EDC Card, Kickstarter Campaign

[Tofty]

Hi Everyone,
Over the last year or so, Cha-O-Ha and I have been working on a credit-card sized, one-piece multitool design, which is finally up as a Kickstarter campaign:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1070880274/edc-card-the-ultimate-everyday-carry-pocket-multi

Please take a look and let us know what you think.



Before launching the campaign, we completed a small manufacturing run of cards, to ensure everything was as it should be and that we could definitely deliver on this project. These early production cards are available as part of the kickstarter campaign, to be shipped as soon as it ends, instead of a few months down the line, although they are more expensive.


This project started as many do, with a simple sketch.



Tyler from Cha-O-Ha approached me about the possibility of designing a wallet tool and I said that I'd see what I could do.



The eventual 3D model was designed so that it could be 3D printed for testing, although these cards were too expensive as an option for the finished product.



The next step was some early pre-production samples, in S35VN stainless steel, chosen due to it's excellent balance of wear resistance, strength and corrosion resistance.
These samples were laser cut, then machined, like the later production versions would be, but they threw up just how bad the text I'd chosen was.



So after some redesigns, the first small production run was good to go.



I hope you find this tool of interest, but if there's anything you'd like to query, please down hesitate to let me know.
Cheers

[enki_ck]

I think Mike LOTS might like this one. He was after a wrench type OPT a few weeks back but most of the Shapeways stuff you had was a bit too pricey.

If you can make this one in large numbers, that would be great and hopefully it will open up a chance for you to do more interesting projects.

Good luck.

[Sparky415]

Thats nice Tofty 

[Syph007]

Looks neat!  I'm a fan of all your design work, it's top notch!

Is the writing laser etched on?

I love your steel choice too, and you are 100% correct Ti alloys are NOT good for tools.

[JAfromMn]

My infatuation with fish shaped tools demands I fund this project.

I really hope it gets funded. It looks like a very usable tool for me

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

Just backed it... very nice design. Are the hex sizes SAE?

[JAfromMn]

Welcome gear head excellent first post. 

[Gamble]

Good luck Tofty, you're off to a good start!  Don't forget to eat and sleep during the next 29 days

[sardauker]

Backed.
Thank you

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

Welcome gear head excellent first post. 

Thanks, been lurking for a bit. Love me some gadgets.

[Tofty]

I think Mike LOTS might like this one. He was after a wrench type OPT a few weeks back but most of the Shapeways stuff you had was a bit too pricey.
If you can make this one in large numbers, that would be great and hopefully it will open up a chance for you to do more interesting projects.
Good luck.

I just PM'ed Mike to make sure this project didn't pass him by, in case it does interest him.

I'm sure that even after the Kickstarter campaign has finished, these cards will be available for sale, as we will get quite a few more made than have been pledged for.

As for this project funding others; this will certainly be the case, although I'm not the one at the head of this project, so the funds won't be mine to manipulate. Still, Kickstarter seems to be proving it's usefulness once again, so perhaps I will run my own campaign one day, or help get a full Multitool.org community involved campaign going.

Thats nice Tofty 

Thanks Sparky, the next big project could be the MT.O prybar?

Looks neat!  I'm a fan of all your design work, it's top notch!
Is the writing laser etched on?
I love your steel choice too, and you are 100% correct Ti alloys are NOT good for tools.

Thanks Shph007, likewise. I was fortunate enough to see an example of your work at the last UK meet.

The writing isn't just lasered on, as far as I'm aware it's more of a laser jet process, where a black powder is burned/melted/bonded? into place and to some extent into the metal itself. I'm told it's incredibly hard wearing. In fact it looks like the same finish as the text on the Leatherman Skeletools and Freestyles.

Unfortunately people will always want titanium tools, even me and I know how deficient they are. I call it Atwooditis. Someone asked for a titanium version just last night in the comments section, even though the reason for not using titanium is clearly explained in the listing itself.
Apparently the cards get the full cryo-quenching treatment, so their hardness and resistance to wear should be quite impressive.

My infatuation with fish shaped tools demands I fund this project.
I really hope it gets funded. It looks like a very usable tool for me.

Thanks JAfromMn, In that case don't forget this oddity:



It's certainly looking good for the funding goal to be reached; over 40% in 24 hours, isn't a bad start.

Just backed it... very nice design. Are the hex sizes SAE?

Thanks for your support GEARHEAD_ENG and welcome aboard.
The hexes are a combination of SAE and metric. A lot of the standard spanner sizes are quite close to each other, so for example; there's no need to have 8mm and 5/16" hexes, as 5/16" is something like 7.95mm.

Good luck Tofty, you're off to a good start!  Don't forget to eat and sleep during the next 29 days

Thanks Gamble, good advice from a crowd funding veteran.
Fortunately I'm not the one in charge of the campaign, so to some extent I can just relax and enjoy the numbers going up.

Backed.
Thank you

And thank you sardauker. This campaign is going better than I could have expected.

[JAfromMn]

I'm excited about this tool.

S35v

[sawman]

I would not use this tool as it is too big for EDC. It's definitely not going in my wallet.

[Aloha]

I also wouldn't carry it in my wallet HOWEVER I would carry it in my LM sheath ( if it would fit ).  It looks as you could also carry it on a keychain ( circular hole ).  The material is an outstanding choice and I'm a big fan of Tofty's designs. 

[JAfromMn]

I still haven't backed this yet I'm waiting until my pay day.


I'd like to see what the ceramic coated tool looks like from the back.

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

Wow that got funded pretty fast... less than two days?

[enki_ck]

Glad to hear it.

[Syph007]

Congrats! 

[Essexman]

Nice one Tofty !! Congrats on getting the backing   

[JAfromMn]

I'd really like to see what the tool with the brown coating looks like next to a brown leatherman oht.

I'm still undecided on what finish I want .

[Aloha]

 

[Tofty]

Thanks a lot guys, I'm pretty stunned by how quickly the campaign has been successfully funded.

Here's a picture of the two finishes available: (please note that the card on the far right is a prototype and only the ceramic coated cards will have the text on the reverse side as well)




As the funding for the Cards is ever increasing, we've released a $25000 stretch goal, for a thinner card of just 1.6mm, in CPM 3V steel, an even tougher steel. However, 3V is not a stainless steel, so the cards will have a Zirconium Nitride PVD Coating, which will give it a golden, sandy colour. I'm not sure on the projected price yet though.

[zoidberg]

Whats with the doubling up on the wrench sizes? 

[Tofty]

Closed wrenches are stronger than open ones and should always be used in preference whenever possible, but sometimes only an open wrench can get access to things like nuts, as they may be on a long threaded rod.

[Kampfer]

How much does it weight, I couldnt find any info on its weight, thanks.

[Tofty]

The EDC tool weighs 54.3g, or 1.915oz.

[Kampfer]

Thanks tofty
It is not as light as I like it to be.

[Tofty]

The thinner EDC Card, that is now available, since our stretch goal has been reached, will be considerably lighter than the original.

[Kampfer]

The thinner EDC Card, that is now available, since our stretch goal has been reached, will be considerably lighter than the original.

Very cool! will look into that.

[Etherealicer]

Hehe, found it on GearHungry