Utility keychain

[simbad]

Finally I realized that I carry so many "unorganized" things in my pockets, so after checking my junk box I could find this new option as a separate keyring with no keys, just tools:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/condemor/Utilitykeyring.jpg

The set up features:

Webbing* hanger with Mini Clip and split ring
Twisty Keyring
Benchmade Benchmite II black
Prybaby
Swiss Utilikey
AG Russell Tweezers
Arc AAA-P light
Blue Nite Glowring

The knife and Prybaby are attached to the twisty keyring with Nano clips and I carry all this metal hanging from the belt and "hidden" in my front left pocket. The ss clips are a good option to use the items individually.

[pipedreams]

Looks great. I need to get me some Nano clips.

todd

[7k7k99]

your utility keychain is very similar to what I have everyday but with the addition of all my regular keys. It's a good idea, except you still have to carry your regular keychain too and that would probably tie up two pockets. I have everything hanging off my belt on a key hanger right now, picture to come soon. Mine is not hidden in a pocket, because I front pocket carry my small business card wallet, a titanium money clip with cash, and a coin purse with spare car key and case with spare cell phone battery in right front pocket. Guess I could shift something to the rear pockets, but hate carrying stuff in them.

[Stutoffee]

Cool set-up you got there, Martin. Ive not heard of Nano clips before but they look pretty good for securing kit to keyrings, I tend to use whatever clips Ive got or sometimes just small split-rings, but then of course its a Bugger to get the items off your keyring. I'll look at putting together a tool keyring of my own, I think. Really need to invest in a Prybaby, and those Arc lights look sweet too. My current fave tiny-light is a LED Lenser V2 keyfinder, its amazing powerful.

[gbaker]

Looks great.* I need to get me some Nano clips.

todd


Photolight seems to have the cheapest clips or snap rings at $1.25 each. Seems expensive but most others are double that. Anybody else find a better price?

[7k7k99]

I just received ten of the clips from photolight -- they are VERY strong clips and almost impossible to get anything on or off them. I don't think they are going to be very usable on the keychain shown by Simbad. Those photolight clips are just TOO secure.

[pipedreams]

Photolight seems to have the cheapest clips or snap rings at $1.25 each. Seems expensive but most others are double that. Anybody else find a better price?
I have a dozen of these, but the nano appears to be smaller. The Photon clip are a tad hard to manipulate.

todd

[Sunnie]

I do exactly the same thing and have a separate karabiner with various less-immediate-use items hanging on it in my bag or jacket pocket. It is a good idea to keep these separate from your keys and to think very carefully about which few select items you do want on your keybunch. There's nothing worse than a really heavy keybunch! >:(

Sunnie

[simbad]

These are the different sizes of Mc Gizmo clips, all of them are made of stainless steel.

Mini clip: 35mm (shown in my picture above, the biggest model, perfect for the belt loop)
Micro clip: 25mm
Nano clip: 20mm (shown in picture, the small ones)
Pico clip: 15 ( I have three of them, nice for a neck lanyard but too small for my hands)

Price range from $3.25 to $2.25

You can find them in the sandwich shoppe or berkeleypoint.com

[Peter Atwood]

I like the Micro Clips the best and have attached them to all sorts of small lights. They are just large enough to be able to clip them to a belt loop if necessary and of course are great for the keychain.

My buddy Brian stopped by tonight with one of those new titanium rings that BP is selling. He wants to build some kind of keyring around it. Don't know how it will work out but we had a good time anodizing it green... :)

[samson722]

a little off topic, but I was thinking about a good way to attach all this great stuff to my person in some way. i hate to sound geeky as hell, but i once saw an awesome key retractor made by hammerhead industries for leo's and they can carry all kinds of stuff. It also allows you the ability to grap the reel, use the tool, and then just let it go. we had them issued to us at work (i work for an ems/fire company) as a custon unit for radio's and flashlights. nobody seems to know where they can be found other than hammerhead, and they're pretty expensive. anyone have any ideas?

[parnass]

Key retractor sources:

http://www.gearkeeper.com

http://www.lanyardfactory.com/retractable-badge-reels-holders-clips.htm

http://www.1stinhardware.com/acatalog/Online_Catalog_Lucky_Line_75.html

[samson722]

thanks for the links, parnass. i really like the hammerhead gear keeper. i went to order one from a tactical supplier that i normally do business with, but they no longer carry the item for lack of sales. all the others look interesting in design, but i really need something tough and utilitarian that's able to handle being w/me both on and off the job.

[Sunnie]

Is there a nylon/plastic version of such micro clips? I'm realising that, even when I sheath items in my EDC to stop them scratching items such as my mobile phone if carried in the same pocket, the one area that still does cause scratches and abrasions to surrounding objects is the steel karabiners or dog-clips that I'm currently using as attachment points.

In the interim, I have pushed a small length of plastic insulating sheathing over my small steel dog-clip, but this solution isn't ideal. If anyone knows of plastic or plastic-coated micro clips I'd be grateful to have the info, and especially of a UK stockist or supplier.

Thanks :)

Sunnie

[Redhed]

TAD Gear stocks them:
http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme%20gear/hammer_head_gear_keepers.htm




a little off topic, but I was thinking about a good way to attach all this great stuff to my person in some way.* i hate to sound geeky as hell, but i once saw an awesome key retractor made by hammerhead industries for leo's and they can carry all kinds of stuff.* It also allows you the ability to grap the reel, use the tool, and then just let it go.* we had them issued to us at work (i work for an ems/fire company) as a custon unit for radio's and flashlights.* nobody seems to know where they can be found other than hammerhead, and they're pretty expensive.* anyone have any ideas?

[Stormdrane]

Is there a nylon/plastic version of such micro clips? I'm realising that, even when I sheath items in my EDC to stop them scratching items such as my mobile phone if carried in the same pocket, the one area that still does cause scratches and abrasions to surrounding objects is the steel karabiners or dog-clips that I'm currently using as attachment points.

In the interim, I have pushed a small length of plastic insulating sheathing over my small steel dog-clip, but this solution isn't ideal. If anyone knows of plastic or plastic-coated micro clips I'd be grateful to have the info...

I haven't tried it, but it may be possible to dip the clips in Plasti Dip(used for coating tool handles). I think it would help in keeping them from scratching anything in your pocket and might help with quieting all the gadgets jingling/jangling on your keyring. Maybe someone else has tried this?

[Sunnie]

Redhed, that sounds like an interesting idea. Is that PlastiDip product readily available?

Thanks,

Sunnie

[Redhed]

Sunnie, read again, it was Stormdrane who suggested the plasti-dip on the clips. Neat idea, but I doubt it would work well, since it would seal the gate shut unless you could somehow disassemble the components before dipping. Not to mention the tolerances are not great enough on the parts to allow them to function properly once you added the material.

There is a plastic clip used in the leashes inside the SpecOps Pack Rat and on the Leashables lip balm:
http://www.leashables.com/Leashables2005/ for pics

Simple black plastic affair, no moving parts. Problem I found is smaller items like split rings can slip out of its grasp. Don't use them much any longer, but you might check Wal-Mart for the leashbles lip balm if you think they would work for you. I think they were under a couple dollars and you get some tasty balm to boot.

Plasti-Dip is readily available at Lowe's and Home Depot. Neat stuff.

[Sunnie]

Sorry Redhed.... speed reading!

Both the ideas from yourself and Stormdrane sound like they could be worth exploring so I'm going to check out those products -- thanks.

It's funny, the more I start to think about how to carry stuff as a result of this forum, the more I see issues that I never would have before. It now seems to obvious to me that the clips that attach our gear should not scratch adjacent articles and I can't get the idea out of my head! :crazy2:

Sunnie

[luigi]

Two questions:
What/Who is photolight? I may like to order some clips :-)
Where did you get the twisty keyring? Links?
Thanks!
Luigi

[Redhed]

http://www.photonlight.com/products/accessories.html

Twisties used to be be found here:

http://www.flashlightlens.com/products.htm

Although it sounds like they're currently lost(?!). I actually prefer the Fix-O-Loc to the twisty. Here is a link to the manufacturer:

www.luckyline.com

Their products seem damn hard to find. I had to order a bunch from some lock smith place and pay exhorbiant shipping. (Don't have a link.) They need an online store! :)

[shoeblade]

Here are some stainless steel wire ones, just bought some
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-STAINLESS-STEEL-CABLE-KEY-RINGS_W0QQitemZ6604548675QQcategoryZ3628QQcmdZView Item

[Gadget Guy]

Key retractor sources:

http://www.gearkeeper.com

http://www.lanyardfactory.com/retractable-badge-reels-holders-clips.htm

http://www.1stinhardware.com/acatalog/Online_Catalog_Lucky_Line_75.html


Thanks Parnass for the links... ;D