April Rebar and Friends Challenge

[tylermumford]

Day 7

The Rebar has been comfortably in the pocket all day, and it has seen no use. Our train was delayed for a truly ridiculous amount of time due to mountain weather. Now traveling by car.

[Alan K.]

Day 08
The Rebar saw works well if you don't have anything better.  I mean it cuts, but it kept binding in the branches I was cutting.  I seem to remember it working better than this, but I may have been spoiled by the Opinel No12 saw I used during last month's challenge.
 

[HarleyXJGuy]

Well heck.

Somehow I missed day 7.

Beer and Wrestlemania are to blame for sure.

Day 7

At least the toilet got fixed.

[HarleyXJGuy]

Day 8

So as I said earlier the molle sheath was just not bueno so it was Skinth to the rescue.

Been on a leather sheath kick lately so forgot how good Skinth sheaths are.

With just the tool and a bit adapter card there is way to much room in the sheath but it worked fine for the first five days or so of the challenge.



This weekend though after a root around in the MT storage we see the genius of the design and how the space was supposed to be used.



Still loose enough to get everything in and out easy but much better on the OCD front.

[BPRoberts]

Well heck.

Somehow I missed day 7.

Beer and Wrestlemania are to blame for sure.

Day 7

At least the toilet got fixed.

(Image removed from quote.)

My buddy went to Wrestlemania yesterday. Seemed like a good time from the pics he shared.

Day 8

Rebar helped make an eclipse box. The hole from the awl was a bit big, but not unusuable. Replaced it with a smaller pin hole after a bit, and got a better pic.

[Craig_S]

Day 8

I was banking on every hick and his old lady in PA going to Erie to watch the eclipse today, so we headed west. The closer we got to my secret spot (a lakeside park in Ohio), the more blue sky we saw (there was none back home). Then at 145, clouds started moving in and it really looked like we wouldn't see anything. About 215, it opened up and the eclipse was the most amazing thing I've seen since my son was born.

I was watching the last bit of light disappear from the sun at 315 and then it went black. I heard a lot of people gasp and then my son said "dad, take off your glasses!". To suddenly gaze at the black spot in the sky with a glowing ring around it was indescribable.

Hoping that as many of you as possible got to see and or appreciate that today too. WOW!!!

Craig

[tylermumford]

Day 8

Yup, eclipse day! Rebar served as an impromptu coat hanger, haha. I also used the Phillips screwdriver to make some circular "pinholes" in a foam cup for seeing a projection of the eclipse.

I'm glad others in here got to experience totality, too. It was absolutely amazing, and worth the days of travel. I'm from Utah, and came to Poplar Bluff, Missouri to see it. Incredible.

 

I meant to take a photo of the Rebar against the total eclipse, but I was mind-blown and forgot to do it. So here's a rushed cut-and-paste as a joke, haha.

[Poncho65]

More great pics,  guys

[Craig_S]

Day 9

Barely made it in the door at work today and was asked to fix this set of blinds on one of the supervisor's windows. They had started to fall yesterday, and everyone managed to rip it out the rest of the way trying to "fix" it.  I knew it was the perfect opportunity to put the Rebar and it's awesome phillips driver to work.

I replaced the miniscule screws that had previously held it in place and (for the time being), it's just like a new one. If you hear a crash just pretend it didn't happen. 

Craig

[Alan K.]

Day 09
I used the straight edged blade to remove the safety seal from a pill bottle.

[BPRoberts]

 Day 9

Bond day!

I used the Bond to hold a nut while I undid a screw to install this mirror for my wife.

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It would've required three hands to get an action shot, but I'm sure you can all imagine.

I love the Rebar. I like the ST300, it's just not a good choice for a daily driver for me. The Bond... hypothetically occupies a useful niche?

It's not really any smaller than the Rebar (by LM's specs, you save about half an ounce, but actually gain a little bulk) as opposed to the Rebar>ST where you cut weight by around a third, and slim down size a noticeable amount.

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The tools are more or less the same, except that you lose the sheepsfoot, saw, and crimper. It does switch to the nonremovable cutters. If you don't use them often, they hold up a bit better, so maybe a narrow plus there?

You keep that goofy swing out lanyard ring, despite the fact that the Bond can take the screw on ring/clip. This is a real plus. I prefer the clip, since it has enough of a gap to attach a lanyard to anyway.

Beyond that, it's got by far the best lines of any current LM. Nice and clean. The toolset is almost the same as the original PST (minus the trademark LM small flathead), which is nostalgic/retro cool.

It's "non locking" although I don't know if that'd hold up in court. LM used to market closing the handles as a pseudo lock, but seems to have stopped. I assume that's to try and market the Bond in the UK, or anywhere else with lock blade issues. Makes sense, most other multi companies aren't even thinking of making a nonlocking tool this size, so they'd dominate a fair sized market if it is UK legal.

Finally, there's the price. At $60, it's by far your best option if you can't afford a Rebar (although it looks like Rebars are even cheaper on the auctions sites). The Rev and Bolster both lose the awl (in exchange for iffy secondary blades) , and have inferior drivers and that tiny file. Even with the $10 price difference and the OHO, I'd still take the Bond. Better build quality and tools all around. The Wingman/Sidekick up the ante with a saw/scissors, but tack on another $10. At that point, I'd go for the Rebar unless there was some really specific niche they filled.

So if you're in the market for a budget/maybe UK legal/good looking/retro tool, the Bond is maybe worth it? Otherwise, this thing is banished to my back up drawer.

[HarleyXJGuy]

Day 9

A little challenge related mail opening.

[cody6268]

Day 8:

Mail call:

Found an eBay seller in Japan that had Tomica's Hitachi EX-8000 mining shovel for $5 shipped; and figured that it would take a month to get here. They sent it expedited in an envelope, which by FedEx's estimates, cost them 3x the model to ship.

[cody6268]

Day 10:

What I didn't do--get some sheaths and the top leather straps on my Swiss Army bread bag fixed and buy some stuff off the Mac truck.

Recently, it was announced in the paper that a guy had opened up a business making leather bags, and he also did repairs.  However, I went to the place of business (a prime location on Main Street), only to find A: he wasn't open B: he didn't post the hours of operation and C: had no contact info posted other than a small chalkboard in a window with his social media profiles.  He didn't even have hours of operation, or a phone number listed on the website or other social media page. Also, he was expensive. Found a guy in the next county over who mostly does sheaths, gun holsters, and does a pretty darn good job. Contacting him instead.  Besides, that town also has one of the bigger dealers of Breyer horses in the state.

Mistake I made with the Mac truck was the wrong time. Last time I visited, it was on a whim while the car was in the shop; and he was late. This time, I was a little late. Turns out, he normally showed up about an hour earlier according to the shop owner (who is a relative).

[tylermumford]

Day 9

Loving this thread more and more!

Rebar cut apples. Simple and effective. And there’s not much else for a multitool to do during a roadtrip, but it’s there for the unexpected moments, too.

[Craig_S]

Day 10

I printed this case overnight to protect my glasses when I'm at a fire call and need to wear my mask. So far 2 normal cases have been destroyed by me carrying them in my pockets and I found this file online which seems sturdy. It could be printed with even more infill but we'll see how it holds up. Infill is how dense the printer makes the product. You can tell it to be 100% or 1%. That would be the difference between being able to basically see through it and have no strength or having as much plastic as possible in that space. I made this one 60% which is a good compromise for time to print vs going all out at 100%. There are also tons of different kinds of materials that can be printed, including carbon fiber and metals, to suit your product.

Anyway, the hinges use regular filament and it needed cut, so here's the first use of the Rebar today. Was going to use the wire cutters but ended up just pushing on it with the serrated knife and it scored about 75% through; enough to just snap off easily.

Craig

[BPRoberts]

Day 9

Loving this thread more and more!

Rebar cut apples. Simple and effective. And there’s not much else for a multitool to do during a roadtrip, but it’s there for the unexpected moments, too.

You never know when your Fiat will break down or your hotel shower won't work...

[BPRoberts]

Day 10

These drain plugs weren't installed correctly. Used the flathead to pop them up, will crawl under and fix them fully later.

[cody6268]

Day 10:

One giant leap for my EDC...

Went to a local knife store today just poking around (and to ask how many leathercrafters they knew--the guy in the next county over was who he recommended as well--but a friend of a neighbor also does leatherwork; and she is supposedly cheaper, yet does equal work to the guy in the next county).

Instead of 2-3 cheaper knives, I went ahead and bought the Kershaw Launch 10. I wanted a good automatic ever since VA legalized them last year, and it was down to three smaller Launch models or a Boker Kalashnikov (which isn't sold locally). Ended up going for the Launch 10 as the hawkbill is better for my uses around the farm.

[Alan K.]

  the Kershaw Launch 10. It looks positively wicked.

[Alan K.]

Day 10
I also got a new toy to fidget with and used the serrated blade to open it.

[HarleyXJGuy]

Day 10:

One giant leap for my EDC...

Went to a local knife store today just poking around (and to ask how many leathercrafters they knew--the guy in the next county over was who he recommended as well--but a friend of a neighbor also does leatherwork; and she is supposedly cheaper, yet does equal work to the guy in the next county).

Instead of 2-3 cheaper knives, I went ahead and bought the Kershaw Launch 10. I wanted a good automatic ever since VA legalized them last year, and it was down to three smaller Launch models or a Boker Kalashnikov (which isn't sold locally). Ended up going for the Launch 10 as the hawkbill is better for my uses around the farm.

(Image removed from quote.)

Nice looking blade on that.

Was pretty happy when my state legalized auto knives a few years back.

My bank account wasn’t as pleased.

[HarleyXJGuy]

Day 10

Another sheath.



Not the first sheath from this craftsman that is in the collection and all of em have amazing fit for the tool or accessories.

That said on this one the spacing is not the same on both sides. Maybe it’s on purpose? Some kinda big brain rides on the belt better situation?

Whatever the case it is perfectly functional and will surely outlast me. OCD will just have to deal.

[Alan K.]

Day 11
I often enjoy fruit as an afternoon snack and today the Rebar helped with a pear.

[Craig_S]

Another 3d printing project completed with the Rebar. This "one can cooler" was so neat looking I just had to make it. It took several days of printing! The inner lip of the lid was slightly too big to work as-finished; that allows you to carefully file and/or sand to make it perfect. The Rebar file cut it to size in no time, and the smooth spine didn't mar the underside of the lid at all.

Craig

[BPRoberts]

That's a neat project!

Day 11

Use the Rebar's serrated blade (after a quick wash, since it's been cutting tape a lot lately) as a butter knife to slice and butter a bagel. And forgot to take a pic... Here it is with the most famous butter knife in all of multitooldom. I think I like the Vic butter blade more as a slicer, but I appreciate that the Rebar also has the drop point onboard.

[Craig_S]

I love my job!!   

Using the Rebar to open new batteries for the SCBA's.

Craig

[Craig_S]

Oops.... forgot to date my latest two. They were Days 10 and 11.

Craig

[BPRoberts]

Day 12

Unstuck this utensil box for a coworker. Had to phone a friend and have the MP600 help, it's jaws were able to grab a little wider.

[Alan K.]

Day 12
The Rebar and an EDC fixie that I am fond of, the CRKT Hunt'n Fisch.  What a great pair.