As Seen on TV Part 2- The Revenge of the Key Ninja

[Grant Lamontagne]

Following up on the original As Seen On TV thread is the Key Ninja.  Originally I had intended to put it in the same thread, but frankly too much time has passed and I have just now managed to find a bit of use for this tool- or at least enough to warrant giving it a shot.  For those yet to encounter such an amazing, astounding tool that you can't live without, this, ladies and gentlemen, is the Key Ninja:



Are you impressed yet?  No?  Well maybe you need to watch the the official intro:



There.  Now I'll bet you feel pretty stupid for not seeing the amazing and awesome potential of the Key Ninja.  In fact, I should probably not even continue this review, as I am not certain you are worthy of knowing about the Key Ninja now, because you were such an unbeliever.

But, since I have come this far, I might as well share my experience.

I purchased this tool for $30 many months ago and it has sat, more or less unused since then, largely because I really couldn't think of a use for it- after all, this is my keychain:



And these would be the keys I thought I might use it for:



Those are the keys to my house in Halifax.  Yes, there are a lot of them, and I have color coded them with rubber rings so that I know what key goes to what.  Unfortunately, those markers aren't compatible with the Key Ninja, so in order to use them, I would have to take the markers off and not know what key goes to what door.  That seems to defeat the purpose, so the Key Ninja sat and sat and sat. 

Now in Ottawa I have four house keys- one to the external (shared) door, two to the door to my unit and one to the back door.  That seemed to be a bit more in line with the Key Ninja's function, so I decided to dig it out and give it another shot.  In addition to the rubber ringed keys, the Key Ninja also doesn't work for rubber headed keys like my old Jeep key, or remote keys like my new Jeep key.  So, it is limited to all metal keys with no adornment at all.

So what does it do?  Well, it holds all metal keys, has the bottle opener required to make it an actual, bona fied multitool, and an LED flashlight at either end.







It is very easily disassembled, and inside you find several extension screws to accomodate more keys, and plastic washers to act as spacers to fill in blank spots.  Nice touch, because not everyone has an even number of keys.  And, as you'll find out, apparently neither do I.



As I was only putting four keys in it I decided that I only needed the basic screw, without any of the extensions, so I took them out.  The basic screw is actually mounted to the bottle opener half, so there's no problems with losing screws or trying to tighten them and holding both sides etc.  It is actually a nice thought, and I appreciated it.



As the keys that I thought were pretty standard actually seemed a bit oversized, I decided to use the spacers opposite each key to allow them to fold better.  Using three spacers at a time ate them up pretty quickly, but again, I am only putting in four keys, so why not live a little?



Third key in and I only have one washer left.  Oh well, I'll make it work somehow, right?



Wrong.  The last key doesn't fit.  So, let's limit the above description of what fits and what doesn't:

Fits:

All Keys except rubber ringed or headed keys, remote keys, keys above a certain length or with differently sized or shaped holes unless you are willing to drill them out so they fit.

Ok, so I only have three keys that fit it, which I guess is fine because I am out of spacers anyway.  On goes the top, but there's something to note here as well.



The screws on the top need the extension screws to fit all the way through the wider LED portion, which could be upsetting if you'd tried to use most/all of the extensions just to fit all your keys in.



Luckily I didn't.



I may try taking the spacers out, because as you can see, for only three keys, the Key Ninja doesn't really do a lot to make them more compact as it says in the video.



As the brass colored keys have a large opening hole, they do slide around a bit, but that isn't a big deal.  Once you have the right keys that fit into it, the Key Ninja for the most part operates as claimed by the manufacturer/designer/marketer.  Or at least as much as can be determined while playing with it at the breakfast table while waiting for Meggs Benedict.



All in all I am not sold on the Key Ninja, or at least not yet.  The bottle opener doesn't really give the leverage needed to open a bottle as easily as it seems to in the ad, it's not compact, and while it might be nice in some situations to have the additional leverage on the keys, it does present an additional risk of breaking the key off in a sticky lock.



I have it on my keys now, and I'll carry and use it for a while, but I am really quite certain this one will end up as a complete and utter waste of $29.99 and so far I really wouldn't suggest anyone wastes any time or money on this.  Frankly I have to say that I think Kampfer's bolt through his keys would be a much better and more efficient method of achieving pretty well the same results as the Key Ninja.  Maybe he will be nice enough to post a pic of it here since I can't seem to locate one at the moment.

Def

[Poncho65]

It is probably practical if you don't have many keys but no way am I going to pay $30 for that thing I have probably 4 or 5 stes of keys that all have different purposes I have one set just for locks that we have at work and a couple for some of our machines on there with it I have another set for my truck, 1 for her car and another set for work that has a few different keys that get me through the day So the Key Ninja probably isn't for me

[Kampfer]

  Frankly I have to say that I think Kampfer's bolt through his keys would be a much better and more efficient method of achieving pretty well the same results as the Key Ninja.  Maybe he will be nice enough to post a pic of it here since I can't seem to locate one at the moment.

Def

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,53207.0.html

[ThePeacent]

had a similar Gizmo, bought on an impulse
Lasted a week in my EDC, was bulky, stabby, didn't make the set any more compact or comfortable and was not smooth, keys got hung up and were hard to rotate



POS and a waste of money TBH

[Grant Lamontagne]

  Frankly I have to say that I think Kampfer's bolt through his keys would be a much better and more efficient method of achieving pretty well the same results as the Key Ninja.  Maybe he will be nice enough to post a pic of it here since I can't seem to locate one at the moment.

Def

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,53207.0.html
(Image removed from quote.)

Thanks Kampfer- I knew I could trust you to have my back!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

had a similar Gizmo, bought on an impulse
Lasted a week in my EDC, was bulky, stabby, didn't make the set any more compact or comfortable and was not smooth, keys got hung up and were hard to rotate

(Image removed from quote.)

POS and a waste of money TBH

(Image removed from quote.)

I have that one as well.  I got it as part of the Five Dollar Challenge and my findings were very similar to yours.  I think I had my keys in it for all of two and a half minutes before tking the whole thing apart and putting them back on my keyring.

However, I did go out last night and I do have two observations about the Key Ninja to share.

1- it wasn't as obtrusive as I originally thought.  It didn't seem overly heavy and it didn't interfere with putting my keys in my pocket.

2- The keys were a bit floppy and dangled out of the Key Ninja.  I'll see if I ca adjust or tighten it a bit, but it's so called compact form factor is negated somewhat by keys flopping about everywhere.

I still wouldn't reccomend it, but then I have never really carried my keys like this so it is something I am unfamiliar with on the whole.  Does anyone (besides Kampfer!) carry keys in one of the many devices like this?

Def

[Mechanickal]

I bought the exact same thing in 2016, under the name of "magic key" for €2.5.
Since I don't use ruberized keys, I'm quite happy with it.

Holds my own house keys, my parent's and sister's.

Use it every day. The biner (that came with it) holds my flashdrive, proximity tag and alarm remote.

[Grant Lamontagne]

It's good to hear that you have had one long term.  How do you find the bottle opener? 

Def

[Mechanickal]

It's good to hear that you have had one long term.  How do you find the bottle opener? 

Def

Didn't get a message telling me you replied, because you didn't quote

Haven't used it so far...
A SAK or MT is never further away then my keys.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I find that it doesn't give you much in the way of leverge to pull a cap off.  You may get one or two off but it's not a cap lifter you want to rely on.

Def

[Mechanickal]

I find that it doesn't give you much in the way of leverge to pull a cap off.  You may get one or two off but it's not a cap lifter you want to rely on.

Def

Have you tried pulling out one (or a few) keys, to add leverage?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have not, but I will give it a shot.  It seems inefficient as the line of force that you are applying is nowhere near the resistance of the cap,even with the added leverage of the key sticking out.

As I said, it is usable, barely, but I am glad I have other bottle openers available to me.

Def

[Mechanickal]

I have not, but I will give it a shot.  It seems inefficient as the line of force that you are applying is nowhere near the resistance of the cap,even with the added leverage of the key sticking out.

As I said, it is usable, barely, but I am glad I have other bottle openers available to me.

Def

Ah well... atleast the hole saves some overal weight

[Grant Lamontagne]

Do you ever have a problem with it coming loose and your keys flopping about?  I have had to tighten mine a couple of times now.

I also tried removing all of the spacers, except for the ones needed to balance two keys on one end and one on the other, but that was a fail and I ended up having to put the spacers back in. 

I also had to switch it so that the two keys were at the connecting end and the single key was on the far end from the keychain as that's less keys flopping about, which is a bit annoying as the two keys on the "inner" end are the ones I use more often- and that is the more awkward end to use while it is still on my keychain.

It's not a waste in the way I thought it was a waste- it is not nearly as bulky feeling as I was expecting it to be, but on the other hand the floppiness of it is somewhat bothersome.  I guess what I am saying is that my original skepticism is still there, even if it has changed the path to the bottom line.

I'd consider this one a success if it had cost $10, but at $30 I would leave it behind.

Def

[Mechanickal]

Do you ever have a problem with it coming loose and your keys flopping about?  I have had to tighten mine a couple of times now.

I also tried removing all of the spacers, except for the ones needed to balance two keys on one end and one on the other, but that was a fail and I ended up having to put the spacers back in. 

I also had to switch it so that the two keys were at the connecting end and the single key was on the far end from the keychain as that's less keys flopping about, which is a bit annoying as the two keys on the "inner" end are the ones I use more often- and that is the more awkward end to use while it is still on my keychain.

It's not a waste in the way I thought it was a waste- it is not nearly as bulky feeling as I was expecting it to be, but on the other hand the floppiness of it is somewhat bothersome.  I guess what I am saying is that my original skepticism is still there, even if it has changed the path to the bottom line.

I'd consider this one a success if it had cost $10, but at $30 I would leave it behind.

Def

Well, I had to retighten mine about 3 times in 2 months, and since then I haven't had to retighten it.

Like I said before, I bought it for €2.5 which is, like $3?
Couldn't be more happy with it at that price, so got myself a spare one.

I used a keywallet before and thought I would use one 'till the day I die, but I haven't looked back so far.

I do think keys over here are larger overall, but the fact that they extend a bit doesn't bother me at all. In fact, it gives me something to grasp my nail in.

[Mechanickal]

[Grant Lamontagne]

For $3 I would probably grab a couple as well.  The LED's are worth that if nothing else. 

Def

[Mechanickal]

For $3 I would probably grab a couple as well.  The LED's are worth that if nothing else. 

Def

Grant,

Try adding a spacer between the casing and the flathead screw.

This will prevent the screw from unscrewing by itself

[The Lone Wanderer]

Nice write up Grant! My best friend swears by his Key-Bar, but I, like you have too many keys to make it work for me.

[Syncop8r]

Could the rubber-edged keys work if you put a big enough spacer between them?

[Grant Lamontagne]

For $3 I would probably grab a couple as well.  The LED's are worth that if nothing else. 

Def

Grant,

Try adding a spacer between the casing and the flathead screw.

This will prevent the screw from unscrewing by itself

The issue isn't the screws coming loose, the issue is with me having too few keys and not enough spacers I think.  When I first put it together the rubber o-rings weren't properly seated so it seemed tight, but then when they slotted themselves in it loosened up.  Now mu keys flop around and I have used all of the spacers that came with it.  I may try to cut some out of the galvanized spacer material I used to use for SAK scales. 

Could the rubber-edged keys work if you put a big enough spacer between them?

That depends on what you mean by rubber edged keys- if you mean car type keys with rubber heads, then maybe, depending on whether they are contoured or not.  If they are contoured then they still won't fit in with the keys next to them.  I would think the keys with the rubber rings around them would be pretty well the same, but if you were to trim a couple of spacers to level off the rubber, and then one more on top I suppose it could work, but it would take a lot of spacers and a lot of space in the Key Ninja and make it quite large for really no reason.

I am also quite annoyed all over again with the Key Ninja, through no fault of it's own. I paid $30 for this silly thing, and look what I found at my local Dollar Store for $3.   

Def

[Mechanickal]

I am also quite annoyed all over again with the Key Ninja, through no fault of it's own. I paid $30 for this silly thing, and look what I found at my local Dollar Store for $3.   

Def

You got screwed!

But I already knew that. Just didn't want to rub it in untill you figured that out yourself.

I think everyone knows the feeling in one way or another though.

Also keep in mind that you said that for $3, you would buy a couple, even if it was just for the LED's 

[MadPlumbarian]

I only have 4keys, and I don't think something like this would work for me? I mean it would but, probably just a waste, TP's carabiner would probably be something better.. I made my setup with the two clips on leather that snaps on the belt and it's been pretty good..
JR

[Mechanickal]

I only have 4keys, and I don't think something like this would work for me? I mean it would but, probably just a waste, TP's carabiner would probably be something better.. I made my setup with the two clips on leather that snaps on the belt and it's been pretty good..
JR

Personaly I just love the quietness of it.
And it reminds me of a SAK while in use. ^^

[Grant Lamontagne]

I seriously considered buying it for $3, if for no other reason than as a reminder of how annoyed I was at having paid $30 for it.  In the end I was so annoyed I left it on the shelf and walked out.

I went back specifically to get it two days later and it was gone.   

Def

[Mechanickal]

I seriously considered buying it for $3, if for no other reason than as a reminder of how annoyed I was at having paid $30 for it.  In the end I was so annoyed I left it on the shelf and walked out.

I went back specifically to get it two days later and it was gone.   

Def

Aaah, even worse!
Regretting leaving something alone, only to find it's gone after going back.

Poor Uncle Deff
I feel sorry for you buddy.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yes, the Key Ninja is remorseless....

Def

[Fortytwo]

You should have bought more of them, if you had bought 5 at that price your average price would have been a much more reasonable 7.5 $ as opposed to the 30 $ it stands at now. Buying just a single one would have reduced the average price by 45% outright! That makes sense, right?

[Mechanickal]

You should have bought more of them, if you had bought 5 at that price your average price would have been a much more reasonable 7.5 $ as opposed to the 30 $ it stands at now. Buying just a single one would have reduced the average price by 45% outright! That makes sense, right?

And if you sold your $3 ones for 15 to some other guys, you would make a profit!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm glad I have friends like all of you to keep rubbing it in....

If they had multiples I doubt I would have bought too many, but I might have picked up a couple.  As it is, they only had the one, and I didn't grab it when I saw it, although I did think about it!

Def