

[bonneyman]

I wonder if those zero offset DBE wrenches on page 20 are new. I didn't know VIM made those.

Interesting that they're all 15" length...

Oh yeah, I saw those too! Alot like the Snap-On Hi-performance wrenches.

I've got a HBR5 ratchet look-alike, and love it. If these newer VIM offerings are that good, they'd be a real bargain.

 

[Fluxion]

Does anybody have an idea when the new 20" and double magrails will be coming out? I hope I don't have to wait until 2020.

 

[Skin]

DD2 seems kind of useless to me. How often do you have a 1/4" breaker bar in your pocket and if you have to go back to your box for leverage why not just get a longer ratchet? For compact and leverage the bit ratchets with the hollow handle (Facom, USAG, Toptul) do it right.

 

[Tallpilot]

DD2 seems kind of useless to me. How often do you have a 1/4" breaker bar in your pocket and if you have to go back to your box for leverage why not just get a longer ratchet? For compact and leverage the bit ratchets with the hollow handle (Facom, USAG, Toptul) do it right.

To me the square drive isn't for leverage. It is for access. You can use it similar to a crowsfoot or torque adapter. With a couple 90 degree adapters you could go around an even bigger variety of obstructions but have the advantage of being able to ratchet instead of repositioning every turn.

Like all tools of this nature you aren't really sure where to use it until you have one and maybe it isn't worth the space it will take up in your box.

 

[xin]

https://www.vimtools.com/Catalog/2020_Vimtools_Catalog/mobile/index.html

I wass urfing around the internet and noticed VIM has their new 2020 catalog on their web site.

36 pages of VIM goodness

A Couple of items stood out to me. The DD2 1/4 compact ratchet head and bit driver with a female square drive so you can use it with a breaker bar. 1/4 & 3/8 drive. similar to the older KD version but updated & in 1/4 drive too.

Double wide magrails. this is going to hurt but, VIM is coming out with double wide magrails. The possibilities are endless but, expensive.

It will be interesting to see how many of these VIM items will show up branded as a tool truck label. I know MATCO has the double universal swivel extensions.

Who has the new line up available now, what about them METRIC EXTRA long performance wrenches?

 

[Olafur]

I really hope VIM realizes this, and embraces it. They make very high quality innovative products, and sell for a very reasonable price. I put VIM up there with the best of the best, and they sell for mid grade money.

Do they really make anything? Seems to me they just went shopping in Taiwan just like "Sonic" "Ks-Tools" "Förch" and so many others today. (Excluding some items - like the magrails)

Not that it really matters to me, I know from first hand experience the Taiwanese are very capable of making good tools for low price. It seems no one can really compete with them today.

 

[JBH]

DD2 seems kind of useless to me. How often do you have a 1/4" breaker bar in your pocket and if you have to go back to your box for leverage why not just get a longer ratchet? For compact and leverage the bit ratchets with the hollow handle (Facom, USAG, Toptul) do it right.

I think it gives a lot of flexibility. Basically it is a teeny ratchet that you can turn into a indexable flex head head with a breaker bar, or a speed handle with a spinner. I have a similar Nepros ratchet that I bought more or less as a novelty, but gets used quite a bit. If Kokens weren't so nice to use it could be my only 1/4" ratchet.

I'm curious about the "removable square." If it's both a 1/4" drive bit ratchet and a bit ratchet I'll pick one up when they come out.

 

[Rickster]

That's a pretty cool website!

 

[magtl]

They may have them now, if not soon. They will have four magnet tracks and three "T" channels. Also available will be 3/4" and 1" diameter pegs. Some in the picture have magnets in only two of the four dovetail magnet tracks. The ones you buy will have magnets in all four.

 

[Fatboy148]

They may have them now, if not soon. They will have four magnet tracks and three "T" channels. Also available will be 3/4" and 1" diameter pegs. Some in the picture have magnets in only two of the four dovetail magnet tracks. The ones you buy will have magnets in all four.

Way back when.... I called and they said it would be mid-October. Guess what? Both we and they are there!

https://cloud1.shopsite.com/donofish/double-wide-magrail-tl.html

With these, it will be pretty easy to hit the $200 free shipping threshold!

I have yet to locate the 3/4" studs on the website though.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I love VIM bit sockets. My Torx bits are rebranded and sold by Cornwell.

 

[_Riddle]

I've been meaning to pick up a set of the stubby torx bits. Doing a water pump replacement soon in a VW 2.0 tsi and expecting clearance for the mounting bolts will be tight.

 

[magtl]

Way back when.... I called and they said it would be mid-October. Guess what? Both we and they are there!

https://cloud1.shopsite.com/donofish/double-wide-magrail-tl.html

With these, it will be pretty easy to hit the $200 free shipping threshold!

I have yet to locate the 3/4" studs on the website though.

Vim has the 3/4" pegs for the Magrail TL, the part number is MR-SD.

 

[JBH]

So I ended up picking up a DD2. Use case is as an indexing flex head bit ratchet, similar to how I use a Nepros 1/4" drive stubby. I've used that tool enough to consider DD2 a useful addition. I also have two Stahlwille 1/4" breakers, so may as well have a tool to fit on each one.

View media item 101644

DD2 has your standard Reverse Gear mechanism (spinner on top, nose extending a little below a retaining clip that does double duty as bit retainer and clip to keep the whole thing together) and packages it in an abbreviated handle with a 1/4” drive square at the end.

Frankly they could have made a much better tool if the handle were shorter. It's almost as if they vaingloriously extended the body to affix a big honking logo. Compare to the more sensibly proportioned Nepros 1/4” stubby.

View media item 101645
Or Reverse Gear locking flex head (KS Tools was at hand):
View media item 101647View media item 101648
Reverse gear is a little thinner than Nepros. The difference looks larger than it is, because Nepros is all shiny but Reverse Gear has the spinner ring on top and nose under the retainer clip.

View media item 101646
I'm not sure it's useful, but I saw the black dimple at one of the hex points, and confirmed DD2 can be used as a "T-Handle" (for what, I'm not sure) just like other Reverse Gear bit ratchets. (Again, KS Tools extension/handle extender/T-handle)

View media item 101649

 

[MattT]

Frankly they could have made a much better tool if the handle were shorter. It's almost as if they vaingloriously extended the body to affix a big honking logo. Compare to the more sensibly proportioned Nepros 1/4” stubby.

View media item 101645

The way you've got them assembled as flex head ratchets the Nepros might be "better". Turn the breaker bar 90* and the extra length of the VIM will sometimes help. Or stick an extension in the ratchet head.

I can't recall one instance where my 3/8" Snap-on was too long in those configurations. There have been several where it's been too short.

 

[MrNatural]

Great products. If they established a means of supplying via one of the UK tool suppliers they would find a ready export market.

 

[JBH]

Turn the breaker bar 90* and the extra length of the VIM will sometimes help. Or stick an extension in the ratchet head.

Interesting point. Maybe it’s good to have one slightly longer than the other after all.

 

[jgromada]

I didn't see any any of their ratchets , except bit ratchets .

I have one of their locking rotary ratchets . It has a very nice ratchet mechanism. Wonder if they discontinued it?

 

[Htscheg]

Great info thanks for sharing