Practical and Useful Tools from SEMA 2025 That Are Worthy of Attention

Practical and Useful Tools from SEMA 2025 That Are Worthy of Attention

      Harbor Freight YouTube channel, edited by the author

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      The vehicle modification trade show known as SEMA has taken over Las Vegas this week. As expected, there were numerous outrageous and extravagant custom vehicles on display, highlighting the peaks of craftsmanship and aftermarket innovation. However, SEMA also features products, tools, and accessories that provide genuine practical benefit. Here are a few items that caught my attention during the event.

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      Although I couldn't attend the show in Nevada this year, my inbox has been filled with product pitches, and I've been keeping an eye on social media for announcements and demonstrations from the Las Vegas Convention Center. This means there’s certainly more noteworthy items out there that I may have overlooked. So if you know of any, please share in the comments!

      In the meantime, here’s a selection of tools and gadgets you might find innovative and engaging. Not everything here is brand new, but I’m sure you’ll discover at least one item here that you haven’t seen before.

      Harbor Freight has significantly improved the quality of its products in recent years, and its tool chests are particularly good value. At SEMA 2025, the discount retailer introduced the second generation of its Icon-brand tool storage systems, which look impressive. They offer plenty of modularity, customization options, and are quite deep! Check out a quick tour of HF’s SEMA area, highlighting the G2 cabinets at the 01:30 mark.

      Mothers Exhaust Tip Polish

      You might think I've got a retro obsession, but I genuinely love shiny chrome exhaust tips. In the past, I've relied on Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish to clean this specific car component. This week, the company launched a new product tailored for exhaust tips, called Mothers Exhaust Tip Cleaner & Polish, described as “a 3-in-1 solution to clean, polish, and protect exhaust tips—removing buildup and discoloration for a lasting, showroom-quality shine.” I have already arranged to get a sample and look forward to sharing my findings. The company representatives informed me that it will be available in December.

      Mothers, edited by the author

      Titan 3-in-1 Stepped Adapters

      These look extremely useful for fitting bolts into tight spaces. It’s a single adapter compatible with multiple sizes of socket drives. I haven't seen it for sale yet, but Titan has an Amazon store you might want to check if you’re interested. I have a sticker scraper from this brand that I’m quite satisfied with.

      For those who regularly follow tools, this might not be new—the Klein MODbox tool pack-out system has been available for quite a while. However, I only discovered it while browsing SEMA 2025 content, so I thought it deserved your attention as well.

      Essentially, this is a highly modular and customizable tool transportation system. These rolling boxes come with forward-opening drawers, eliminating the need to disassemble the stacked boxes to retrieve items from the bottom. This setup appears to be fantastic for mobile service technicians or anyone involved in amateur motorsports. Imagine pulling one of these from your trunk and quickly setting it up in your pit. Instant shop drawers! These can be found at Lowe’s and other retailers.

      OTC Geared Jack Stands

      I can't count how many times I've lifted a car onto jack stands and then regretted not lifting it a bit higher, only to find the jack already out of reach. With these geared jack stands, you can continue to raise your car directly from the stands instead of having to grab your floor jack again. They come in three-ton and six-ton models on OTC’s website.

      Knipex Spring Hose Clamp Pliers

      These have been available for some time and can be found on Amazon. However, a video shared by @tooldemos on Instagram really highlights why specialized pliers are significantly better than standard ones when dealing with hose clamps.

      The “Joker” wrenches from Wera Tools aren't new this year, but they were new to me, and I find them very appealing! They’re excellent for reaching bolts at awkward angles. Check out the demo below. Sets of these are available on Amazon, or you can opt for an adjustable version for maximum versatility.

      Fireball Blacksmith Vise

      This one may not be particularly practical for the casual DIYer, but it's undeniably impressive. Fireball Tool (not related to the whiskey, as far as I know) is bringing this enormous vise to production. It’s perfect for any tasks involving large and heavy materials!

      I will continue to add more items to this list as I encounter new products before the show concludes. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you have any suggestions!

      Do you have any tool tips for me? Reach out at [email protected

Practical and Useful Tools from SEMA 2025 That Are Worthy of Attention Practical and Useful Tools from SEMA 2025 That Are Worthy of Attention Practical and Useful Tools from SEMA 2025 That Are Worthy of Attention Practical and Useful Tools from SEMA 2025 That Are Worthy of Attention

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Practical and Useful Tools from SEMA 2025 That Are Worthy of Attention

Not all items showcased at SEMA are wild, unique custom builds. Here are a few practical products that were featured at the major aftermarket event in Vegas.