Budget EDC, Upcycle / Reuse to save money

[enki_ck]

Key Wallet

(Image removed from quote.)

Have a spare key wallet? Take it apart. Its a great source for extra small locking carabiners..

I like this one a lot.

[detron]

Key Wallet

(Image removed from quote.)

Have a spare key wallet? Take it apart. Its a great source for extra small locking carabiners..

I like this one a lot.

ME TOO!   thinking about buying a new one to rip apart!

[Etherealicer]

Key Wallet

(Image removed from quote.)

Have a spare key wallet? Take it apart. Its a great source for extra small locking carabiners..

I like this one a lot.

ME TOO!   thinking about buying a new one to rip apart!

Its what I did but don't tell

[Etherealicer]

Old Swiss rifle grease capsule all cleaned and pretty. Before and after, one down 2 more to go.

[detron]

Old Swiss rifle grease capsule all cleaned and pretty. Before and after, one down 2 more to go.

Totally jealous of those.  those look great!

[ducttapetech]

Surgical Gloves

Cut off the fingers of cheap surgical gloves and you have an elastic sleeve to fit lots of different stuff, e.g. your flashlight.

We do this some trick with muzzle loaders when it raining. We put a finger over the barrel and take the wrist and put it over the cap.

sent from Nate's mobile

[pfrsantos]

Key Wallet

Have a spare key wallet? Take it apart. Its a great source for extra small locking carabiners..

I used to carry one of those, it's all full of cuts and missing pieces of fabric. I don't like the clips very much for holding the keys, they sometimes opened. I'll try them with SAKs, they might work great.

 

[detron]

OK, I had a problem,  I like to carry the full Leatherman Bit Kit.  However, it is awkward in my Skinth.
I hardly ever use them, but I WANT to have them if I need them.



so I got one of these empty laptop RAM packages.



cut the peg hanger plastic off (It is clear, so hard to see in the picture above.

and it barley fits all the bits (I do not carry the micro bit, since I have one in my Charge.



it is about 4mm thinner than the two bit cards stacked.  it is shorter than the bit cards, but it is wider.  However, it now fits comfortably in my Skinth!

You will notice that the bits are "standing up" instead of laying down like they do on the cards

I put a piece of electrical tape around it just to make sure it does not come open.

[pfrsantos]

How about using rubber bands? From a piece of bycicle tire? You can get that from a repair shop at 0$. Lasts longer, easier to put on/take off.

[Etherealicer]

OK, I had a problem,  I like to carry the full Leatherman Bit Kit.  However, it is awkward in my Skinth.
I hardly ever use them, but I WANT to have them if I need them.

so I got one of these empty laptop RAM packages.

it is about 4mm thinner than the two bit cards stacked.

You do like those RAM packeges 

4mm thinner is quite the achievement.
+1 For rubber bands

[detron]

How about using rubber bands? From a piece of bycicle tire? You can get that from a repair shop at 0$. Lasts longer, easier to put on/take off.

I actually have several "ranger bands"  (Inner tube rubber bands)  the only problem with those and rubber bands are the friction grip that gets transferred to the sheath.

I am still working the issue, and have a few other closure ideas in mind, but for now I am just happy it fits properly in my Skinth!

[detron]

OK, I had a problem,  I like to carry the full Leatherman Bit Kit.  However, it is awkward in my Skinth.
I hardly ever use them, but I WANT to have them if I need them.

so I got one of these empty laptop RAM packages.

it is about 4mm thinner than the two bit cards stacked.

You do like those RAM packeges 

4mm thinner is quite the achievement.
+1 For rubber bands

well, you know, use what you've got

[pfrsantos]

I think the Tec Accessories A-3 glow fob looks pretty cool, but costs more than what I want to spend for something that just looks cool. I made 4 of these for the price of one A-3.

I used a cheap 3" plastic line level, v10 glow powder and 30 minute clear epoxy. The glow powder and epoxy are well documented on other forums, but I haven't seen the use of the line level before.

(I also filled the eyes of 10 metal skull beads with the glowing epoxy and still have a small amount of epoxy and glow powder left.)

I was looking for a cheap way to make some of these and found a couple of things at DX. Has anyone tried these? Do they work ok?

Several colours
http://dx.com/p/graffiti-party-diy-glow-in-the-dark-luminous-pigment-270008

http://dx.com/p/glow-in-the-dark-silicone-tailcaps-for-flashlights-14mm-green-10-pack-5714

 

[lowtech]

I have one of those tailcaps to spare - PM me your address.

[pfrsantos]

Thanks for the offer! These are so cheap, you'd spend more in postage than I would if I got some fromm DX.

 

Just wanted to know if someone had already used the caps or the "paint" and if it really works. I was thinking of filling one of those perfume sample vials with the paint, than get some split ring on the lid to use it in a keychain.

[lowtech]

I would be afraid of breaking the vial. TZhe paint itself will glow ok - But think about buying some glow pigments, then you can mix it with clear epoxy glue and fill a vial of your choosing.

[pfrsantos]

I can always try to find some hollow copper or other material tube with some holes drilled to put the vial inside. That would protect it.

The epoxy glue option you sugest will probably make for a more resistant vial...

 

[detron]

This link is full of re-use ideas, but all of the results are beautiful knives and such!!!!   

http://www.sageblades.com/afterlife-accessories/

[16VGTIDave]

What a website! So many pretty things, so little discretionary money...

[Aloha]

I like these Listerine strips but what to do when the container is empty??

Add your favorite flavor Mini Altoid of course  .

[detron]

I like these Listerine strips but what to do when the container is empty??

Add your favorite flavor Mini Altoid of course  .

I have one one my desk,  been waiting for a use.   Nicely done

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[detron]

I like these Listerine strips but what to do when the container is empty??

Add your favorite flavor Mini Altoid of course  .

this container would also make a great minimalistic fishing kit holder too.

[Etherealicer]

Don't you hate that?


I just found out that the tubes some drills come in, have the perfect diameter to hold AAA batteries.
Short one holds 2 x AAA


The long one holds 3 x AAA

[detron]

Don't you hate that?
(Image removed from quote.)

I just found out that the tubes some drills come in, have the perfect diameter to hold AAA batteries.
Short one holds 2 x AAA
(Image removed from quote.)

The long one holds 3 x AAA
(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)

AWESOME!!  now, I have to be careful that I do not buy drill bits just for containers!

I like this one Etherealicer, thanks for sharing!

[parnass]

Great discussion thread!     I've posted these on various forums some years back, so forgive me if you have seen them before.

Couple of ways to carry and store ear plugs:

[parnass]

Remove the head section of an old Mini Maglite, add a rubber cap, and use the rest as a giant pill canister or battery container.  I used a tubing cutter to cut off the threaded portion of the light in the photo below:

[parnass]

Add a split ring to your suspension clip to make it easier to grab from your pocket.

[parnass]

Next time somebody asks to borrow your pen, give them this one:   

[parnass]

I sometimes use a large S-biner as a coat hook.  (Useful in public restrooms.)

[parnass]

I've used a section of bicycle inner tube to carry a knife on my belt.  I posted this years ago.   I see that that someone adapted it to carry their multitool.