Review: Kickstarter - Keystone

So in a brilliant turn of events, the prototype Keystone key-keeper that I did a wish-lust piece on last week, turned up this week, and I have been able to give it a go, just in time for the KickStarter to finish up.


What this means is that I can give you all some honest options about the kit in time for you to go and pledge to get one of your very own, should the idea appeal.


Here's the link to Abel's Kickstarter project .

I liked the smooth lines  of the keeper, and the built in cut-aways allowing me to use one set of keys to push out the other side, to retrieve the key I was after.

I swapped out my keys, and the associated keychain tools from my Tactical Keychains TiKeY keeper, which has served me well since last December to give it a true comparison.

One interesting design difference is the use of steel washers over nylon and rubber tubing. I had initially thought this would lead o a more jangly, slippier keeper, but it seems to have don the opposite, locked it down tight.

The steel screw-heads, even with their thin threading and thin overall pin diameter haven't caused me any of the worried I had had about the keys sliding about with either. In fact, if anything, the fit is TOO tight, and I have to really push to get my keys or tools out and ready to use.

That steel screw-head does take a lot more punishment than the more subtle aluminium heads seen on the TiKeY, and that durability is probably one thing really in its favour.

I put a steel face-plate on one side, and the black powder coated aluminium facing on the other, with no discernible difference at this stage. the steel will resist wear and tear better.

The nice thing about this system is that it is modular. Extra pegs mean you can add additional pegs to expand your key carriage by simply just adding one or two of those extra pegs, along with the extra included steel washers.

 Overall, I think I prefer the steel over the aluminium, in this case, I noticed no appreciable diference in weight in the time I've had it on hand.

I only had enough keys to warrant the single peg, but it was really nice to see the extra pegs be available to use. Between the extra pegs, and a sufficient washers to add as many keys as I'd want, its a really nice package.

This is certainly everything it advertises itself to be, and its rugged, secure and modular.

Go check it out, if you're in the market for a new key keeper.

Less jingle-jangle is less unwanted attention coming your way!

Wish-Lust: Kickstarter - Keystone

I had one of my epic Kickstarting fanatic buddies drop me a line suggesting that he'd been contacted by a maker who was interested in a review. I got in touch, and here are the technical specifications for another key-keeper, with industrial lines ...

This is the Keystone, being Kickstarted.

You may recall that I have a couple of this kind of thing, in the form of the large and small TiKeY holders. So I am very keen to see how these perform once they go into production. Offered in two materials: 304 stainless steel in its "raw" colouration, and in 5052 aluminium in "raw", "gunmetal" and "black"

The hardware material, in the form of 2 male screw posts, 2 female screw posts, 4 extension screw posts and 30 spacers are all also made of 304 stainless steel. The Keystones are designed to take up to 20 keys, for those who have a keychain like a mace or a high school janitor. To carry 20 keys, you're adding 21g worth of hardware.

The steel Keystone frames weigh about 44g and the
aluminium frames weigh about 15g. Both types measure: 85mm x 20mm x 2mm per side.

The ultra thin screw posts are 3mm in diameter to fit all flat keys and by adding extension screw posts and adjusting the number of spacers used you can to customise the number of keys carried. The Screw Posts are adjustable with just a coin, a very handy feature.

I also liked the way the keys appear to be "ejected" for use, by squeezing the hand-divots from below.

I'm looking forwards to seeing what these are like in the hand, and both pocketed and hung from my EDC harness,
 and if they appeal, I'd certainly recommend checking out the Kickstarter, before it reaches the end of its campaign.

Review: Pry/Open pocket tool

Shaped like a Battlestar and just as tough.

I backed this via Kickstarter back in May 2013, and it's been sitting in my pocket since August 2013. I've never once thought about stripping it from my collection of pocket tools, and most days, I don't even think about it being there. Unobtrusive is high on my list of desirable features in a pocket widget, and this certainly lives up to that expectation.

Matt Hall of Obstructures is a designer with a vision I can appreciate. This tool is evidence of that.

This sand-blasted stainless steel tool is only 9.5cm (3 3/4”) long and a touch under 5mm (3/16") thick and yet offers some serious prying action. The front end is split with a nail-puller, and each prong is slightly different, offering two different screw-driving options.

The tool features jimping on both sides, promoting solid thumb-grip when using either end of the tool, which is very forwards thinking.

The back end features a single, broad pry edge, as well as small hole to attach a lanyard or split ring, as well a bottle opener.

A slit with a narrow neck facilitates looping through a belt loop, or looping over a pocket edge, which is where I wear mine almost exclusively. It was designed to fit into and sit snugly into MOLLE webbing too, which is an awesome thing for a designer to come out and say.

The middle of the tool is skeletonised to enable the provided cable ring which you might think is a strange place to fit a keychain, but there is method to the madness.
By placing the cable ring in that central gap, you can flip the bundled goodies from one end to the other of the tool, freeing up the working end from the carrying end.

Not clanking my bottled beverage with a collection of keychain tools is all good and well, but anyone with a keychain screw-driver can attest to how annoying trying to loosen a stuck screw is with a collection of keys in the way. This is a tool that I don't worry about snapping when prying open cans or the occasional locked drawer.

Some very forward thinking design has gone into this, as well as some bomb-proof, no-nonsense ergonomic choices. All set to frak up some toasters!

Update: WTF mini wrench and pry bar

A little while ago I reported on my pre-release WTF Ti mini-pry bar that I managed to sweet talk Brad of TacticalKeyChains into sending me, as it was a second. Just recently my full order from the Kickstarter campaign arrived, and thought I should show off the pre-production version against the production models.

 I ordered both titanium and the chromium/molybdenum  chromoly 4130 steel "stealth" version which has been Parkerized for shine and corrosion resistance. The main physical difference between the Ti and chromoly is the machining, in that the face of the pry-edge of the Ti versions is textured from the machining, where as the chromoly  version is smooth finished, due to the requirements for working the different metals. I like them both, and have had no discernible difference in performance when prying, they both bite nicely.

I had the production WTF anodized to a rose-gold colour, as it was going to be a gift for Omega (which she put straight onto her key chain, along with her NuKo Tool TiGBi Skully ). The only real difference between the the production version of the Ti WTF, and my "seconds" version is the lanyard hole is not quite centered in the second. In theory this might weaken that end, but I can't imagine putting enough force on the lanyard hole to make that an issue.

The Ti WTF's (made of Ti-6Al-4V) weigh 7.8g and the Stealth WTF (made of AISI 4130) weighs more at 11.5 grams, which is a small price to pay considering the benefits.

Brad has kindly provided some metallurgical stats on the materials he uses for the WTF's. The Ti-6Al-4V - has an Ultimate Tensile Strength of 138,000 psi and an elasticity modulus of 16,500 ksi, which means it is very very resilient, and springy. It will flex under stress.
TheChromoly 4130 has a Ultimate Tensile Strength - 97,200 psi but has an elasticity modulus of 29,700 ksi meaning it is not quite as resilient but VERY stiff.
Compare that against the aluminium 6061-T6 used for the basic WTF's which has an Ultimate Tensile Strength of only 45,000 psi and an elasticity modulus of 10,000 ksi  which is to say, relatively soft.

The cromoly WTF has the advantage of being ferromagnetic, and the wrench bits will not "give" when working stubborn nuts.  I really like my WTF's, i wear the golden "second" around my neck as a part of my EDC, and the chromoly version has found a place in my ZuluNylonGear CAOS admin pouch. These are brilliant little tools, and I'm glad I made the investment. 

Review: Ti2 Sentinel S4S cache

Following on from my brief review of the Ti2 SentinelX macro-cache  the maker, Mike Bond was kind enough to send me an example of his previous project, the Titanium Ti2 Sentinel "S" series.

This cache (seen here on a ring along side my other keychain toys the Jil Lite Constel LED microlight and my Cybernetic Research Labs Tactical Whistle.) is made from grade 2 titanium, purported to as strong as steel at half the weight, I must say, I am enjoying the booming Ti gadget boom that we are in.


This piece measures 0.5" x 2.75" externally, and has internal dimensions of 0.37" x 1"
The best part of the design is that it will open from both ends, a philosophy that Mike has passed on to his Sentinel X project as well. This means you can access the contents of your cache from either end, or clear a blockage.

As well as the water tight o-ring seal design. The threading is a custom square design, resistant to cross-threading, less susceptible to damage from dropping and turns eight turns to open into three turns, through its efficient mechanism.

There are fluted, ergonomic grip areas on both the end and tail caps, and the end cap has a large ring slot which can host a wide range of rings, clips, and lanyards.

The titanium has been stonewashed, it is corrosion resistant, sleek and satin finished, these are some very well machined caches. You should check the range here...

I found that the S4S was very small, too short for a needle and thread but perhaps it would work well as a pill fob, a stash for contact info. The longer and wider models would easily accommodate a lot more, but for me, I have filled mine with a very fine product from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's, for when I need to mask my natural scents ...

Review: Tactical Whistle

I really am a sucker for shiny Kickstarter projects, and this was no exception. A -tactical- whistle you ask? Well, the Cybernetic Research design engineers built a whistle that meets many aerospace and MIL-spec standards, and designed it to perform in all kinds of environments, conditions and do so well.

It features a "three flute" design which provides three specific "voices" which were designed to increase audible recognition over long distances, cut through the background noises caused by weather, rushing water, air and ground traffic, as well as other noises.

According to Cybernetic Research the primary central frequency is 3150 Hz which they cite government regulations as producing the most piercing sound over the widest range of detrimental conditions. The other two voices are designed to fill what they call the "overall acoustical profile at frequencies between the primary 3150 Hz output and its various harmonics both above and below the primary".

With no moving parts, no rattle, a stepped knurled surface for positive grip under poor conditions, and a really low-breath requirement for sounding it, this is a great little whistle. They offered it in anodised aluminium, stainless steel, brass and titanium. I opted for the OD green aluminium, which weighed in at 14.6 g, and sits all but unnoticeable in my pocket, waiting for a need to be heard. The split ring allows for lanyard or pack-attachment, and I think i'll be adding mine to my keychain.



Here is a video of my testing it, with my iPhone volume app, "Sound Level" , and as you can see, (and hear) it gives a 100+dB scream, and the clip doesn't give the ear-ringing multi-phasic tone justice.

Signalling with a whistle is one of the simplest, easiest and most recognizable means of survival communication, and I can't recommend them enough. This is a whistle that will certainly make an impression should I have the need, and I think I'll be able to depend on it to always be ready, no matter what.

Review: Jill Lite - Constel LED micro lantern

As a part of my care package, this very cool item was waiting for me having arrived from HorNest in Singapore. This is the Jill Lite Constel which is a pocket sized, LED powered lantern. 

The idea of a lantern that can fit in my pocket is pretty appealing, whilst there are a lot of options for using a flashlight to light up a room, but they are not purpose built. Even the Lazerbrite end caps with the glow-domes are accessories, and whilst awesome, are part of a bigger system.

These Type II / III anodized AL6061 T6 aircraft grade aluminium bodied lights are roughly bullet shaped, with a plastic dome light diffuser and a two part metal body. The light source is a 3W white LED, situated in the center of the barrel, and is wired in to use the whole of the unit as a heat sink. O-rings at the dome and end-cap provide a water seal that is rated for approximately 10 meters submersion, which is a lot, when you think about it. Deeper than a number of my "waterproof" watches over the years can go.
  
 A lithium CR123A  battery powers the unit, and provides between 30-40 hours and is activated by rotating the end cap. 

The end cap itself has some cool features, some attention to detail that I really appreciate. The split ring held in the middle is captivated by a raises island machined right out of the base, but not so much as to make it a protection risk when standing the lamp up on its own, which it does on two wide crenelations on the bezel. 

Those crenelations have slots cut into them, for lanyard strapping, and greatly resemble the handles on a beer keg. 
 
Over all the lantern is a miniscule 55mm long, and 22mm in diameter and has a really solid, rugged feel. I wouldn't be throwing it -at- things, in case the plastic end cap broke, but I certainly feel it could not only be lobbed a fair way, but would withstand a bunch of dropping, standing and "lost in the bottom of your pack" time. 

Then there is the light. For a 3W LED, encased in a translucent dome, this little lantern kicks out a whole bunch of light. Here it is sitting on a Dead Person Jar , on my bed, lights on, and off. Certainly enough output to not only navigate, but also to do pretty much anything but paint well. 
 
 I can see this lantern finding an excellent home in my camping kit, as it would be perfect for illuminating the inside of a tent, or the cook-fire, dining table, not to mention for late-night trips to answer natures call.


It is small enough, tough enough and powerful enough, that I want to add it to my EDC, and have it on hand, just in case, even with my already fearsome array of illumination ...