MLCT Crony - Need your input!

[DoughDTD]

you think I should start a seperate thread for people to list if they want to be on the shipping list?  I'll probably make one for the UK fellas and one for us yanks 

-Dough

[Benner]

you think I should start a seperate thread for people to list if they want to be on the shipping list?  I'll probably make one for the UK fellas and one for us yanks 

-Dough

Why not. 

[WhichDawg]

Nice stuff! I was thinking about this last year, and here's a simple prototype
I made up, playing around;

[WhichDawg]

the cord cutter would have had some type of guard (for safety in the pocket)
and I wanted a edge for fire-steel work, but I like your idea's very much

[Poncho65]

you think I should start a seperate thread for people to list if they want to be on the shipping list?  I'll probably make one for the UK fellas and one for us yanks 

-Dough

HEY! Who you calling yank I am from the South

[DoughDTD]

I have an aluminum prototype in hand as I type this!!!  I don't mean to toot my own horn, but fellas, this thing is looking awesome.  Even with the aluminum prototype, there is no bending or deflection and the design is holding up strong.  The bottle opener works like a charm as well (most important tool!!)  I'll get some pictures later for you guys to oogle at!

-A very excited Dough

[Benner]

That's great news! 

Really keen to see those pics. 

[Poncho65]

I have an aluminum prototype in hand as I type this!!!  I don't mean to toot my own horn, but fellas, this thing is looking awesome.  Even with the aluminum prototype, there is no bending or deflection and the design is holding up strong.  The bottle opener works like a charm as well (most important tool!!)  I'll get some pictures later for you guys to oogle at!

-A very excited Dough

  Glad to hear it

[DoughDTD]

Heres a couple shots of the aluminum prototype.  Its really strong and seems to be working awesome.  The aluminum will obviously strip if trying to engage a screw or turn a bolt due to the difference in hardness, but I'm ordering some 440c stock very soon for the final run.  Let me know what you guys think!

-Dough

EDIT - The bottle opener is PERFECT too, works so great!  Get a 6 pack if you're involved in the passaround so you can review the effectiveness!

[Benner]

Nice one! 

I bet you are real pleased with it.

[Tarrodemierda]

awseome man

[max6166]

Very nice! 

[J-sews]

Nice!

Does the alligator wrench design work as hoped?

[DoughDTD]

Yea its working well, we gave a little bit too much tolerance for oversized bolts so we will shrink it by a little bit closer to nominal size, and the real one made of steel wont strip as easily as the aluminum.  But the design is working!

-Dough

[DoughDTD]

Would you guys be terribly disappointed if the magnifying lens was a fresnel lens?  I'm having a hell of a time finding a double convex lens with an OD of approx 16mm and a decent magnification.  I have one on hand, but I got it a while ago from destroying an old pocket microscope, so I dont know where I could get it from a supplier.  I would hate to go with a fresnel, but I'm not sure what else to do.

-Dough

[J-sews]

Would you guys be terribly disappointed if the magnifying lens was a fresnel lens?  I'm having a hell of a time finding a double convex lens with an OD of approx 16mm and a decent magnification.  I have one on hand, but I got it a while ago from destroying an old pocket microscope, so I dont know where I could get it from a supplier.  I would hate to go with a fresnel, but I'm not sure what else to do.

-Dough

Remind me - What is a fresnel lens again?

[DoughDTD]

Its a flat piece of plastic that acts as a magnifier. 

This is a biconvex lens


This is a Fresnel lens

-Dough

[donvito]

Fresnel lens is a good choice. They come with the AMK (adventure medical kits) psk, the ones I've handled preformed very well. Never tried one that's been cut to 16mm diameter, Dough if you can try it out, and see if you can use it to start a fire.

[DoughDTD]

I just purchased several to do some testing with, and they should be here within the week.  Hopefully they will preform how I want them to.

On a different note, high quality steel parts will be run tomorrow!!!

-Dough

[donvito]

I'm looking forwards to getting a steel version myself, and believe it'll perform well. Now if the price is right I'd really like a titanium version, but the reality is Ti is pricey.

p.s. have you been thinking of a version with a seat belt cutter and an oxygen key? I'll try to take some pics of my benchmade with both, but you probably know what I'm talking about.

[DoughDTD]

I thought about Ti, but the price would shoot up quite a bit due to material and machining costs.  I thought alot about the belt cutter, but the problem isnt that it would take place of the magnifying glass...i could live with that... but we would also loose the inch and metric scales, which I kind of find useful even if they are small.

-Dough

PS.  There doesnt just have to be one model... if this comes out and theres overwhelming support to add/remove/change things, then the crony can soon be followed by a different model to address those wants and needs!

[donvito]

as promised zzz....

[donvito]

Oppps wrong pic/tool  you are right there could be different versions of the tool. Survival version with a magnifier, and or firesteel striker for example. Rescue model with the seat belt cutter, oxygen key, and maybe even a glass breaker.

[donvito]

one more

[donvito]

...

[DoughDTD]

Oppps wrong pic/tool  you are right there could be different versions of the tool. Survival version with a magnifier, and or firesteel striker for example. Rescue model with the seat belt cutter, oxygen key, and maybe even a glass breaker.

Thats a good idea donvito!  I'll look into a slight redesign for a rescue model!

-Dough

[donvito]

Oppps wrong pic/tool  you are right there could be different versions of the tool. Survival version with a magnifier, and or firesteel striker for example. Rescue model with the seat belt cutter, oxygen key, and maybe even a glass breaker.

Thats a good idea donvito!  I'll look into a slight redesign for a rescue model!

-Dough

Sure thing. The different models don't have to be modified in a drastic way, the first model can be used as a platform for other versions. Other models can be made with addition, omission and/or substitution of features.

Let's keep our fingers crossed for now, and hope the first tool takes off the ground soon.

[DoughDTD]

Well we made two steel versions of the tool today.  It will take a little bit of time for us to tweak our skills in order to get the perfect grind for the prybar portion.  It may end up, however, that we have to ditch the wire stripper/wire cutter function as it makes it very difficult to sharpen the inside of the prybar notch.    It makes me very sad.... On the other hand, the steel version, which was just regular carbon steel, worked EXCELLENTLY!!! We turned several bolts with no problem, used the 1/4 hex bit driver on a few screws, and used the combo philips/flat driver on a few screws as well.  Progress is very steady in the positive direction my friends, and we should have production cranking out in the next couple weeks!!!

-Dough

[SteveRacer]

I'm having a hell of a time finding a double convex lens with an OD of approx 16mm and a decent magnification. -Dough

You didn't ask the right geek.   

Anchor Lenses Advanced Search

Check the DCX box and put in a diameter of 16.   A bit pricey, but maybe worth experimenting with.

HTH-

-steve

[DoughDTD]

I'm having a hell of a time finding a double convex lens with an OD of approx 16mm and a decent magnification. -Dough

You didn't ask the right geek.   

Anchor Lenses Advanced Search

Check the DCX box and put in a diameter of 16.   A bit pricey, but maybe worth experimenting with.

HTH-

-steve

Lol too late, I've been there already and that would be way too much for the lens. I was looking for a lens around 2-3 bucks a pop, not 10.
Thanks for the link though!  So how would everyone else feel about a Fresnel lens in place of a regular?

-Dough