Off-Brand Challenge - ETHEREALICER

Etherealicer · **on:** October 01, 2015, 10:20:36 PM

Day 1 - Intro

My Boker City Tool had an easy Day 1. Used the blade to open a package, that's all.
However, I disliked the glass breaker so I grabbed a set of pliers hoping I could screw the glass breaker loose. Sadly, I did hurt the glass breaker pretty bad, showing that it is made of really soft metal

Addendum: I noticed on the picture that the core might be different material. Will have to investigate further.

zoidberg · **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2015, 10:36:49 PM

I wonder how they attached it then? Maybe try heat in case they used some loctite.

Etherealicer · **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2015, 09:47:01 PM

Day 2 - NADA
Didn't get a chance to take pictures during the day and I didn't perform anything spectacular anyway.
So I decided to use the scissors to cut a pack of chips (crisps for your UK folks

). I was shocked at how miserable the scissors performed. I made a full stroke and it barely cut the pack (picture 2).
This is a great disappointment.

Full stroke cut, it is mostly sandwiched between the blades.

I couldn't believe it, so this is the image after TWO cuts.

After quite a struggle I managed to cut through. This was way more effort than it should have been

Etherealicer · **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2015, 10:13:07 PM

So I took Zoidbergs advice and heated the glass breaker. First it came out a bit then it snapped off...
I could not discern any thread so I think its just a stud glued in. Trying to pull out the rest but despite re-heating I did not manage.

I barely touched the outside of the scales and it shows strong abuse.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2015, 10:23:13 PM

Disappointing performance with the scissors, Beat. Have you tried crinking them, or is it a grind issue?

Etherealicer · **Reply #5 on:** October 02, 2015, 10:30:45 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on October 02, 2015, 10:23:13 PM

Disappointing performance with the scissors, Beat. Have you tried crinking them, or is it a grind issue?

Yes, very much. The scissors appear to be sharp and I will leave them as they came for now. I will test them more during the course of the month...

zoidberg · **Reply #6 on:** October 02, 2015, 10:35:21 PM

Quote from: Etherealicer on October 02, 2015, 10:13:07 PM

...took Zoidbergs advice...

Danger!

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #7 on:** October 02, 2015, 10:45:32 PM

Quote from: Etherealicer on October 02, 2015, 10:30:45 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on October 02, 2015, 10:23:13 PM
Disappointing performance with the scissors, Beat. Have you tried crinking them, or is it a grind issue?
Yes, very much. The scissors appear to be sharp and I will leave them as they came for now. I will test them more during the course of the month...

Just needs a few taps with a hammer mate

Here's one of the old Sheffield boys at work

https://player.vimeo.com/video/98953952

Etherealicer · **Reply #8 on:** October 03, 2015, 08:59:47 AM

Day 3 - String Theory

On paper I did some bondage

... for recycling of course.
So, cord cutting it was.

First up were the Scissors

As you can see, the first cut did hardly any damage to the cord. Had to hold it really tight and still took me 4 cuts to get through.
I also tested to cut the cord using the scissors as a knife and that worked well, so it does not lack in sharpness.
The scissors are good at cutting paper from thin (newspaper, unsupported) to thick (cardboard), so at least some good news.

Blade, serrated-blade, awl

The two blades unsurprisingly did very well at this. The awl is also sharpenough to cut cord quite easily, so more good news.

Etherealicer · **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2015, 09:08:27 AM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on October 02, 2015, 10:45:32 PM

Quote from: Etherealicer on October 02, 2015, 10:30:45 PM
Quote from: 50ft-trad on October 02, 2015, 10:23:13 PM
Disappointing performance with the scissors, Beat. Have you tried crinking them, or is it a grind issue?
Yes, very much. The scissors appear to be sharp and I will leave them as they came for now. I will test them more during the course of the month...

Just needs a few taps with a hammer mate Here's one of the old Sheffield boys at work

https://player.vimeo.com/video/98953952

People who meditate to whale songs are odd... this is what you should meditate to!

I think I will have a go at this later today, maybe tomorrow. It's not like I can ruin the scissors, they come that way from the factory

Etherealicer · **Reply #10 on:** October 03, 2015, 09:11:11 AM

Quote from: zoidberg on October 02, 2015, 10:35:21 PM

Quote from: Etherealicer on October 02, 2015, 10:13:07 PM
...took Zoidbergs advice...

Danger! Danger!

Looking at the result, I can only agree with you

Etherealicer · **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2015, 08:44:26 PM

More Day 3: Redeption

Figured out that the scissors are good for cable-ties and clam-shell package. Overall, I cannot give the scissors a good, because they don't cut cord and soft materials. But they ain't bad.

Also used the blade on some food at a street-food festival.

Etherealicer · **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2015, 08:52:36 PM

Day 4: The shortest way to a men's heart is though the chest... this blade knows that and has captured my love

Decided, to make pumpkin soup today, so out came the City tool. It got a little help from the T-3000 (remember, Schwarzenegger was only a T-800).

Blade did excellent at cutting the top off.

The T-3000 did brilliant at scraping, but had to use a spoon for cleaning out.

Etherealicer · **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2015, 08:58:55 PM

Of course a good soup needs some onions and sausage

.

I have to say, the blade did extremely well at cutting. I might have to admit that I like it a lot. Sadly, that stupid key-ring is extremely pointy and exactly where my pinky finger rest (the shadow tells the tale very well).

What to do with the pumpkin... make a jack-o-lantern of course

What is the best part after a hard day at work? A shower of course. Restrained it to make sure it wouldn't bounce and get damaged unnecessarily.

Etherealicer · **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2015, 06:53:28 PM

Boring few days, but I promise some interesting tests...

If I had to describe the tool in smileys it wood look like this:

Blade:

Scissors:

Small screwdriver / Finger maimer:

Large Flat: NA

Lanyard Ring:

Glass Breaker:

Scales: NA

Pocket-Clip:

Kampfer · **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2015, 07:24:27 PM

Did You test the cock screw?

Etherealicer · **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2015, 09:45:43 PM

Quote from: Kampfer on October 08, 2015, 07:24:27 PM

Did You test the cock screw?

Yes, the mini-screwdriver from Victorinox does not fit...

Etherealicer · **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2015, 09:47:15 PM

Quote from: Etherealicer on October 08, 2015, 09:45:43 PM

Quote from: Kampfer on October 08, 2015, 07:24:27 PM
Did You test the cock screw?
Yes, the mini-screwdriver from Victorinox does not fit...

Also, I'm so used to pioneers that I tend to forget the backside tools. All I really can say ATM is that the awl seems to be pretty good, of course the position is very limiting.

Etherealicer · **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2015, 11:44:10 PM

Day IIX: Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away...

Got to pack 3 and unpack one package. Still not a fan of the scissors, they had huge trouble with the padded envelopes. This weekend I will hopefully test the scissors on a tin can, lets see if it can match the mighty Classic scissors.

Etherealicer · **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2015, 11:47:39 PM

Day 1001 part A: ORANJE

Have to spray a box orange to pack some goodies from the Netherlands. The large flat was too big, so I used the TERROR-claw. It is at an awkward angle and not very suitable for prying, but then there was no real challenge here.

Etherealicer · **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2015, 11:56:55 PM

Day 9 B: Deliciousness

More food preparation today. This might well be the best blade in an MT at least when it comes to food preparation. I love Böker for their blades, and that is by far what is best about this tool.

Cutting onions, cheese, chorizo, pepper and olives

Mixing everything together

Cutting the dough

Delicious

Etherealicer · **Reply #21 on:** October 10, 2015, 12:00:30 AM

Day 9 C: Enjoying the fruits of your labour.

First time I used the bottle opener. And its... meh... It does the job but it has very poor grip, so you need to be careful.

kirk13 · **Reply #22 on:** October 10, 2015, 12:31:50 AM

Quote from: Kampfer on October 08, 2015, 07:24:27 PM

Did You test the cock screw?

I had to read that twice.

Yes,it does say that

zoidberg · **Reply #23 on:** October 10, 2015, 10:18:22 AM

Quote from: kirk13 on October 10, 2015, 12:31:50 AM

Quote from: Kampfer on October 08, 2015, 07:24:27 PM
Did You test the cock screw?

I had to read that twice.

Yes,it does say that

Kampfer · **Reply #24 on:** October 10, 2015, 07:12:14 PM

anditsgone · **Reply #25 on:** October 10, 2015, 09:46:57 PM

You sir, convinced me not to buy the boker mt.
For the money there are better things i can buy for my edc.

Etherealicer · **Reply #26 on:** October 11, 2015, 09:36:46 PM

Quote from: anditsgone on October 10, 2015, 09:46:57 PM

You sir, convinced me not to buy the boker mt.
For the money there are better things i can buy for my edc.

I will probably get the City Tool 1 (Blade only), that is how good the blade is. As for the rest, I will not give my final assessment yet, but yeah... it won't get a recommendation.

Etherealicer · **Reply #27 on:** October 11, 2015, 09:46:04 PM

Day 10 or so: An AWLful lot of work

Got a new computer and wanted to fix an USB hub to the back of my screen (I have a wooden frame there, that holds the speakers and the head-phone charger). The new Computer is a nifty Intel NUC gets mounted on the underside of my desk.

The awl works very well, of course the back layer location makes it a bit awlkward to use. I also think the spring could be a tad stronger.

Mounting plate and installed PC.

Some hooks to fix the cables too...
Sound system, wireless headphones, printer, 3 USB-Hub (2 with their own power supply), 2 external disks with their own power, charging station for flashlights and such, video-cable and power for the PC. Adds up to a lot of cables

The whole setup.

Etherealicer · **Reply #28 on:** October 11, 2015, 09:52:11 PM

Day 10 beta: Screw this!

Baseline Pioneer Flat-Screwdriver: I tested my ability (and to have something to directly compare to) with the Pioneer. Needles to say, it was a breeze putting a screw in with that fine tool.

With the City-Tool I had more problems, slipped of quite a bit and was wondering why.

While the Pioneer is almost completely perpendicular to the screwdriver edge, the City-Tool is at an angle. I think this is something you probably will get used to.

Etherealicer · **Reply #29 on:** October 11, 2015, 09:56:11 PM

Day 10, or was it 11

Did some light cutting tests with the TERROR-Blade

Cutting of a cable organizer that would only have been in the way. Chewed through that easily.

Got an old bed-linen to slice open. As you can see, the cut from the main-blade is a lot smoother, the serrated blade had a bit of trouble with the elastic material.

Cutting through the seam shows the same result, much smoother cut with the main blade (right side) than with the serrated thingy.

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Off-Brand Challenge - ETHEREALICER - Böker City Tool / SWIZA D04

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