sigmatango
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- May 25, 2015
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- 82
michael.williams said:
Clermont's Ultimate Tool Supply in Burnaby and Lee Valley are my go-tos...
Calavera Tool Works and the 5# Bag - Introduction
- Thread starter mdwmow
- Start date
Clermont's Ultimate Tool Supply in Burnaby and Lee Valley are my go-tos...
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
- Messages
- 28
Darcy, You're pretty much old school super-user, as far as I'm concerned. Need to get a picture of your mug up on the site!
Did I mention that the site just went live yesterday?
www.calaveratoolworks.com
Let me know what you think.
M
Did I mention that the site just went live yesterday?
www.calaveratoolworks.com
Let me know what you think.
M
WarnerConstCo. said:
McNally Family
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- Feb 21, 2016
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- 613
michael.williams said:
Interesting product line. I may make a purchase once Christmas is over (paid for).
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
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- 28
Neil, That's great to hear. Definitely interested to see some pics once you've got them in gear, so to speak.
Still owe you a t-shirt too. Just didn't want to delay getting the main goods in hand.
Thanks and feel free to hit me with any questions or feedback, here or via PM.
M
Still owe you a t-shirt too. Just didn't want to delay getting the main goods in hand.
Thanks and feel free to hit me with any questions or feedback, here or via PM.
M
neilc said:
Brice Burrell
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- Mar 13, 2007
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- 7,385
Glad to see you back on the FOG Michael. I applaud you for making your bags right here in the USA. [thumbs up] Congrats and I wish you the best of luck.
Received mine yesterday. The aluminum brackets are impressive, extremely well built and laser etched with logo(nice touch). I used one bag for some electrical nuts while hanging some interior lights. I was able to put my screw drive and linemans in there as well saving me some trips up the ladder. I'll update with some more used I find for them as well as pics. Great product!
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
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Hey Brice! Great to hear from you too, old friend. And while it was indeed a challenge to be absent from a community I care so much about, I figured it was better to keep my head down and nose to the grindstone until I had something worthy to share. Looking very forward to catching up with many old friends, no question about it.
Oh, and as you can guess, the MUSA certainly didn't come easy. And goodness knows it didn't come cheap. It was a key driver from day one though, and I'm pretty proud that we pulled it off. Really paid off in terms of quality.
Definitely need to touch base one day soon. All the best to you, and Merry Christmas as well!
m
Oh, and as you can guess, the MUSA certainly didn't come easy. And goodness knows it didn't come cheap. It was a key driver from day one though, and I'm pretty proud that we pulled it off. Really paid off in terms of quality.
Definitely need to touch base one day soon. All the best to you, and Merry Christmas as well!
m
Brice Burrell said:
Thebesciak
Member
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- Oct 27, 2014
- Messages
- 85
Recieved mine from Toolnut yesterday, REALLY nicely made. I send a lot of time working of ladders and on scaffolding so they will be great for that purpose. Are you or were you a climber?? They are very close cousins to chalk bags and the biner is a dead ringer for my Metolious minis although they are marked not for climbing.
I was looking at chalk bags this morning thinking I could cobble a few together a little cheaper as I like the idea. Ive seen the same concept applied to treat pouches for dogs, so the idea gets around. Anyway there are some details that make calabera more suitable to construction and similar tasks. I would like to see them offer a smaller bag for when I need to keep a handful of small screws and fittings on hand.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
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- 28
I hear you, and yes, there are quite a few other sizes on the way, in addition to a a wider range of components for the extrusions (no one trick pony here!). Matter of fact, the name of the bags is a bit of a play on words, or terms if you will... the "5#" is a reference to a 5# box of nails or screws (most common sized fastener purchase at a home center or lumberyard, and in serious need of a redesign at that). It also represents #5 in a series... as #'s 1-10 are already pretty much in the can, but I wanted to get this thing started with a focus on a single, broadly useful size.
And funny... there are actually two other Easter eggs hidden in the naming... working at a construction supply house as a kid, I filled up a lot of brown paper sacks with bulk nail orders. To the best of my understanding those brown paper sacks that we all know so well are actually numbered based on how much flour or sugar they could hold (they've been around a long time). And I filled up a whole lot of paper sacks with the #5 on them between the ages of 13 and 22.
Finally, growing up in the South, there was a bit of a colloquialism surrounding the 5# Bag. Something to the effect of stuffing too much of a certain something into said bag and the results not looking so great (I'll let you look that one up). Well, I used this as a little more inspiration for my own 5# Bags, building them strong enough, and with so many double seams and reinforcement, that you can stuff just about whatever you want in there and they'll still work out just fine.
So there you have it... more than you could have ever wanted to know about how the 5# Gear Bag got its name.
Merry Christmas!
M
And funny... there are actually two other Easter eggs hidden in the naming... working at a construction supply house as a kid, I filled up a lot of brown paper sacks with bulk nail orders. To the best of my understanding those brown paper sacks that we all know so well are actually numbered based on how much flour or sugar they could hold (they've been around a long time). And I filled up a whole lot of paper sacks with the #5 on them between the ages of 13 and 22.
Finally, growing up in the South, there was a bit of a colloquialism surrounding the 5# Bag. Something to the effect of stuffing too much of a certain something into said bag and the results not looking so great (I'll let you look that one up). Well, I used this as a little more inspiration for my own 5# Bags, building them strong enough, and with so many double seams and reinforcement, that you can stuff just about whatever you want in there and they'll still work out just fine.
So there you have it... more than you could have ever wanted to know about how the 5# Gear Bag got its name.
Merry Christmas!
M
RKA said:
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2015
- Messages
- 850
we are so certain of the utility of the CALAVERA Toolbags that TSO Products will shortly offer the product line with an unconditional 90-Day money-back satisfaction guarantee (after you have used the product hard!)
You will also be able to buy special product combinations of CALAVERA components at TSOProducts.com
And of course - you will be able to have your order shipped anywhere between Australia and Europe in addition to North America.
Look for availability on our website in January 2017 -
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all
Hans and Eric
info@tsoproducts.com
You will also be able to buy special product combinations of CALAVERA components at TSOProducts.com
And of course - you will be able to have your order shipped anywhere between Australia and Europe in addition to North America.
Look for availability on our website in January 2017 -
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all
Hans and Eric
info@tsoproducts.com
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
- Messages
- 28
Excellent writeup on Calavera Tool Works by our friend Chris Marshall over at Woodworkers Journal. Give it a look!
New tools and accessories fill the pages of our “What’s In Store” department in every print issue of Woodworker’s Journal and our weekly eZine. But when’s the last time you can recall seeing a single new idea to help get you and your shop better organized? Try to think of something other than the latest version of multi-drawer steel tool chest on wheels… Tough to land on a product, isn’t it? While there’s always a new pneumatic nailer, a more powerful battery or another band saw coming to market, innovation in the sphere of shop organization and personal woodworking apparel very rarely happens...
Complete article: Calavera Tool Works: Reimagining Work Gear for Woodworkers
Thanks Chris!
New tools and accessories fill the pages of our “What’s In Store” department in every print issue of Woodworker’s Journal and our weekly eZine. But when’s the last time you can recall seeing a single new idea to help get you and your shop better organized? Try to think of something other than the latest version of multi-drawer steel tool chest on wheels… Tough to land on a product, isn’t it? While there’s always a new pneumatic nailer, a more powerful battery or another band saw coming to market, innovation in the sphere of shop organization and personal woodworking apparel very rarely happens...
Complete article: Calavera Tool Works: Reimagining Work Gear for Woodworkers
Thanks Chris!
Michael -
After receiving a set of the bags from you before Christmas I've been meaning to give you some feedback.
I've been impressed. Quality is outstanding. Durability seems to be great. I can imagine them lasting for a long time. The hardware and attachment rails are a great idea and mate perfectly with the MFT for ready access but being out of the way.
I've been using my bags for a few projects and I like them. They are convenient, a great size, light weight and the attachment points between the belt clip and the carabiner offer lots of flexibility. Each bag has an area for a label with contents but I have not yet labeled mine. Perhaps when you have a few dozen that will be necessary.
One of my favorite features is the 'grab and go' aspect. The rail and clips make storage and access easy but out of the way of the bench or work area. I invariably am always knocking my screws, nails, or hardware off the top of the bench or pushing it out of the way with the wood. I work in a shop most of the time, and your bags work great at the bench or when working on sawhorses.
The other day, I had to replace a few receptacles and dropped them in one of the bags along with a pair of cutters, needle nose and a screwdriver and clipped it to my belt. it was easy to move around the room without having to keep up with my tools or deal with trash from the receptacle boxes, wire trimmings, etc. Just drop it in the bag and move on. Fast and easy and 'right at hand' made the bags a pleasure to use.
The drawstrings make it easy to cinch the bags closed to both keep wood dust and chips out of them when not in use but also reduce the chance of the contents spilling out. I would like to see smaller options, perhaps a 1# and maybe a 2# size to hold smaller quantities of screws. Sounds like you have those in the works.
I'd also like to see something that might have internal or external loops and perhaps a plastic cup - thinking about how to easily configure a tool holder in one of the bags that I could clip to my belt but also keep organized. Think of a 'bucket boss' but in a 5# bag size to hold maybe half a dozen tools but also make them easy to keep organized. Sometimes I'll grab a few screws or a few hooks when hanging pictures. I imagine a small plastic box, similar to what I have in the cantilevered Festool box or the Screw assortment box in the bottom to hold small items but not have to remove everything to find them in the black recesses of the bag.
I can also see a selection of these in a Sys2 or Sys3 that become a great organizer of screws, fasteners or hardware that you could take to a job site in an organized fashion but offer a lot of modularity to grab and go.
Great product - you're on to something with these! I'll be adding additional sizes as they become available.
Thanks and congratulations on starting a new business!
Neil
After receiving a set of the bags from you before Christmas I've been meaning to give you some feedback.
I've been impressed. Quality is outstanding. Durability seems to be great. I can imagine them lasting for a long time. The hardware and attachment rails are a great idea and mate perfectly with the MFT for ready access but being out of the way.
I've been using my bags for a few projects and I like them. They are convenient, a great size, light weight and the attachment points between the belt clip and the carabiner offer lots of flexibility. Each bag has an area for a label with contents but I have not yet labeled mine. Perhaps when you have a few dozen that will be necessary.
One of my favorite features is the 'grab and go' aspect. The rail and clips make storage and access easy but out of the way of the bench or work area. I invariably am always knocking my screws, nails, or hardware off the top of the bench or pushing it out of the way with the wood. I work in a shop most of the time, and your bags work great at the bench or when working on sawhorses.
The other day, I had to replace a few receptacles and dropped them in one of the bags along with a pair of cutters, needle nose and a screwdriver and clipped it to my belt. it was easy to move around the room without having to keep up with my tools or deal with trash from the receptacle boxes, wire trimmings, etc. Just drop it in the bag and move on. Fast and easy and 'right at hand' made the bags a pleasure to use.
The drawstrings make it easy to cinch the bags closed to both keep wood dust and chips out of them when not in use but also reduce the chance of the contents spilling out. I would like to see smaller options, perhaps a 1# and maybe a 2# size to hold smaller quantities of screws. Sounds like you have those in the works.
I'd also like to see something that might have internal or external loops and perhaps a plastic cup - thinking about how to easily configure a tool holder in one of the bags that I could clip to my belt but also keep organized. Think of a 'bucket boss' but in a 5# bag size to hold maybe half a dozen tools but also make them easy to keep organized. Sometimes I'll grab a few screws or a few hooks when hanging pictures. I imagine a small plastic box, similar to what I have in the cantilevered Festool box or the Screw assortment box in the bottom to hold small items but not have to remove everything to find them in the black recesses of the bag.
I can also see a selection of these in a Sys2 or Sys3 that become a great organizer of screws, fasteners or hardware that you could take to a job site in an organized fashion but offer a lot of modularity to grab and go.
Great product - you're on to something with these! I'll be adding additional sizes as they become available.
Thanks and congratulations on starting a new business!
Neil
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
- Messages
- 28
Neil! What an awesome surprise to wake up to such an excellent review this morning! Super cool. Thanks so much for posting.
What's great is that your experience is like so many others... a little unsure at first, but once they're in your hands, the wheels start turning and the system really makes sense. Let there be no doubt... I'm asking people to think a little differently and to approach their workflow and storage needs with fresh eyes, but I wouldn't have put these out there in the first place if I wasn't 100% confident that this system can help users work more efficiently while reducing waste.
And of course I'm stoked to see your opening comment on quality and durability. Knowing this end of the market pretty well, I knew I'd get eaten alive if those weren't top priority!
Looking forward to seeing some pics!
Thanks again.
Michael
What's great is that your experience is like so many others... a little unsure at first, but once they're in your hands, the wheels start turning and the system really makes sense. Let there be no doubt... I'm asking people to think a little differently and to approach their workflow and storage needs with fresh eyes, but I wouldn't have put these out there in the first place if I wasn't 100% confident that this system can help users work more efficiently while reducing waste.
And of course I'm stoked to see your opening comment on quality and durability. Knowing this end of the market pretty well, I knew I'd get eaten alive if those weren't top priority!
Looking forward to seeing some pics!
Thanks again.
Michael