The Strelka ToolBook is a rather expensive set of 10 stainless steel tools, but it has a certain charm about it.
There are #1 and #2 Phillips screwdrivers, and 5mm and 6mm flathead screwdrivers on one side, and 6 presumably metric hex drivers on the right. The screwdriver tips and hex wrenches are made from stainless steel, and the screwdriver handles are made from aluminum.
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I appreciate the cleverness of how the ToolBook organizer flips open and around in a book or spiral notebook-like fashion. Despite this appreciation, I cannot see how the $129 retail price can ever be justified except by those who consider this an art piece. You can buy top-line swiss-made tools for less money.
Additionally, the smooth metal handles of the screwdrivers seems highly impractical, at least for anything but the lightest of screw adjustment tasks.
More Info(via Strelka)
Matt
I can’t wait to see the raving youtube review from whoever buys this toolkit out of pure ignorance.
Stan
Considering t these are made in Taiwan and for that high of a price, this is hard to believe anyone would buy this.
I am not about about anyone else, but I don’t buy tools because they could be seen as “art”.
Stuart
Why “considering these are made in Taiwan?” Do you really think fewer people will be buying this because it’s made in Taiwan?
Stan
Staurt, for this price, you’d think these might be made in Germany or at least Swiss made. Ideally USA made, but I digress.
I am NOT bashing you for posting this or anything, but in my opinion, if this is going to be expensive, I figured this might at least be made by countries known for quality steel.
Not that is anything wrong with Taiwan and some Taiwan tools are decent, but at this price point, I am not sure who their target audience is.
Heck, you could buy Snap-On alternatives of these same tools and still have money to spare.
Seth
The target audience are the types of people who don’t obsess over country of origin. They probably never even consider it in any buying decision let alone tool purchases.
This would probably find a home in the back of a Soul with a bike rack and a fixed gear, driven by a Starbucks drinking iPhone user. They don’t care about COO, only how sleek and elegant their stuff is.
Allen
Here is an idea. Does anyone make a “L” hex driver with hex on one end and Torx on the other ? You’re welcome.
SteveR
The tools are so small (and therefore impractical) that I doubt many would find a need for the set. Perhaps clean-room use, aerospace or work environments that are corrosive? Without knowing the reasons for introducing the set, it’s difficult to understand the target market.
Al
Name sounds Russian to me. As long as it’s not Asian manufacturer made it may be good stuff.
Stuart
The name is Russian, but it looks like the company is Taiwanese. There’s no insight on their site as to what exactly the company is really about.
Phil
If there is such a thing as “hipster tools”, you’ve found them. They would look totally at home in an article in Dwell, featuring a loft-like home with an arty work area, with lots of impossibly white decor, a blond butcher block table, a Macbook Air with an exploded diagram on the screen, and a partially assembled Campagnolo derailleur scattered about. Not even the slightest amount of dirt or grease would be seen anywhere. Bon Iver would undoubtedly be quietly braying from an iPod docked in some totally overpriced speaker setup. Light provided by ridiculously small pendant fixtures anchored from sharply sloped 11′ ceilings.
Jim Felt
Phil!
Too true. Too true. But perhaps in your glee you’ve forgotten to mention the carefully curated but truly singular artisanal knot display.
And I live in Portlandia. Long long before the butt ugly stature or the tragically twee so named TV show besmirched our mostly flannel and/or spandex clad town became hipster heaven for the microbrewed masses. Zoobombers anyone?
Phil
I know, I could’ve gone on and on, the temptation was certainly strong. But that scene just popped into my head, I’ve seen so much similar that it coalesced as I started writing. Don’t get me wrong, though. I love such things and my friends that have that sort of artistic/creative bent have homes and/or office spaces that would fit so well in such an aesthetic. The difference between their spaces and so many of the ones depicted in the architecture mags is there seems a real lived-in, authentic warmth. Page upon page of these designer home showcases look like teams of designers spent months coming up with a particular layout, and all that fuss and bother that brought us the often spare, sometimes homey, and calculatedly posed photos is only missing the last echo leaving the room as the furious work that wrapped up just moments before the shutter opened.
Let’s just say the display of knot work is depicted in the long, slender cables holding up the pendant lighting. 😉
RX9
This is definitely a set of hipster tools.
For $5, it’s a deal.
For $12-15, it’s fairly priced.
For $20, it’ll do in a pinch.
For $40, it’s a bona fide rip off.
For $129, who ever buys it had better thank his or her lucky stars that they were born into that kind of wealth.
I wish I had the ability to carelessly flush a Benjamin down like the trust-funded target market of this kit.
By the way, I just looked up Bon Iver. I had to play some Nickelback (hipster kryptonite) to flush that out of my system.
Jim
As far as ‘artsy’ tool, I have several tools from the Bridge City Tools Collectors Series that are beautiful and a joy to use. And, I purchased my wife two custom made Japanese kitchen knives that exhibit spectacular craftmsnship and pure works of art.
My only complaint with this post, is that after all the new product introductions and best of show awards at the worlds largest woodworking show. IWF, in Atlanta, time and space is wasted on such a product review. Something of zero interest, or approaching zero, to persons visiting this website.
Stuart
Every post that goes up has reasoning behind it. With this, I really like the idea of the folio-style storage. Maybe someone will be inspired to make something similar that fits Wiha precision screwdrivers and standard hex keys for a fraction of the price.
Yes, Bridge City tools are pricey and aestheticly pleasing, but I consider them more akin to custom tools than artsy.
I have yet to see any exciting new product announcements from IWF. Which did you find to be particularly appealing and post-worthy?
Jim
“Maybe someone will be inspired to make something similar that fits Wiha precision screwdrivers and standard hex keys for a fraction of the price.” Yes, maybe. Maybe, this will happen. I will waited, patiently, for the post soliciting pre-orders.
“Every post that goes up has reasoning behind it. With this, I really like the idea of the folio-style storage.” Regardless of whether you like it, there is a respect to your audience and use of your time. I do not like wearing a tie all day and keeping my shoes to a mirror polish, but that is what my peer and clients expects and so I have been doing it daily for 27 years. They are my audience.
What specifically, makes these tools artsy and Bridge City Collector Series tools not? Function? Materials? Design? What? John Economaki at Bridge City would argue otherwise. Quote from Bellevue Art Museum where John’s work will be on exhibit: “With Economaki, there is no separation between craft, design, and art—all intersect and play crucial roles in his practice. Whether you wish to see him as an artist, a toolmaker, or a business owner, you are invited to experience Economaki’s unique approach to making.”
Regarding IWF, I had good intentions on attending, but a month holidays to Japan got in the way. Bringing home three new Makita products; ML800, ML803, & ML805 LED lights and a couple 5,0A batteries, along with some other unique Fujiya, Engineers, IPS and handmade Japanese tools (chisels, hammers, and scrapers). Plus, some unique 100% plastic tools for electronics repair.
At IWF, I am aware Felder, Lamello, Lietz and Martin were anouncing some new products. I am confident all the major powertool companies made major announcements too. They always do. A Google search of IWF 2014 New Products will certainly provide some information. Every major player in the power tools industry is there with their respective VP of Sales & Marketing and Director of Product Development in attendence. Given your interests, and the thousands of vendor exhibits in one place, I am quite surprised you did not attend. Below is a link to the exhaustive vendor list.
http://www.iwfatlanta.com/Attendees/ExhibitorList
Stuart
“Art” and “artsy” are not quite the same.
Artsy: “making a strong, affected, or pretentious display of being artistic or interested in the arts.”
Bridge City tools, while typically priced way above my comfort level, could be construed as art, but I feel as though “artsy” would be negatively toned.
I would love to attend every trade show, convention, and fair, but time, resources, and priorities mean I won’t always be able to. August was a no-travel month because our son was expected in late July, and I made him a higher priority.
I have seen plenty of IWF 2014 product news, but nothing stood out as extremely exciting. Some will be posted about, but I don’t post about every single tool release. Some products just aren’t interesting enough to make the cut. If you – or anyone else -heard of a particularly interesting tool I might not have heard about or might have unfairly dismissed, let me know and I’ll take a closer look.
Readers’ expectations and interests are very important to me. But occasionally, I will write about something that will interest me more than it will some readers. I’m sorry that the post seemed to have offended you.
fred
Being an old retired bloke – I no longer pore over announcements from the IWF – but I did see reports on a few items that might be noteworthy – albeit more directed at a commercial audience. The Colonial Saw – Lamello Tenso p-14 connectors for pulling edges together for glue-ups seemed intriguing. The new Shop Fox (W1833) Pocket Hole machine also might be worth a look as is the General Tools 8562 Face Frame Jig
Toolfreak
This looks to me like an art project for the screwdrivers and the “book” to hold them, with the stainless hex keys as a filler afterthought.
Either somebody bought the design and produced it in Taiwan hoping to get arty tool people to bite, or someone had this produced in Taiwan hoping their design would find a market.
I agree that the art gallery crowd doesn’t really do tools, at least in terms of using them, but I do like the design of the screwdrivers, at least.
Overpriced? Of course. Would I like to see a stainless tool set with ratchets and wrenches following the design from those screwdrivers? Sure. They could even offer the Taiwan-made set for those who don’t want to fork over for the German/Swiss-made set, which they really should make if they’re going for high end.
Adam
A guy I have done some work for has several Bridge City Tools. They are beautiful pieces. I personally consider them more as art then tools in my book however. He showed me his collection and it was very interesting. He portrays woodworking as his hobby from his full time financial job. I get the impression that like most of my clients that want to talk tools it is more of a tool collecting hobby then woodworking in the true sense. Most of the tools see more fondling then shavings. I have nothing against it as these people seem to want quality work and that is why I get the job to come in and build their cabinets, which I appreciate.
While not anywhere near the standard of Bridge City, this tool kit strikes me as something that is clearly meant to be a show piece, and while fully functional it is not truly intended for any serious use.
On another note in regards to the discussion about the fold out nature of the kit, it reminds me of two separate cases I have that are made to hold chisel assortments. I recieved both at different times from co-workers that were retiring, one holds a bunch of chisels that came with it and the other was used originally to hold carving tools. Both are made of hardwood, one of maple and the other of cherry, and were made by the previous owners. The bifold nature is great design and extremely useful when working on site. In fact I only recieved the second case when the owner saw how much I used the first. I have often thought of making two new such cases that match to hold my chisels but to be honest I can’t justify it as these ones just won’t wear out.
Just thought I would share that story to show that not only is the folding tool kit a good design but one that has roots in the industry.
Adam
Aaron Harmon
lol, normally, you hit the mark pretty squarely, but if these “tools” were given to me, I’d give them to my wife. they’d be way more at home in her tool box. If she wasn’t interested, they’d go straight into the recycle bin.
joe
“…the smooth metal handles of the screwdrivers seems highly impractical, at least for anything but the lightest of screw adjustment tasks.”
Most of the micro screwdriver sets have thin bodies that do not have enough meat to get a hold on…I use a blue gun to mold a better grip around them….makes my life easier…Though I like their top hat that spin, which I don’t see this implemented here….
having said that, this one if more of a show an tell piece in my book. Maybe for a lambo/mercedes owner.
joe
My mistake about confusing them with Small Screwdriver Kit. They are large after looking at the pictures in the link.
Still the desing is mostly for show….e.g. hands get naturally oily (body oil) the smootheness of the handle will require more grip to use.
Phil
Stuey, in my efforts to make a bit of humor above I forgot to add mention of a tool set that I have and use quite often that has a similar style to the handles of the drivers in your post. Ifixit has a real nice miniature driver/bit set for the money. You might’ve mentioned it before, it’s the 54 piece precision set that comes solo or part of a larger tool fold that contains extra tools geared toward repairing small electronics, but is useful for countless other miniature (or not-so-miniature) building and repair. The handle included in the kit is machined aluminum with replaceable rubber o-ring grips, a magnetic bit holder with extension, and the fingertip swivel has a ball-bearing inside that makes spinning the driver very precise, even when you might have to bear down more than usual. For tiny, long screws, the flywheel effect of the handle in a pleasure. The bits are all high quality and fit their respective fasteners well. There are every imaginable bit types included, even some security bits like triwing and pentalobes. I have yet to break or wear any of them out, even when I use the torque assist feature built into the tool.
Looks like they recently made the kit available in a wooden box that ramps up the art factor too. 🙂
https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/54-Bit-Driver-Kit/IF145-022