Simplest Innovations

I’ve spoken of them before, even recently, but it has taken some time for me to get around to doing anything about them. (Just had a look – 3 1/2 years ago!  The second I originally saw on “Cool Tools”).

I’m talking of the innovations (and they are quite fitting of the title) from Landon Innovations.  The Gorilla Gripper, and the LegUp. I was reminded of them recently in the comments when I was purchasing some redtongue flooring, and went looking. Not for sale anywhere, but as it turns out, imported (very locally) by Comnet Sales, in Carrum Downs.  So I contacted them in case they did warehouse door sales, and they were willing.

For $44, I got what I was primarily looking for, which was the Contractor’s grade Gorilla Gripper (this one can handle sheet goods between 9mm and 29mm).  There is a General Purpose one (wrong name personally – nothing “general purpose” about dealing with thin sheet goods like aluminium, or holding a full bag of sawdust by its top…hmm – wonder if I need another gripper……) that can handle between 0mm and 21mm, and a door one (same comment applies), that can handle goods between 31mm and 52mm thick.

Out to the shed, and tried it on a couple of full sheets of MDF I have there at the moment.  Sweet. Seriously.  Work like a charm.  No idea why Bunnings chose not to continue stocking the range – more fool them.  Not my concern, now I have tracked one down anyway.  Wish I had one years ago.

Here is one of the original promotional videos made of it.  Sells itself.

You might remember this one – back before the world turned PC.

There were a few pallets of these in the warehouse…just sitting there.

I also asked if they stocked the LegUp while I was there – same company, so was hoping.  Turned out they had gotten some in to test the market (ages ago), and there was still about 20, somewhere in the warehouse.  Took about 30 minutes of looking in, around, and behind stock on pallets before they were located, but find them we did.

It is a REALLY simple design, and I am sure there are a number out there that would look at it, and make their own.  But for $38.50, (and I’d challenge anyone that has made their own version to demonstrate they came up with the idea BEFORE seeing the LegUp), I just got one of the originals.

Fitted to the tablesaw in about 30 seconds, without exaggeration.  It can be used vertically (as designed) to clamp onto the edge of the cast iron wing, or you can go for the alternate orientation and clamp it to the horizontal bar that the fence runs on.  I went with the vertical mount so as not to have to remove the end caps from the saw.  Literally 30 secs, it stays right out of the way when not needed, and works like a bought one.

I got them from Comnet Sales who are in Carrum Downs (9770 8156).  Their online price seems higher- not sure why – might be worth a call.  They seem to have a reasonable number of Grippers, but <20 LegUps.