RE: “This said, it is hard to try to run these tools through a conventional forum such as EN.
I could show them the tools, and explain what they do, but it would not mean a whole lot to them, since they will, and a lot of others will, not even use the items.”

When presenting to EN via an LPS or a Roadshow you should be able to present the benefits of your tool in terms anyone understands, typically along the lines of saving either time, materials, or other costs. If your invention is going to allow masons to do something or provide some service they’ve never done before, then again you should be able to say why anyone would want that.

Apart from EN you should also consider approaching manufacturers in your field directly. There are a couple threads here along those lines; start with a search for ’inventor friendly companies".

When dealing directly with a manuafacaturer if your invention truly has value then you should be able to go into more detail using terms they would understand.

One of the keys to ‘selling’ your invention via EN or prospective manufacturers is to say what the benefit is to end user (i.e. why they will buy it) and not ‘what it does’ or ‘why it is clever’.

Derek,

Do not know what a Clean Skin is. I am right now stuck in limbo with my tools. I have like others searched for a way in to the proper companies.

In writing a slew of requests for meetings with Masonry tool companies, I came upon an idea that would get me through the back door.

I am in the union, so I contacted the Internation Masonry Institiute, in Bowie Md.
This is where all the training needed for the craft occurs, I emailed them about having made tool to do a certain job, and the main guy in charge of the shops there, had me send them down there for testing. And if the testing went well, he would set me up to meet tool companies with my idea. He said that the tool companies would often come by, bring certain tools from there r@d and have the intitute test them, and have the institute suggest what needed to be tweaked and what did not.
This sounded to good to be true, I sent the tools to him, and he said to give him a couple of weeks, that was going 5 weeks ago. I have talked to him since and nothing at seems fishy.
He did spend one week away on business, and I also have an instructor friend that works in the shop. So, as I said I am stuck in a holding pattern for the time being. Can’t be forceful at a time like this, after so long of trying. He did say that the tool was a pretty trick tool.

Still waiting in WV

Thanks for the explaination on the clean shin thin,

There are no reference to submission companies such as the ones who make masonry tool. I have checked the complete list. There are only, a very small handful to begin with, they are Bon Tool Co. Marshalltown Tool Co. Kraft Tools, and GoldBlatt.

Tool I have come up with replaces the do it by hand method, other method involves using a mechanical machine, that costs over three hundred dollars, I made mine for a dollar.

But as I said I am stuck it seems in a waiting mode, until this guy decides to push his staff to do the testing, maybe they are at there busy time prepping apprentices for the starting of the spring work.

If the Nation were contacted by Masonry tool companies, I would ,of course submit, and damn the torpedoes. But not much chance of that.

If this way going through the Institute does not work, I guess I will have to go back to pounding the bricks again, or move on.

I am not going to wait two years, and am not going to wait 2 months within a few more weeks I will personally drive down there and retrieve my tools.

I then will have to do something quick after that, because to many people at the intitiute, will have my idea in there heads.

Derek.. you mentioned a Las Vegas Show 2010. Do you know where I might find more details about that show?

Thanks for the post Derek.. it looks like all hardware correct? I was thinking it was a general buying show that I should look in to.. cheers and good luck with all