Explorer Challenge May 2024

[Grand_Banana]

Good eye. It’s a sandalwood mala with a bodhi seed guru bead. It’s still fairly new. I typically spend a week or so every winter, beading new malas to pass the time. My yellow Explorer sat on my bench the entire time, the scissors cutting cord and tassels.

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  That’s great. I have made several, a couple for myself from my own practice and some to give away. Haven’t had time to make any for a couple years now.

Hope you're feeling better by now!

Thanks, I am on the mend now I think. Caring for family that are now in it.

[Jeffjeeptj]

Explorer is cutting the outer jacket from the extension cord wire.  Blade is nice and sharp. Assuring the inner insulation is not damaged by cutting too deep.

 

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[Antti Lammi]

Day 5 of 30

Used awl today to clean dirt under my nails, also used scissors to shorten my finger nails

Only Tools Matters

[hsherzfeld]

Is that mint? Or is it a weed?

It's scarlet sage, growing from wildflower seeds. In some circumstances it would be considered a weed, but in my garden it's quite welcome. Hummingbirds love it.

[Buzzbait]

Day 5: The green Explorer was mostly just eye candy and pocket filler today. But I did get to use the large flathead to open up a can of dark wood stain I’m using on a new spice rack.

 

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[Alan K.]

Day 05
The small blade on my Explorer seems to have been modified to almost a Wharncliffe or sheepsfoot shape by a previous owner who probably broke or bent the tip.  It's not a very good picture but the blade just looks odd to me.

[Grand_Banana]

Day 4

Small blade to remove old Rx bottle label. Cap lifter to push in water bottle o ring.  Also used toothpick for its intended and tweezers to pull carpet from a toy car wheel.

 

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Tools used:
Large blade x2
Can opener x1
Scissors x2
Small blade x1
Cap lifter x1
Toothpick x1
Tweezers x1

[hsherzfeld]

Day 05:

Yesterday saw my first use of the Explorer’s Phillips driver during the challenge. I was sharpening my original Wave and I used the Phillips driver on a red Explorer that I keep in my desk at home to tighten the screw on the Lansky sharpening clamp. Here’s a pic of Old Yeller instead.

[nate j]

Day 5

Another heavy main blade day.  It got used to open a package for the upcoming Giants of June/Big Blades Challenge, cut the tags off a stuffed animal for one of my daughters, cleaned and whittled my fingernails, was used by a friend who borrowed my knife to open a couple of stubborn mustard packets, and cut the tags and packaging off a new bubble gun for one of my sons.

I also notched my first use of the challenge of the inline Phillips screwdriver:  the aforementioned bubble gun required a screwdriver to install batteries.

Challenge totals:
Large Blade 9
Small Blade 6
Scissors 5
Hook 1
Inline Phillips 1

[Antti Lammi]

Day 6 of 30

Used blade today to open some letters.
Also used flathead to open sodacan since those pesky tabs doesnt allways open nicely.


Only Tools Matters

[Jeffjeeptj]

Does anybody wonder what happens behind the wood when using self drilling sheet metal screws.  I am re-purposing some 3/8” plywood from the interior of my cargo trailer.  Obviously it was held in place then self-drilling screws installed.
I did not want the metal debris that was embedded.  Explorer corkscrew to the rescue.  It made minimal invasion into the wood, but, easily and cleanly removed the metal debris.

 

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[Alan K.]

Day 06
My small blade is the same shape as Grand Banana's small blade so I guess it is normal. I was just expecting more of a spear point.  Anyway, I used it today to trim a cigar.

[nate j]

Day 05
The small blade on my Explorer seems to have been modified to almost a Wharncliffe or sheepsfoot shape by a previous owner who probably broke or bent the tip.  It's not a very good picture but the blade just looks odd to me.

I’m wondering if this isn’t simply the result of repeated sharpening.

[Grand_Banana]

I’m wondering if this isn’t simply the result of repeated sharpening.

 

Does anybody wonder what happens behind the wood when using self drilling sheet metal screws.  I am re-purposing some 3/8” plywood from the interior of my cargo trailer.  Obviously it was held in place then self-drilling screws installed.
I did not want the metal debris that was embedded.  Explorer corkscrew to the rescue.  It made minimal invasion into the wood, but, easily and cleanly removed the metal debris.

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That’s a good corkscrew use

[Buzzbait]

Day 6: I’m back to the yellow Explorer today. I just love the new style magnifier too much to not use it.

Here’s a close-up of the striations on this fine example of a Lemurian quartz cluster. Legend says that these striations hold a secret language explaining the lost secrets of the universe.

 

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[Grand_Banana]

Day 5

Several Explorer activities today using a variety of tools.

 

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Philips fixed yet another loosening hinge and removed a few screws from a storm window for more wasps. They’re everywhere right now.

Cap lifter to depress a stuck cabinet child lock and pry a nail out.

Small blade to finagle open a string cheese and large blade to cut up celery.

Scissors opened a couple wrappers.

 

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Mag lens to show the kids these clover flowers or whatever they are

 

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Also toothpick and tweezers for their intended uses.

Tools used:
Large blade x3
Can opener x1
Scissors x3
Small blade x2
Cap lifter x2
Toothpick x2
Tweezers x2
Philips x1
Mag lens x1

[Farmer X]

Great stuff for today, y'awl!

[nate j]

Day 6

Slow day for the Explorer.  Trimming a single cigar was the only use today.

Challenge totals:
Large Blade 9
Small Blade 7
Scissors 5
Hook 1
Inline Phillips 1

[nate j]

Day 6 (forgot pic)

[Jeffjeeptj]

Sportsman is shortening an air duct hose to allow a portable AC unit to fit closer to the wall.  Still meeting the clearance requirements. 

 

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[Antti Lammi]

Day 7 of 30

No usage today for my Explorer except playing with

Only Tools Matters

[Alan K.]

Day 07
I used the inline Phillips driver to tighten some drawer pulls.

[hsherzfeld]

Day 6:

Yesterday was slow in the office, but I spent some time with my dog after work. 

[Grand_Banana]

Day 6

Today was very warm and sunny, but not close enough to summer to use the mag lens as a fire starter.

Tried the awl as ferro rod striker. Like my other 91mm SAKs it just doesn’t work well for me. Neither does the awl on my Wave. Wave saw started this fire.  The Explorer blade crafted feather sticks at least.

 

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Tools used:
Large blade x4
Can opener x1
Scissors x3
Small blade x2
Cap lifter x2
Toothpick x2
Tweezers x2
Philips x1
Mag lens x2
Awl x1

[nate j]

Day 7

It was a three-cigar day, so the small blade did the honors.

After lunch, the toothpick performed its designed function.

Later, after patching a flat tire on my son’s bike, I aired it up to check for leaks before putting it back on the rim.  Then, I had to let the air all the way out to so I could get it back on the rim.  If only I had a tool handy to do this without resorting to going out to the vehicles for a tire gauge.  But wait!  It turns out the inline Phillips is the perfect tool for this job.  The fit is uncanny, almost like it was made for it.

Challenge totals:
Large Blade 9
Small Blade 10
Scissors 5
Hook 1
Inline Phillips 2
Toothpick 1

[Farmer X]

Sportsman is shortening an air duct hose to allow a portable AC unit to fit closer to the wall.

You did better than I ever could. Those little buggers always unravel when I try that.

spent some time with my dog after work.

Another great day, y'awl!

[Jeffjeeptj]

Explorer large blade is opening a package of foam.

 

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[Grand_Banana]

Day 7

It was a three-cigar day, so the small blade did the honors.

After lunch, the toothpick performed its designed function.

Later, after patching a flat tire on my son’s bike, I aired it up to check for leaks before putting it back on the rim.  Then, I had to let the air all the way out to so I could get it back on the rim.  If only I had a tool handy to do this without resorting to going out to the vehicles for a tire gauge.  But wait!  It turns out the inline Phillips is the perfect tool for this job.  The fit is uncanny, almost like it was made for it.

Challenge totals:
Large Blade 9
Small Blade 10
Scissors 5
Hook 1
Inline Phillips 2
Toothpick 1

That’s really interesting I’ll have to try it. I wouldn’t put it past victorinox to have actually designed such intention.

Sportsman is shortening an air duct hose to allow a portable AC unit to fit closer to the wall.  Still meeting the clearance requirements. 

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I think every time I’ve installed window units, trimmed a floor AC exhaust/fit the window piece, and changed dryer vents, I’ve used a multitool.  These are the jobs made quick by a good multitool.

[Antti Lammi]

Day 8 of 30

Used bottle opener to open lid of mayoanase jar. Little prying and hears pop and you can easily open lid afterwards.

Only Tools Matters

[hsherzfeld]

Day 07:

More screwdriver use.