SAK STACK 30 days challenge 2020 for Swisschamp, Cybertool & Toolchest

[Simon_Templar]

Did the kids ever fight you for the lego?

We have a kind of "if you can't beat them, join them" truce, so most of the time we are getting along just fine 

[Simon_Templar]

Day 25

I am aware it's a bit early for this journal entry for day 25, but after two weeks with the XLT and more than a week with the CT Lite, I wanted to share my thoughts on the Cybertool line with you and ask for your opinion on the subject.

Admittedly, I was confined to my home most of the time, so one might not call this a real EDC experience, but I for one have come full circle and arrived again at the opinion I had before this challenge started: the CT34 is, at least for me, the best of the Cybertools for urban EDC, and one of the best SAK for urban EDC overall.

The XLT is a great SAK on account of its having everything and still being pocketable and useable, if only just. I love it but couldn't help noticing I wasn't needing the vast majority of its tools, and I don't think this would have been different if I hadn't been in lockdown.

Consequently, I downgraded to the CT Lite, and while its toolset felt much closer to my actual demand, there is just no getting around the fact that in these days of smartphone LEDs, there's no real need for a SAK light anymore. Admittedly, the CT Lite makes particular clever use of the LED as a companion to the bit holder, but since I am not often driving screws in dark, confined spaces, I still think the extra layer of the CT Lite over the CT 34 serves mostly for adding the magnifier to the mix. Now, I really like playing around with the magnifier, especially when sitting at my desk bored, but it's still just (very) nice to have for me. It's difficult to imagine a situation in my everyday life where having it could make a real difference over not having it.

Once you have come to that conclusion, it's difficult not to notice just how much bigger the CT Lite is compared to the CT 34. I know we are talking only one layer here, but it's a sizeable layer in addition to the already chunky CT layer. Simpy put, its the difference between sub-SC and SC territory. Maybe it's something psychological, but to me the SC marks the border between a "no compromise" all-in-one SAK and a EDC. So this might be why after ten days with the CT Lite I feel, at least for now, that it is just this one layer too big to qualify as my EDC.

So I am now back to the CT 34, which incidentally I already carried as EDC for a while before this challenge. In order to
adequately celebrate this and not just return to the stacked SAK I already carried before this challenge started, I decided for the first time in my short career as a SAK amassor to switch the scales on one of my Cybertools (from translucent to black, the only color in which I possess plus scales). Behold!

Edit: Comis, before this challenge started I told you you shouldn't have allowed the CT34 and CT29 in the stacked challenge because carrying them would almost be like cheating, and now look what you have done!

[ulzhan]

I remembered seeing you fixing the fan earlier, what was the project again?

Connected that raspi with the TV. For youtube and also websurfing.

[Ivo]

DAY 25

3 champions among 111mm SAKs 

[comis]

Day 25

I am aware it's a bit early for this journal entry for day 25, but after two weeks with the XLT and more than a week with the CT Lite, I wanted to share my thoughts on the Cybertool line with you and ask for your opinion on the subject.

Admittedly, I was confined to my home most of the time, so one might not call this a real EDC experience, but I for one have come full circle and arrived again at the opinion I had before this challenge started: the CT34 is, at least for me, the best of the Cybertools for urban EDC, and one of the best SAK for urban EDC overall.

The XLT is a great SAK on account of its having everything and still being pocketable and useable, if only just. I love it but couldn't help noticing I wasn't needing the vast majority of its tools, and I don't think this would have been different if I hadn't been in lockdown.

Consequently, I downgraded to the CT Lite, and while its toolset felt much closer to my actual demand, there is just no getting around the fact that in these days of smartphone LEDs, there's no real need for a SAK light anymore. Admittedly, the CT Lite makes particular clever use of the LED as a companion to the bit holder, but since I am not often driving screws in dark, confined spaces, I still think the extra layer of the CT Lite over the CT 34 serves mostly for adding the magnifier to the mix. Now, I really like playing around with the magnifier, especially when sitting at my desk bored, but it's still just (very) nice to have for me. It's difficult to imagine a situation in my everyday life where having it could make a real difference over not having it.

Once you have come to that conclusion, it's difficult not to notice just how much bigger the CT Lite is compared to the CT 34. I know we are talking only one layer here, but it's a sizeable layer in addition to the already chunky CT layer. Simpy put, its the difference between sub-SC and SC territory. Maybe it's something psychological, but to me the SC marks the border between a "no compromise" all-in-one SAK and a EDC. So this might be why after ten days with the CT Lite I feel, at least for now, that it is just this one layer too big to qualify as my EDC.

So I am now back to the CT 34, which incidentally I already carried as EDC for a while before this challenge. In order to
adequately celebrate this and not just return to the stacked SAK I already carried before this challenge started, I decided for the first time in my short career as a SAK amassor to switch the scales on one of my Cybertools (from translucent to black, the only color in which I possess plus scales). Behold!

Edit: Comis, before this challenge started I told you you shouldn't have allowed the CT34 and CT29 in the stacked challenge because carrying them would almost be like cheating, and now look what you have done!

I just gave you the pen, but you are the one to draw the full circle.

Connected that raspi with the TV. For youtube and also websurfing.

Does it work better than something like chromecast?

DAY 25

3 champions among 111mm SAKs 

That's a nice display!

[Ivo]

Thanks comis 

[Max Stone]

Day 25

And down to the last two. XLT taking over pocket duty from the CT-41. I was originally going to put it in a sheath, but it carries OK in the pocket on a short clip. 

Already put to use fixing the weedeater and dicky plug. No garden services so eventually got around to doing some of the work myself. 

Love the pruner and electricians blades, but they really feel awkward to use with the width of this SAK. 

[ulzhan]

@comis: With mouse and keyboard it's almost like a normal PC. My notebook is almost 12 years old and the Pi is faster than the old trash.

That stayglow looks very cool

@Simon_Templar: Seems the CT 34 is your tool of choice. Have also two CT 34 here. Sometimes they also get carried.

[Simon_Templar]

@Simon_Templar: Seems the CT 34 is your tool of choice. Have also two CT 34 here. Sometimes they also get carried.

Yes, who would have thought? For a long time the CT 34 seemed way too expensive to me when compared to the Explorer and the Deluxe Tinker, its closest competitors in my opinion. This I why I hesitated and got the CT Lite and CT41 first.

I still think all the bit driver SAKs are rather overpriced, but what can you do, as an overall package the CT34 and CT Lite are quite unique (more so than the CT41 in my opinion). That said, I think I might prefer an Explorer Plus with extra pliers as EDC. I estimate it would be reasonably cheap at around 40 Euros and a precious few mm thinner than the CT34. Too bad Vic doesn't make them and I am not the modding type.

[comis]

Day 25

And down to the last two. XLT taking over pocket duty from the CT-41. I was originally going to put it in a sheath, but it carries OK in the pocket on a short clip. 

Already put to use fixing the weedeater and dicky plug. No garden services so eventually got around to doing some of the work myself. 

Love the pruner and electricians blades, but they really feel awkward to use with the width of this SAK. 

After using XLT and XAVT in this challenge, I have a feeling those are more for collecting purpose while Swisschamp is probably the most comprehensive heavy weight SAK I wouldn't mind to carry.

@comis: With mouse and keyboard it's almost like a normal PC. My notebook is almost 12 years old and the Pi is faster than the old trash.

That stayglow looks very cool

@Simon_Templar: Seems the CT 34 is your tool of choice. Have also two CT 34 here. Sometimes they also get carried.

 

Yes, who would have thought? For a long time the CT 34 seemed way too expensive to me when compared to the Explorer and the Deluxe Tinker, its closest competitors in my opinion. This I why I hesitated and got the CT Lite and CT41 first.

I still think all the bit driver SAKs are rather overpriced, but what can you do, as an overall package the CT34 and CT Lite are quite unique (more so than the CT41 in my opinion). That said, I think I might prefer an Explorer Plus with extra pliers as EDC. I estimate it would be reasonably cheap at around 40 Euros and a precious few mm thinner than the CT34. Too bad Vic doesn't make them and I am not the modding type.

If you have a dremel, a flat head hammer and the right pins, modding is really relatively easy and fun for the 91mm.

[MadPlumbarian]

If we are only using the brightest GID powder, then the daytime color could be white-ish.  But if we are willing to compromise a little by using coated powder or GID powder mixed with other colors, we might be able to strike a good balance between daytime effect vs night glowing performance.  Here is a job I did with GITD, tritium and glitter for reference:


(Image removed from quote.)


(Image removed from quote.)

Oh sweet! Now if I remember in one of your videos you painted the lines a diff color? So what if you did like what you showed there and did like a black line to give a little more spunk, no? Or would it not really show through?
JR

[Rizio Il Ghiro]

More lovely pics and uses!

Day 25

Used the Sc’c awl to slice open the tape sealing this box from Switzerland containing some lovely green lanyards - yay!!

[Rizio Il Ghiro]

Pic didn’t attach

[comis]

Oh sweet! Now if I remember in one of your videos you painted the lines a diff color? So what if you did like what you showed there and did like a black line to give a little more spunk, no? Or would it not really show through?
JR

I think you might have confused me with Grant, he did one video long time ago, where he just sand down the border lines and painted them.  Here is that video:


I try to photoshop what you mean by painting the border black, it's really rough approximation, but personally, I would rather keep it transparent and bring the focus to the custom colors.

[comis]

Pic didn’t attach

That's a lovely vibrant green to go with the green translucent scale.

[ulzhan]

Day 25

Presenters on/off switch didn't work anymore. Used the bit driver to remove two screws on the inside and the bottle opener to pry it open. Some small plastics broke but it's now usable again.

[MadPlumbarian]

I think you might have confused me with Grant, he did one video long time ago, where he just sand down the border lines and painted them.  Here is that video:


I try to photoshop what you mean by painting the border black, it's really rough approximation, but personally, I would rather keep it transparent and bring the focus to the custom colors.

(Image removed from quote.)

Yeah! My bad, good job on the the photoshop, for a sec I thought you did it, lol, but I like it!
JR

[Simon_Templar]

If you have a dremel, a flat head hammer and the right pins, modding is really relatively easy and fun for the 91mm.

I only have an oscillating multi-tool, and no pins nor any clue where I could get any. And while one part of me finds the idea of modding interesting, the other part (the lazy one, which also constantly reminds me I lack the ambition to find myself any pins) thinks it would amount to challenging the Elsener Gods to just start creating SAKs after my own imagine (read: design).

[CraftsmanSAK]

DAY 25

While on the trails I had one person who was kind enough to let me know my tail light was flickering through the bumpy stuff.  Sure enough, after pulling the bulb out it needed a light sanding on its two little contact points and I put a couple small dabs of dielectric grease on the them as well.  Lots of gremlins like to show up after they sit over winter.  Need to do this with all the bulbs now to be sure. 

[SirVicaLot]

Day 25

Making progress on the camera strap

[Antti Lammi]

Day 25 of 30

Sharpened pencil for my daughter, it was faster sharpen with SC rather than trying to find sharpener




Only Tools Matters

[ElevenBlade]

Day 25

Finally remembered to take an action shot today - a slice of lime for the fish I made for dinner.

 

Corkscrew //
Phillips \

[Sos24]

Day 25

Presenters on/off switch didn't work anymore. Used the bit driver to remove two screws on the inside and the bottle opener to pry it open. Some small plastics broke but it's now usable again.

Good fix

Day 25

Making progress on the camera strap

(Image removed from quote.)

Nice work

[Sos24]

Day 25

I am aware it's a bit early for this journal entry for day 25, but after two weeks with the XLT and more than a week with the CT Lite, I wanted to share my thoughts on the Cybertool line with you and ask for your opinion on the subject.

Admittedly, I was confined to my home most of the time, so one might not call this a real EDC experience, but I for one have come full circle and arrived again at the opinion I had before this challenge started: the CT34 is, at least for me, the best of the Cybertools for urban EDC, and one of the best SAK for urban EDC overall.

The XLT is a great SAK on account of its having everything and still being pocketable and useable, if only just. I love it but couldn't help noticing I wasn't needing the vast majority of its tools, and I don't think this would have been different if I hadn't been in lockdown.

Consequently, I downgraded to the CT Lite, and while its toolset felt much closer to my actual demand, there is just no getting around the fact that in these days of smartphone LEDs, there's no real need for a SAK light anymore. Admittedly, the CT Lite makes particular clever use of the LED as a companion to the bit holder, but since I am not often driving screws in dark, confined spaces, I still think the extra layer of the CT Lite over the CT 34 serves mostly for adding the magnifier to the mix. Now, I really like playing around with the magnifier, especially when sitting at my desk bored, but it's still just (very) nice to have for me. It's difficult to imagine a situation in my everyday life where having it could make a real difference over not having it.

Once you have come to that conclusion, it's difficult not to notice just how much bigger the CT Lite is compared to the CT 34. I know we are talking only one layer here, but it's a sizeable layer in addition to the already chunky CT layer. Simpy put, its the difference between sub-SC and SC territory. Maybe it's something psychological, but to me the SC marks the border between a "no compromise" all-in-one SAK and a EDC. So this might be why after ten days with the CT Lite I feel, at least for now, that it is just this one layer too big to qualify as my EDC.

So I am now back to the CT 34, which incidentally I already carried as EDC for a while before this challenge. In order to
adequately celebrate this and not just return to the stacked SAK I already carried before this challenge started, I decided for the first time in my short career as a SAK amassor to switch the scales on one of my Cybertools (from translucent to black, the only color in which I possess plus scales). Behold!

Edit: Comis, before this challenge started I told you you shouldn't have allowed the CT34 and CT29 in the stacked challenge because carrying them would almost be like cheating, and now look what you have done!

Great review

[Sos24]

If we are only using the brightest GID powder, then the daytime color could be white-ish.  But if we are willing to compromise a little by using coated powder or GID powder mixed with other colors, we might be able to strike a good balance between daytime effect vs night glowing performance.  Here is a job I did with GITD, tritium and glitter for reference:


(Image removed from quote.)


(Image removed from quote.)

Those pictures have me excited for the end of this challenge, so the Mountain Yeoman can get some pocket time.

[Sos24]

Day 25
The Champion helped with lawn duty - fish scaler cleaned off some of grass in the guard and vents, and the phillips tightened the guard which was coming loose

[cody6268]

Day 25.  While the back scale chipped  right before the challenge, the front scale on my SC broke sometime before today.

[Sos24]

Day 25.  While the back scale chipped  right before the challenge, the front scale on my SC broke sometime before today.

Sounds like you are not having good luck with scales.  Maybe the SC is just trying to tell you it wants a pair of new special scales

[comis]

Day 25

Presenters on/off switch didn't work anymore. Used the bit driver to remove two screws on the inside and the bottle opener to pry it open. Some small plastics broke but it's now usable again.

This fixing kinda remind my wife's uncle who was an old-school engineer that insisted he must know how everything function in his house.  The first time he saw a laptop from my wife's work, he asked my wife whether she has taken it apart and knew how it worked inside.  My wife said no, and he commented why she would get a piece of equipment not knowing how to maintain it.  He has long passed, but I often think how the world post-internet would have been so curious to him.

I only have an oscillating multi-tool, and no pins nor any clue where I could get any. And while one part of me finds the idea of modding interesting, the other part (the lazy one, which also constantly reminds me I lack the ambition to find myself any pins) thinks it would amount to challenging the Elsener Gods to just start creating SAKs after my own imagine (read: design).

Who knows, maybe some that modding bug will bite you and give you the super will power to do one...

DAY 25

While on the trails I had one person who was kind enough to let me know my tail light was flickering through the bumpy stuff.  Sure enough, after pulling the bulb out it needed a light sanding on its two little contact points and I put a couple small dabs of dielectric grease on the them as well.  Lots of gremlins like to show up after they sit over winter.  Need to do this with all the bulbs now to be sure. 

I always thought what if they got on a plane and experience time difference?  Do they stick to their old time frame or adjust to local time?

What if he was taking a long haul flight and turned while watching movie?

Day 25

Making progress on the camera strap

(Image removed from quote.)

Looks really neat, it's coming together nicely.

[comis]

Day 25 of 30

Sharpened pencil for my daughter, it was faster sharpen with SC rather than trying to find sharpener

(Image removed from quote.)


Only Tools Matters

Good use!  I remembered everyone has a small simple folding knife for pencil sharpening when I was at school, and those days were long gone since then.  Nowadays, I even read boy scout has regulation when and where are they allowed to carry their knives.  Time certainly has changed.

Day 25

Finally remembered to take an action shot today - a slice of lime for the fish I made for dinner.

 

Corkscrew //
Phillips \

  Lime on fish, nice touch!

Those pictures have me excited for the end of this challenge, so the Mountain Yeoman can get some pocket time.

Day 25.  While the back scale chipped  right before the challenge, the front scale on my SC broke sometime before today.

I agree with Sos24, maybe it is telling you something...