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The Restorer Tool Inventor Story of Triumph
Connect on Instagram | @inventor_of_the_restorer
Born and raised in Northeast Ohio where he still resides with his family, Robert is the COO of Kundel Industries Crane Division, CEO of Wellington Corp and Inventor of The RESTORER power tool brand that is sold all around the world. Robert, having no formal secondary education, has risen above by securing license agreements with three of the top brands in the power tool industry but has canceled them all to pursue the RESTORER brand that God has called him to. His God given vision is to take the profits from the RESTORER brand sales and build a one-of-a-kind pastoral retreat center to help restore and reconnect struggling pastors with their calling and savior. Robert also volunteers as Board President for Warren Family Mission and is a board member and worship leader at Harvest Christian Assembly of God in Howland, OH.
Robert began working for his father’s business Kundel Industries Inc., a manufacturer of trench shoring products, at the age of sixteen. During his teen years, Robert found great interest in understanding how things worked and he spent much time repairing his own cars as he grew into his twenties along with repairing his own appliances and household items as he grew in his mechanical skill set.
With the added responsibilities at Kundel Ind Robert was always looking to reduce cost and one of the their largest expenses was rust removal or surface prep prior to welding or painting. Driven to find a solution Robert searched for an affordable hand held solution but was unable to find one so he took it upon himself to build his own with the help of fellow employee Richard Schley a former tool and die employee of Delphi Packard Electric.
Having successfully built a fully functional and effective prototype Robert shared his patented invention with a tool company at a trade show in Chicago, IL and the tool was flown to Germany for review. The company had made Robert, the Restorer tool inventor, an offer on his invention, but he declined feeling that it was not the right direction for him. Soon after, his tool went from one power tool manufacturer to another and generated great interest due to its great potential in the metal prep and wood sanding markets, but for one reason or another Robert’s invention was either delayed, dismissed as being too niche or viewed as not having a significant market potential. Nearly six years later and countless months of frustration Robert was introduced to Jinding Electric Tools. For a year the team worked tirelessly along with help from friends in the power tool industry, to develop, test and refine the tool to what it is today. After seven years from Robert’s initial prototype he signed a reverse brand license agreement with John Cunningham and the licensing team with Stanley Black and Decker under the brand names Porter-Cable , Black+Decker and Craftsman allowing Robert to sell into Lowes. In the fall of 2019 Robert allowed his Porter Cable to expire and at the end of 2020 he cancelled his contract with Craftsman to sell his invention, now called the Restorer, under his own RESTORER brand. The RESTORER brand is available with online retailers and in store with Woodcraft, Rockler and Hartville Hardware.
Always having the feeling of being called to something so much bigger than working for his family’s business, Robert, the restorer tool inventor, began praying for God to reveal his will to him. On May 18, 2012 God placed a call on Robert’s life to build a one-of-a-kind pastoral retreat center to be located in the Charlotte, NC area and to be dedicated to the restoration of pastors worldwide. Robert is dedicating the proceeds from the sale of his tool, aptly named the Restorer, to do just that. He explains that he named the tool the RESTORER after Jesus because Jesus is the restorer of our souls and is able to take the old and make it new again just like his tool invention. Don’t forget Jesus was a carpenter and the Restorer is a carpenter’s tool!
Podcast Interview: Inventor of the Restorer- Robert Kundel Jr.
More Info: thegreenwoodworkerpodcast.com
Psalm 23:1-4
1. The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2. He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3. He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.