DIY Keybiner

thingiverse

I was thrilled when I stumbled upon the Keybiner kickstarter (link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fortiusarms/keybiner-the-carabiner-refined) and promptly pledged to receive an aluminum keybiner. Anticipation grew as I waited for the estimated two months for delivery, but patience wore thin - so I decided to take matters into my own hands by creating a DIY version that can be easily 3D printed or laser cut. This design isn't flawless by any stretch of the imagination; the printed clip exhibits limited tension and lacks an effective hole pattern in the middle, much like the authentic keybiner's - although the largest hex-shaped hole is optimally sized for screwdriver hex bits. Time permitting, future revisions would likely feature a more integrated clip akin to the one shown here: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:169192 4-40 screws secured by nylock nuts hold everything together; however, 1/2-inch lengths prove inadequate for accommodating two keys, particularly those with considerable thickness - a 5/8-inch length would be a more suitable choice. A printable STL file accompanies the spacer design, but has yet to be tested; I employed a nylon spacer in my own project, so feel free to experiment. To create this DIY keybiner, users must either rely on 3D printing or develop their own laser-cut solution since no laser-friendly clip version is currently available. My initial design prioritized hole sizing suitable for coat hanger wire but then opted to craft an all-printed variant instead. To bypass potential stiffness issues with printed clips, I successfully repurposed a piece of raw 3D printer filament by bending it into shape and searing the ends to secure them in place - albeit yielding less-than-optimal results in comparison to printed clips.