Following its successful launch as part of the Armeg range, we catch up with the inventor of the Roofing Bolt Driver, electrician John Mijalski.
Q. Tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m based in Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire and I’ve been working as an electrician for 25 years. The majority of electrical work has been commercial and industrial installations, but I do quite a lot of domestic work too!
Q. When did you first come up with the idea to develop the Roofing Bolt Driver?
I decided to create the driver when I snapped the corner off a flat head screwdriver in 2018. The other problems I faced were the time it was taking to tighten the bolts up and the flat head drivers not fitting properly. When working at height, which is often the case with cable management, you need things to be much easier.
Q. What jobs and applications do you work on when using Roofing Bolts?
The most common situation for me to use the gutter bolts/roof bolts are in commercial or industrial situations, where cable management trays are being used above suspended ceilings. I do this daily on industrial contracts and sometimes on commercial jobs in the initial stages of the installation.
Q. How does the Roofing Bolt Driver help?
It’s quicker and easier to locate on the bolt, plus it gets the bolts much tighter.
Q. What process did you undertake to bring the Roofing Bolt Driver to life?
I wanted a male version of the female cross on the bolt head. After having a 3D version printed, I realised the user couldn’t locate it easily because the cross was not visible enough. I then thought of scribed lines on the outside to give it a reference, and this made things slightly easier. I also removed the side walls for a better physical view, without compromising the outer tips of the cross, under impact. I applied for a patent with the design, which had clarity for a detailed descriptive. While thinking of making a working prototype, and patent pending, I met Dean Butcher at the Armeg stall during a trade show in Birmingham. After a brief description of the tool and showing him a scruffy sketch, he gave me his card. Having had a difficult time trying to get a company using spark erosion to make a few one-off samples, I decided to visit a local engineering company and they eventually made me 20 blanks. I then took these to a spark erosion company who were very professional and ‘eroded the business end’ as I like to call it. Once I had the prototypes I then contacted Dean, almost a year after we’d originally met.
Q. Why did you choose Armeg as a partner?
I chose Armeg because I like the brand’s products. I regularly use their holesaws, ¼” drive bit sets and HSS drills, so I wanted to set the standard high in terms of quality and looks. Q. What is your favourite feature of the Roofing Bolt Driver? The black finish really sets it off, especially with the Armeg laser etching. Also, the scallops make such a difference to the usability, and they look unique.
To get more details about Armeg’s Roofing Bolt Driver click here