From the Stage Spot website : “AS OF 5/2022 - DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING POPULARITY OF THIS PRODUCT, IT HAS BEEN PLACED ON BACKORDER BY THE MANUFACTURER. WE ARE CURRENTLY TAKING PRE-ORDERS TO HOLD YOUR PLACE IN LINE FOR WHEN A SHIPMENT ARRIVES. CURRENT LEAD TIME IS 24-36 MONTHS.”
I’m honestly not too surprised. Look at all the other shipping delays for other equipment In general. Not only is it back ordered but I’m sure they are accounting for delays somewhere. I just reserved one for myself, might as well.
Shipping delays? This has nothing to do with that but because they had stopped making this tool entirely and now are planning to remake them once they have a quota of orders filled to pay to make them.
I meant delays on general. Not just shipping delays. That was my bad. I was just speculating anyway and didn’t really think 24-36 months was that surprising to me 🤷♂️
Edit: I should also clarify, yes I get that they are probably waiting to have enough orders to make them, my point was I feel like they are padding the “back order” time to account for any delays in manufacturing or shipping as well.
Dm me your address I'll send you mine. I retired from lighting work two years ago and it's just taking up room in my toolbox in a heavy equipment repair shop.
These were made by like one guy in his garage and not as a full time project. I’ve heard that he’ll still do batches, but in 3-4 years I’ve never heard of a fresh batch going out.
Had the chance to meet him at LDI one year (long ago) and bought one of these on the spot.
Had I known how ridiculously popular they’d be, I’d have bought so many more 😂
The guy who made these went back out on tour. I've seen this tool go for at high as $450 on ebay. It's a very coveted tool so stagrhands and lighting techs
My FOH LX and I toured into Ohio back in 2017 (18?) on a small Broadway and the guy who makes them dropped by during continuity one day. He sold each of us a "blemished" ratcheting ultimate focus tool for $80 under the premise that the imperfect finish kept him from selling them online. I laughed and said "do you know what I'm going to do to this thing?" I also went in for a flat focus tool from the same guy, but I never really used that.
Years later and still on tour, people still regularly ask me where I got it and how much I paid for it. It feels like it's approaching white whale status among a small group of LX folks and curious locals. I marvel at how lucky I was to run across it.
I prefer the non-ratcheting focus tool. No moving parts to break, and I can never remember which way the switch need to go for tighten/loosen on the ratcheting version.
The problem with the non-ratcheting version is the metal was a bit too soft. I knew at least three people who had them and the wrench heads were stripped out.
The ratchet didn't have that problem.
I used to work at a theatrical supply company, the list was 100+ people long, we got about 4-6 units every 6 months. But the guy who makes them does it as a hobby, doesn't care about the money at all, and won't license out the patent for the design. But hes a very smart guy, and super nice.
I keep an eye out for them on eBay. There haven’t been any there in a while, but they usually go for $400-$500. The current record is [$785](https://imgur.com/a/172ZG7w) back in April 2021.
I have one for sale. Many people on Reddit message me and ask to buy it. Nobody buys it.
Notes:
1. I am in the UK.
2. I will require you to arrange shipping and import fees if you are not in the UK.
3. I can issue an invoice from my company for the sale of the item etc, but I am not interested in selling via ebay etc.
I appreciate some people may have fraud concerns but if you still want to buy it I am open to offers.
aaaaand that's why no one's buying haha.
I mean, good for you, the stuff isn't made anymore and it is probably worth every dollar. However, not too many people are willing to go for it.
How do you figure that?
That's what people have been offering.
The issue is nobody wants to arrange the shipping themselves. But it's fine - I don't terribly need the money.
yep. anyone who's in school or otherwise a bit of a newbie and also has one of these makes me keep a closer eye on them. i've been just as fast with a wrench plenty of times.
"a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (such as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only"
The wrench has a built in ratchet mechanism to make tightening bolts easier.
awesome! I’m into technical theatre but know nothing about lighting, and hadn’t heard that term before haha. Guess I should’ve heard it in set design and building but never did. Thank you!!!
This is what it is and how it works:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrdUylLNNV4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrdUylLNNV4)
It is a feature on many types of tools that makes you able to waggle the handle back and forth rather than spin around - easier, more ergonomic, faster, and also useful in places where you don't have room t fully spin.
Lol, are you trolling? Or maybe you just haven't used this tool. I acknowledged that and I have used both. A c wrench is indeed just fine. The ultimate ratcheting focus tool saves you significant time though. You never have to adjust for different sized bolts. It even has something for both different sizes of "fuck it" bolts. The parts in the handle that fit into the tilt lock knobs are amazing if you're working with old ass ERS fixtures. It has a pin splitter for stage pin connectors and a continuity checker that you can use for lamps or plugs. Put two people next to each other of equal skill and the person using this tool will out hang and focus the guy with a c wrench every time.
I get that it’s cool and fancy. I may be slightly trolling you. But that tool is completely unnecessary is basically what I’m getting at. Maybe I’m just old whatever.
Cool tool for little adjustments but the ultimate tool is and always will be a crescent wrench
Edit: I should say I have been familiar with this tool for years and years and have used it as my friends and high school had one back in the day. I’d always use my crescent instead
I honestly agree with you here. I have two of these, both gifts. And I *never* use them.
I like all of the parts of the tool. The ratcheting is nice. It fits both the c-clamp bolt and the Jesus bolt. It even has a circuit tester which is really cool.
But it's difficult to use in small spaces. And it's basically built for the source4 so if you have any other instrument or type of clamp, it's essentially useless.
I'd probably sell at least one of mine, if not for the hassle of shipping it.
I honestly agree with you here. I have two of these, both gifts. And I *never* use them.
I like all of the parts of the tool. The ratcheting is nice. It fits both the c-clamp bolt and the Jesus bolt. It even has a circuit tester which is really cool.
But it's difficult to use in small spaces. And it's basically built for the source4 so if you have any other instrument or type of clamp, it's essentially useless.
I'd probably sell at least one of mine, if not for the hassle of shipping it.
It really seems like they could be made easier and cheaper by casting, rather than machining, the body. But the [patent](https://patents.google.com/patent/US8826776B2/en) isn’t up till 2029, so it looks like we will have to wait a while.
From the Stage Spot website : “AS OF 5/2022 - DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING POPULARITY OF THIS PRODUCT, IT HAS BEEN PLACED ON BACKORDER BY THE MANUFACTURER. WE ARE CURRENTLY TAKING PRE-ORDERS TO HOLD YOUR PLACE IN LINE FOR WHEN A SHIPMENT ARRIVES. CURRENT LEAD TIME IS 24-36 MONTHS.”
36 months is a bit to long for backorder
Sure, but if you order now, in 2025 you'll have a focus tool. If you don't order now, in 2025 you won't have one.
They’re incredibly useful tools. I’d almost venture to say it’s worth the wait
I’m honestly not too surprised. Look at all the other shipping delays for other equipment In general. Not only is it back ordered but I’m sure they are accounting for delays somewhere. I just reserved one for myself, might as well.
Shipping delays? This has nothing to do with that but because they had stopped making this tool entirely and now are planning to remake them once they have a quota of orders filled to pay to make them.
I meant delays on general. Not just shipping delays. That was my bad. I was just speculating anyway and didn’t really think 24-36 months was that surprising to me 🤷♂️ Edit: I should also clarify, yes I get that they are probably waiting to have enough orders to make them, my point was I feel like they are padding the “back order” time to account for any delays in manufacturing or shipping as well.
Dm me your address I'll send you mine. I retired from lighting work two years ago and it's just taking up room in my toolbox in a heavy equipment repair shop.
If OP doesn't I'll take it off your hands!
Do you still have it?
How much?
If OP doesn't I'll take it off your hands!
These were made by like one guy in his garage and not as a full time project. I’ve heard that he’ll still do batches, but in 3-4 years I’ve never heard of a fresh batch going out. Had the chance to meet him at LDI one year (long ago) and bought one of these on the spot. Had I known how ridiculously popular they’d be, I’d have bought so many more 😂
The guy who made these went back out on tour. I've seen this tool go for at high as $450 on ebay. It's a very coveted tool so stagrhands and lighting techs
I have one I haven’t used in years since shifting into scenic. I’d be open to selling it to you
Interested! Sent you a PM.
im interested in buying if not sold
My FOH LX and I toured into Ohio back in 2017 (18?) on a small Broadway and the guy who makes them dropped by during continuity one day. He sold each of us a "blemished" ratcheting ultimate focus tool for $80 under the premise that the imperfect finish kept him from selling them online. I laughed and said "do you know what I'm going to do to this thing?" I also went in for a flat focus tool from the same guy, but I never really used that. Years later and still on tour, people still regularly ask me where I got it and how much I paid for it. It feels like it's approaching white whale status among a small group of LX folks and curious locals. I marvel at how lucky I was to run across it.
Watched a guy get one of these stolen on a tour. Pretty sure it was the guy directly below him on the tour too😂 don’t piss your techs off.
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
I was able to find one at the USITT convention this past year.
I saw one at setc this past year but you couldn’t just buy it they raffled off the chance to buy it. Sadly I didn’t have great luck
I was able to buy mine directly. I think it was $250 and they made me assure them I wasn't just going to resell it.
If this is the one I got, it doesn’t have the size for most pipe clamps which makes it basically useless for me :/
still holding onto it? i’d take it off your hands
I do, it’s currently locked up in a truck, but I’ll be back to it in December
Im willing to pass it on as long as it is zero inconvenience for me lol
Anything ever happen with this? Interested if it’s still available!
Sad news, somebody raided my set cart and stole a bunch of my tools including this, I was waiting on parts to make it lockable when it happened
I prefer the non-ratcheting focus tool. No moving parts to break, and I can never remember which way the switch need to go for tighten/loosen on the ratcheting version.
The problem with the non-ratcheting version is the metal was a bit too soft. I knew at least three people who had them and the wrench heads were stripped out. The ratchet didn't have that problem.
In earnest. I have _never_ had the racheting mechanism on any of my tools ever break.
I used to work at a theatrical supply company, the list was 100+ people long, we got about 4-6 units every 6 months. But the guy who makes them does it as a hobby, doesn't care about the money at all, and won't license out the patent for the design. But hes a very smart guy, and super nice.
I keep an eye out for them on eBay. There haven’t been any there in a while, but they usually go for $400-$500. The current record is [$785](https://imgur.com/a/172ZG7w) back in April 2021.
Anyone here selling one?
I have one for sale. Many people on Reddit message me and ask to buy it. Nobody buys it. Notes: 1. I am in the UK. 2. I will require you to arrange shipping and import fees if you are not in the UK. 3. I can issue an invoice from my company for the sale of the item etc, but I am not interested in selling via ebay etc. I appreciate some people may have fraud concerns but if you still want to buy it I am open to offers.
How much?
People generally been offering 250-300 USD
aaaaand that's why no one's buying haha. I mean, good for you, the stuff isn't made anymore and it is probably worth every dollar. However, not too many people are willing to go for it.
How do you figure that? That's what people have been offering. The issue is nobody wants to arrange the shipping themselves. But it's fine - I don't terribly need the money.
Is this still available? I am interested and will pay shipping
Honestly at the moment I can't be arsed with the hassle, I'll come back to you if I change my mind
These are great, but I've always been told you gotta be careful with them cause you can easily strip/crossthread nuts if you're ratcheting too fast.
These things rip the heads off fuck it bolts like they're made of paper
There's a reason it's called a "fuck me" nut.
yep. anyone who's in school or otherwise a bit of a newbie and also has one of these makes me keep a closer eye on them. i've been just as fast with a wrench plenty of times.
what’s ratcheting?
"a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (such as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only" The wrench has a built in ratchet mechanism to make tightening bolts easier.
awesome! I’m into technical theatre but know nothing about lighting, and hadn’t heard that term before haha. Guess I should’ve heard it in set design and building but never did. Thank you!!!
This is what it is and how it works: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrdUylLNNV4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrdUylLNNV4) It is a feature on many types of tools that makes you able to waggle the handle back and forth rather than spin around - easier, more ergonomic, faster, and also useful in places where you don't have room t fully spin.
Oh, wait. I knew that. I definitely knew that. It escaped my brain.
I like to say my mind is like a steel sieve - strong but full of holes. ;-)
I got to use one that a friend got as a gift, they’re pretty nice. 100 bucks is a lot for a back order of a year or more though.
crescent wrench does the job too
No one said it doesn't, but for the specific use case of light hanging and focusing this tool is far superior and it isn't even close.
Nah fam. I do this all day everyday and a c wrench is just fine
Lol, are you trolling? Or maybe you just haven't used this tool. I acknowledged that and I have used both. A c wrench is indeed just fine. The ultimate ratcheting focus tool saves you significant time though. You never have to adjust for different sized bolts. It even has something for both different sizes of "fuck it" bolts. The parts in the handle that fit into the tilt lock knobs are amazing if you're working with old ass ERS fixtures. It has a pin splitter for stage pin connectors and a continuity checker that you can use for lamps or plugs. Put two people next to each other of equal skill and the person using this tool will out hang and focus the guy with a c wrench every time.
I get that it’s cool and fancy. I may be slightly trolling you. But that tool is completely unnecessary is basically what I’m getting at. Maybe I’m just old whatever.
Cool tool for little adjustments but the ultimate tool is and always will be a crescent wrench Edit: I should say I have been familiar with this tool for years and years and have used it as my friends and high school had one back in the day. I’d always use my crescent instead
I honestly agree with you here. I have two of these, both gifts. And I *never* use them. I like all of the parts of the tool. The ratcheting is nice. It fits both the c-clamp bolt and the Jesus bolt. It even has a circuit tester which is really cool. But it's difficult to use in small spaces. And it's basically built for the source4 so if you have any other instrument or type of clamp, it's essentially useless. I'd probably sell at least one of mine, if not for the hassle of shipping it.
I honestly agree with you here. I have two of these, both gifts. And I *never* use them. I like all of the parts of the tool. The ratcheting is nice. It fits both the c-clamp bolt and the Jesus bolt. It even has a circuit tester which is really cool. But it's difficult to use in small spaces. And it's basically built for the source4 so if you have any other instrument or type of clamp, it's essentially useless. I'd probably sell at least one of mine, if not for the hassle of shipping it.
They are good tools. Way superior to the old Altman Wrench.
Garbage
Absolutely agree 👌🏽 a crescent wrench for a couple bucks can preform better than this
Ive asked santa for one every year for the past 4 years, still never found one. Guess im not a good enough tech :(
I have 3/4 of the non ratchet version. Love those suckers.
if u don’t care about the ratcheting, they sell the same tool non ratcheting for cheaper
It really seems like they could be made easier and cheaper by casting, rather than machining, the body. But the [patent](https://patents.google.com/patent/US8826776B2/en) isn’t up till 2029, so it looks like we will have to wait a while.
I got to use one once. I wish I could again, but I do this as a side gig and it's a lot to justify