Westling Machine Anodized Socket Trays
- Thread starter FunkyfullWidth
- Start date
Burtonrider10022
Well-known member
KPSquared
Well-known member
How about instead of getting a group buy and looking to get stuff cheaper, you guys all just pony up and support this awesome company. "I need it for cheaper" is what sends this stuff to China.
Get off your wallets boys. . .$100 for the full set is a smoking deal
Get off your wallets boys. . .$100 for the full set is a smoking deal
Chadwilliam1
Well-known member
$ 100 is a fair price.
archirelic
Well-known member
I don't think Bull's intention w/mentioning the group buy thing was to try and shoot for a discount, but rather just a group buy like how everyone ordered on the 4th w/Epstein's.
And I also echo the sentiments that for what Westling is offering these made in U.S.A. anodized aluminum holders, it's almost a steal!
OP
FunkyfullWidth
Well-known member
Thanks for changing the title... I never thought the post would get this much attention. I like where this discussion has gone.
archirelic
Well-known member
I'd love to also see what other color options are made available...and I'm not by any stretch a color aficionado, but a broader color palette is always favorable! In all honesty, I'd prob. lean more towards just a plain, brushed aluminum in the end.
And perhaps a more customized option, allowing the purchaser to contact Westling and let them how many pegs on each individual tray along w/the dimensions would be really sweet. That's definitely something I wouldn't mind paying for either.
And perhaps a more customized option, allowing the purchaser to contact Westling and let them how many pegs on each individual tray along w/the dimensions would be really sweet. That's definitely something I wouldn't mind paying for either.
Exactly! Thank you for having faith in my motives. I don't want to scrooge this company. I was thinking about the support we give Epstein's on July 4th and how I'd like to support these guys, too. The initial flash in my mind was to include them in our July 4th tools sales-a-brations, but that might be too long of a wait.
So, we'd all commit to buying at the same time just to send a "you rock" message and not to try and wheedle a discount. The reason I'd wait is so I could be a part of the action as a group.
GIJoe4500
Well-known member
I just ordered the big set myself. Looks like a quality product. Can't wait to use it for my very small tool collection.
KPSquared
Well-known member
My humble apologies Bull. Evey time I see the words "Group Buy" on an enthusiast forum, it usually means an attempt to get a discount through a bulk order.
With your approach, I think I would be into that as well.
Again, did not mean to offend!
archirelic
Well-known member
Perhaps something around New Year's day then?? Kind of like "thanking" them for making a quality product made in the U.S.A.?! Ringing in the new year w/ a great product and a great company!
My humble apologies Bull. Evey time I see the words "Group Buy" on an enthusiast forum, it usually means an attempt to get a discount through a bulk order.
With your approach, I think I would be into that as well.
Again, did not mean to offend!
No hard feelings. You were coming from a good place, wanting to help a small American company.
Reading what I wrote, I can easily see why you thought what you did.
I would be down for that. If it builds momentum, let's do it. Otherwise we can all just go about it piecemeal. As a group action, I think it's more impressive and it establishes this place as a strong advocate for small USA businesses.
archirelic
Well-known member
If indeed it does gain momentum, I'll be down for some for sure! Was wanting to hold out and see if there would ever be other color options, but not opposed to what they've got now!
Westling Machine
Active member
First of all we are overwhelmed with all the phone calls, emails, PMs, and posts talking favorably about our product and offering ideas/suggestions. We understand that it is these grass roots style discussions that help us grow as a company/brand. For that we truly do thank everybody! It is our pleasure to come here and talk and answer questions like "Regular Joes". After all at the end of the day we are just a bunch of machinist trying to make a honest living!
We can certainly discusses a group buy, but in all honesty we feel we have our product priced fairly. We are not about to bite the hand that feeds us however. We will make sure we take care of the people that have helped us out in so many ways. We will also look into supporting Garage Journal in any way we can as it has done more than expected already for us!
As always your ideas and insite are greatly appreciated. Most if not all of these ideas are in the works and will all happen in time. Our ultimate goal is to make an entire catalog of tool organizing products. But as with any thing we need to start somewhere. So we are focusing on our basic tool holders now and the rest will come! As with any new product we need sales to make new ideas a reality. So we thanks you for the ideas, and be patient we will make it happen for you!
Mr. Westling, sir, please make sure that you read the posts above where I explain my group buy idea. It wasn't about getting a discount, just about a mass show of support in the form of a large number of purchases in a short time. I guess I wasn't thinking about the way "group buy" comes across.
Westling Machine
Active member
We understand completely. Thank you for the support and the initiative of getting something like that together. People like you and this group are small businesses biggest assets!
How long have you guys been making these trays? I am so glad that we now know about you.
After my child goes to bed tonight, I will take some time to make a thread pitching the idea of a New Year's sales-a-bration in which members from here show you our feelings by buying your products. I hope it gains momentum and I will link to it here.
Westling Machine
Active member
Thanks for the support!
We made our first protoypes about a year ago. They have been available only on ebay up until a month ago at which time we added them to our website.
We are still a full service machine shop so finding time to manufacture, improve, and market a product has been a large project for us.
I bet it has been. How many of you are there? Is this a family business? Sorry if these answers are already out there; I haven't read every post.
Does New Years or thereabouts work for you for a sales event, if we can pull it off? Or, is there a different time of year that you'd like me to pitch when I roll out the idea?
What tipped the scales for you in terms of deciding to make/market this product, may I ask? Was someone at your shop so disgusted with their ratty old socket trays that they cut some scrap, put their head down and machined a prototype that made everyone else take notice?
purpurite
Well-known member
Do them in colors other than red & blue, and I'm in. Even black and gunmetal grey would be nice and clean. Love the idea, price and everything else. Nice work!
Burtonrider10022
Well-known member
Plain old Stainless would be my preferred choice, but in reality color isn't going to be a make-or-break for me.
JASTECH
Well-known member
Bull, I shall hold my order until the group buy too. I still have Ernst NIP that have not worked out with my (condition) that I'll get rid of.
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Mr. Westling, For your beta feild, I don't think you could do any better then GJ. We all are Tech's in one or more feilds which will grant you the most diverse feild, You will get honest hands on opinions. Myself and many others here like to shop at home grown USA tool Mfg.'s. I think we can support your company abit, then our WOM (word of mouth) carries weight.
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Forgot my manners, Welcome to GJ, ya'll stick around, lol
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Thanks, JASTECH & Son
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Mr. Westling, For your beta feild, I don't think you could do any better then GJ. We all are Tech's in one or more feilds which will grant you the most diverse feild, You will get honest hands on opinions. Myself and many others here like to shop at home grown USA tool Mfg.'s. I think we can support your company abit, then our WOM (word of mouth) carries weight.
>
Forgot my manners, Welcome to GJ, ya'll stick around, lol
>
Thanks, JASTECH & Son
SpeedCoach
Well-known member
Dang - wish i would have seen this thread prior to buying my secret santa stuff.
Westling Machine - good on you guys. I'll definitely be throwing some of my christmas money your way as part of the 1/1 thing Bull has organized....and I'm going to go post a link to your site on facebook for some of my non garage-journaling friends (and for their wives looking for christmas ideas).
Westling Machine - good on you guys. I'll definitely be throwing some of my christmas money your way as part of the 1/1 thing Bull has organized....and I'm going to go post a link to your site on facebook for some of my non garage-journaling friends (and for their wives looking for christmas ideas).
hifi_hokie
Well-known member
What are people going to do that buy sockets based on label spots?
But seriously, awesome looking stuff. Going to place an order when I make a socket order...
But seriously, awesome looking stuff. Going to place an order when I make a socket order...
What are people going to do that buy sockets based on label spots?
Save some serious Dough!
The only problem with that is these are made from aluminum.
What are people going to do that buy sockets based on label spots?
But seriously, awesome looking stuff. Going to place an order when I make a socket order...
Consider ordering with us as a show of support on 1/01/13. See the sticky at the top of this forum.
I think there current product lineup is fine, additional colors (like orange and green) would be cool but not really needed.
The one thing I really would like are socket rails with evenly spaced pegs for things like hex sockets, but even then I don't know if I have enough of those items to make it worth while
The one thing I really would like are socket rails with evenly spaced pegs for things like hex sockets, but even then I don't know if I have enough of those items to make it worth while
Alex- The reason why I would like my socket racks with magnets on them is because over the course of time with opening and closing my drawer the racks move and shift. Part of the problem is when I open and close my drawers I dont stand in front of my box. I stand wayyyyy off to one side when opening and closing my drawers due to the fact that my project car is only a couple inches away from my box.Ive been thinking about glueing magnetic strips to the bottom of all my racks but time and money isnt something I have a lot of...
Dan
Have you guys experimented with different drawer liners? I have some for my Lista box that is the kind that has been discussed on here before. Tools sink into it and "stick." No way these loaded racks would move, even if you slammed the drawer, while sitting on those mats. It would eliminate the magnet issue.
MattPersman
Well-known member
Would powder coating instead of anodizing be easier? Better? Cheaper? Faster ? I am sure extreme green would be easy to come close with powder coating. These are some nice holders!
Westling Machine
Active member
Here is the short of our history.... I started the business in 2007 after graduating from Technical college. I did primarily repair and custom machining for the first 4 years on my own. It hasn't been until the last year that manufacturing our own products have enabled me to hire several friends and family members to help me.
New years day couldn't work better! Sounds like a great way to start off the new year!
You pretty much guessed it. It was more along the lines of seeing what was available at the time and realizing the price vs quality factor was a bit off in our opinion.
We have considered it but don't feel the powder coating would be durable. Color choices in anodizing are somewhat unlimited, but the main factor being cost to do custom colors. I can promise you, we are looking into it!
purpurite
Well-known member
Powdercoating not durable? You need to find a new powdercoater.
It's far more durable than anodizing, and I <3 anodizing.d.mcfarland
Well-known member
I'll be looking into these as well. It's great to see a product that is being developed/tested here on GJ. Wish more companies would find the perfect focus group like the members here.
Westling Machine
Active member
All of our trays are made from 1/4" thick aluminum plate. Dimensions and new pictures will be up on the website with in a few days!
Powdercoating not durable? You need to find a new powdercoater.
Sorry I may have typed that with out thinking. You are correct that powder coating is a durable material. We still have several problems of hole dimensions changing and any type of labeling after the powder coating. It is however a fairly economic way to get some of the custom colors that guys are requesting. It is an idea that will stay on the table. Thanks!
purpurite
Well-known member
Awesome, that makes sense! I'm interested, either way, but I would imagine if you matched to the powdercoat lime green and orange of Snap-on and Viper boxes, you might have lightning in a bottle. Nice work!