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Want to Support a Small USA Company With a Cool Product?

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Bull

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Many of us have just discovered Westling Machine. They are a small machine shop in Milaca, Minnesota. They have recently begun to market a pretty awesome set of anodized socket organizing trays. Check them out, here:

http://westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

They look darn good, appear to be of high quality, and are reasonably priced. They also offer some advantages over other trays on the market. A gentleman from the company is a member here and seems to be a super-nice fellow. He also is concerned with sourcing USA materials for his creations.

We talk a lot here on GJ about the shame of outsourcing, the impersonal and inefficient service from large corporations etc. We had great success in going all-out to support Harry J. Epstein's on July 4th. Let's come out in force to show another small American business that we support them and that we are eager to consume high-quality American products at reasonable prices.

To this end, I am proposing that we get as many people as possible to place an order with Westling Machine on New Year's Day. You can buy a single tray for $10, a few trays, or the whole kaboodle set for $99. It's up to you.

I'm hoping to get some strong support for this. What do you guys think?
 
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Ironhorse

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Sep 17, 2012
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Bull said:
Many of us have just discovered Westling Machine. They are a small machine shop in Milaca, Minnesota. They have recently begun to market a pretty awesome set of anodized socket organizing trays. Check them out, here:

http://westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

They look darn good, seem to be of high quality, and are reasonably priced. A gentleman from the company is a member here and seems to be a super-nice fellow. He also seems concerned with sourcing USA materials for his creations.

We talk a lot here on GJ about the shame of outsourcing, the impersonal and inefficient service from large corporations etc. We had great success in going all-out to support Harry J. Epstein's on July 4th. Let's come out in force to show another small American business that we support them and that we are eager to consume high-quality American products at reasonable prices.

To this end, I am proposing that we get as many people as possible to place an order with Westling Machine on New Year's Day. You can buy a single tray for $10, a few trays, or the whole kaboodle set for $99. It's up to you.

I'm hoping to get some strong support for this. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Ordered about $400 off of him for testing Monday...will be posting the results as soon as they get to my shop...I plan to put them thu the day to day routine as far as box to cart, working off the ground with them...If it checks out we will be ordering a **** load more..also got my snappy guy on board..and he has 4 trucks..If these work out better then Hanson..I think he will have a great product out there..now if only he can come up with a nice wrench rack...hmm
 
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luvit

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.
i;ll be ordering after i take some measurements.. :thumbup:
thanks!
.
 
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Bull

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Are you guys down for a joint action on New Year's, or doing your own thing?

Ironhorse, you sound like a powerful player
 
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Ironhorse

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Bull said:
Are you guys down for a joint action on New Year's, or doing your own thing?

Ironhorse, you sound like a powerful player
Click to expand...

I should have mine in early next week...I know he is on GJ, but I still told Alex that I was running them thu the paces for all the guys on GJ...After I do that, post pictures for everyone...I agree lets put a huge order together for new years...the best part is I will open it up for everyone asking what will fit on them and take pictures..I have about everything you can stick on one ( all snappy but it will do the trick) This way if someone wants to know it this allen, or that ext fits I can check and take a picture..that should help everyone out.
 
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Bull

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Ironhorse said:
I should have mine in early next week...I know he is on GJ, but I still told Alex that I was running them thu the paces for all the guys on GJ...After I do that, post pictures for everyone...I agree lets put a huge order together for new years...the best part is I will open it up for everyone asking what will fit on them and take pictures..I have about everything you can stick on one ( all snappy but it will do the trick) This way if someone wants to know it this allen, or that ext fits I can check and take a picture..that should help everyone out.
Click to expand...

That's pretty awesome!
 
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tater

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Jul 30, 2012
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342
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Memphis Tn
If he could make some flat so I could use in my box I would buy some. Anyone have the contact with him to see if he can make some for me?
 
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B

Bull

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tater said:
If he could make some flat so I could use in my box I would buy some. Anyone have the contact with him to see if he can make some for me?
Click to expand...

What do you mean about flat?

Glad for the replies, fellas. Beat the drum out there.
 
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Burtonrider10022

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Oct 20, 2012
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695
Location
Chicago, IL
This is a terrible idea... We need to order them NOW so we get them before the world ends on 12/21/12! :willy_nil







I'm in, BTW. Now I gotta go check what sizes I need. They'll combine shipping on multiple pieces, right?
 
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marcusicp

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NC
Anyone know if the pegs are spaced far enough apart to fit impact set on them? I'm going to grab some if so.
 
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B

Bull

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Fastbird said:
I'd like to be in, just gotta see how finances are on the 1st.
Click to expand...

Cool deal. And remember, even if you just want to get a single tray for $10 to try it out and show your support, that's a-ok.
 
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Stuey

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I'm happy with my Hanson trays and don't need these, but eager to support any way I can. Anyone have better photos I can use to share about the trays outside of GJ?
 
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B

Bull

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Stuey said:
I'm happy with my Hanson trays and don't need these, but eager to support any way I can. Anyone have better photos I can use to share about the trays outside of GJ?
Click to expand...

PM the fellow from there who joined here; I need to learn his name. I bet he'd be able to get you some photos to use.
 
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metalhead212121

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are we gonna get a group discount on pricing?? Im not trying to beat the guy up on pricing.... He's gotta make money at the end of the day just wondering if we get enough people to place and order if we're gonna get a break on pricing.
 
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Bull

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metalhead212121 said:
are we gonna get a group discount on pricing?? Im not trying to beat the guy up on pricing.... He's gotta make money at the end of the day just wondering if we get enough people to place and order if we're gonna get a break on pricing.
Click to expand...

I believe we are going to avoid that route and just each of us buy what we want or can afford to show our support and try out what looks like a quality product.

I hope you will consider participating. :)
 
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FunkyfullWidth

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Three Rivers, ma
How are you hoping this group buy to go. Are we all just going to place our orders on the first?

Would it be better for him to have more profit at the beginning of next year or the end of this year? Also, what kind of impact will this have if a ton of us order at the same time. From what I understand this is a smallish machine shop that builds these on the side. I don't want to be a bubble buster, but I don't want to create a chaotic scene for the guy trying to pump all these out and make everybody happy. Unless he has a bunch already pre made.

Have you been coordinating this with him via pm about what kind of demand he can accomodate at this point. Either way, i'm down for a group buy, but don't want to leave the guy overwhelmed.
 
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TDWendt

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Toledo, OH
I think we should just order and in the notes for the order let them know our sn and that we are from GJ. Maybe that would work....
 
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Ironhorse

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marcusicp said:
Anyone know if the pegs are spaced far enough apart to fit impact set on them? I'm going to grab some if so.
Click to expand...

I ordered a **** load of them...they should be in Monday or Tuesday I hope...anyway...I will out fit them with eveything can come up with including Inpacts, also checking on draw slams, moving them around etc...I will post a lot of pictures so eveyone can see them in action...that should help eveyone out. Also if there is something I missed just hit me up and I will take a photo of it. It is nice to have a guinea pig to test them out...lol.
 
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luvit

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it's not complicated.. and as a business owner, it doesn't matter if it's on the 12/31 or 1/1.. but i actually would prefer 1/1 so i have no last minute tax surprises.

i also would believe that 100% of the orders he receives on 1/1 would be members from TGJ.

this is meant as a support system for a quality usa item.. so if it takes longer than usual to receive the item i wouldn't think anything is wrong, but i would assume he had a high demand.

.
 
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Fast LT1

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Aug 2, 2012
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401
Location
Wichita, Ks
He should start making knock off's of the snap on green aluminum socket trays.... those would sell like hot cakes.... Can someone post a pic of one?
 
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shocksandstrutz

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Jun 19, 2012
Messages
699
Location
Wentzville, MO
I;m in for the NEW YEARS 1/1/13 buy, i just picked up sets of the craftsman industrial impacts (short/deep), need a holder for them. I can wait a couple weeks and order. REALLY wanted to wait and see if other colors come out, but i think RED will do just fine.

Keep up the good work and keep it in the USA!!!!
 
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bmrisko

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Huntsville, AL
I'm going to hold out until there has been some testing. One major thing concerns me and the 2nd I just don't like due to personal preference.

1) Nubs appear to be too short to retain deep well sockets during door slams (this depends of the fit of the drive end over the machined nub)
2) No quick way to identify socket size other than reading socket itself. I like how I can easily identify socket sizes on my Hansen trays.
 
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Westling Machine

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Dec 3, 2012
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Location
Milaca, MN
First off we would like to thank Garage journal and Bull for organizing this! It is truly amazing what complete strangers will do for a small shop like ours. We are truly grateful!

A lot of technical questions have been answered in the other thread, but I will reread these posts and try to answer any questions that I may have missed.

We look forward to starting the New Year off with a bang. To show our appreciation for everybody supporting us we will have a New Years Day sale! We will also try to unveil our newest product and option for everyone.

So keep a eye on the site and we thank everyone in advance for there support! It is appreciated more than you can believe!

Alex Westling
612-390-5601
 
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