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Q: How did the tool function as far as saving you time?
A: Having your tools readily available when needed, while also stowed away when not, is key to maintaining a smooth working environment. These magnetic rails provide a quick “home” to stow away my frequently used tools.
Q: How has using this tool impacted your shop’s profitability?
A: As always, time is money. The less time we spend sifting through cluttered drawers in our toolboxes, the more time we have available to repair vehicles. I try to be as organized as possible with my tools, so this product fit my tendencies quite nicely.
Q: What kind of setup was involved before using the product?
A: The magnetic rail must be permanently mounted to the surface in which you want to mount it to. I decided to rivet the rails to my service cart. Now I have a permanent home for my most common daily used tools.
Q: How easy was it to use?
A: Very simple. Mount the rail and place a metallic tool near the product. Nothing complex here. It’s a magnetic rail.
Q: Was there a manual included?
A: There were not any instructions included in the product, nor did I feel it necessary for there to be. The product is self-explanatory.
Q: What features did you like?
A: The strength of the magnets within the rail are impressive! I have yet to find a metallic object that wouldn’t be supported by the magnets. When transporting my service cart throughout the shop, I can trust these magnets will not let go of the tool I have secured. They are very strong.
Q: How does this tool compare to other tools you’ve used like it?
A: I have other magnetic trays, but they do not have the magnetic strength of this rail. This rail uses a strong N35 Neodymium rare-earth magnet.
Q: Is there any way you could think to improve or add to this tool?
A: The product could have come with mounting hardware. I decided to use rivets to mount the rail to my tool cart but hard to purchase them separately. A small pack of rivets or machine screws would be nice to use to mount the product.
The Ullman Devices Magnetic Rails, Nos. UMR13 and UMR17, use strong N35 magnets to mount to benches, boxes, and vehicles to securely hold sockets and metal tools. The rails also have mounting holes to adhere to walls and other non-magnetic surfaces. The UMR13 measures 13-1/4" in length while the UMR17 measures 17-1/4" in length.
About the Author
Brian Culotta
Brian Culotta is a graduate of the Universal Technical Institute in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating, he started working for an independent car dealership as a lead technician for seven years. He then moved to a new job at an independent repair shop where he stayed for three years. He now works at Dave's Auto Care in Willoughby, Ohio, as the shop foreman and ASE Master L1, L3 technician.