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Had a product idea - would like feedback.

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
7,443
I had an idea for a portable convex sharpening kit. I know many have done this, so it is certainly not new - but I have all of the stuff to make this very easily and offer it at a decent price I think.

I want to take a tin - I was thinking the Altoids like tin that I use for my tinder kit:

DiomedesPrometheusKit011.jpg


Gluing a stiff and thick piece of leather to the lid and loading it with BRKT Green compound.

I would then cut various grits of sand paper the proper width and store those, as well as a small chunk of compound on the inside. I would also use a large ranger band, or two, to secure the lid and protect the leather.


Any other things you would like to see inside, outside, or other?


Thoughts?

1) Should I load the leather with both grits of compound? Black and green - half and half?

2) Should I glue the leather on the bottom of the tin or top?

3) Should I not glue it at all and velcro it - making it fit in the altoids tin itself to keep it clean?


Thoughts?



TF
 
I like the velcro idea. I would be curious as to how much extra deflection you get in the piece of leather over velcro. It may change the amount of pressure you need to apply to strop a convex grind.

Assuming that all works out I would probably cut 2 pieces of leather and apply different compounds to each piece. Cut them slightly smaller then the tin and keep them inside the tin, to keep them clean.

Velcro for leather on top of tin and glue a piece of neoprene on bottom of tin.
 
I like the idea and would also want some instructions with it.
 
I'd go with only the green compound.

I use double sided tape. It's just enough to stop migration but easy to swap out. Stick other bits of tape in the tin. If the tape builds up and gets gummy 'cos of laziness a few moments with a solvent brings it back to as new.
 
Talfuchre said:
3) Should I not glue it at all and velcro it - making it fit in the altoids tin itself to keep it clean?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Glue sandpaper to thin foam and you could then velcro that as well. I think I'd want to see it self-contained so it stayed relatively clean and didn't get stropping compound all over the pack. Good idea.
 
I have made several of those. I glued a piece of thin crafts foam on top and keep a assortment of sand paper and a couple pieces of leather inside the box. I have a piece of 1000 grit glued to the top foam and it pretty well holds whatever else I want to use from slipping around. I have 400 -10000 grit sand paper inside.

Wally world has a pretty good assortment of tin boxes. My son recently gave me a neat little wooden box about that size as well.
 
I would nix the green compound altogether and just stick with the black.

If you end up gluing the leather to the lid, I would suggest cutting the sandpaper long enough so that you can close the lid onto the ends to hold it in place. Great idea though. KSF has a nice field sharpening kit put together but it's in an Otterbox which makes it more expensive.
 
I love my otterbox one from KSF - but I wanted something a lot lighter and less expensive.



Okay - what if?

1) I made the ranger band large enough that it covered the strop - that way I could glue it to the top and not get compound all over everything. It may take two ranger bands - but I could do it.

Or - just a small skin of plastic that would be held in place by two smaller ranger bands - nice and neat.

2) I don't want to do foam or neoprene - I find it is not necessary - and the leather I have in mind will be perfect.

3) Besides sand paper and a small bit of compound - what else?

4) What do you think the price point should be?



With that said - do you want to see a deeper round tin? Something else entirely?

TF
 
Great idea. I've built and been testing something similar that I'm hoping to post pics of here soon.

Mine is built on a small pelican box. I put loop velcro on both the top and bottom then cut a piece of mouse pad to match and put the hook velcro on that. The mousepad stores stuck to the inside lid. I then cut strips of waterproof sandpaper the same wideth as the mouse pad and long enough to secure under both ends of the lid when I close it. The latch keeps it plenty secure. I cary rolled up inside 2 strips each of 400, 600, 800, and 1500 grit sandpaper. I also have two pieces of stiff leather cut to the same size as the mouse pad. Each of these has hook velcro on it. One is loaded with white and the other with green compound.

In addition I have a small ceramic rod, a flat DMT course diamond stone with hook velcro on the backside (hope to add the medium and the fine here soon) and a small arkansas stone (which will go away when I add the other flat diamond stones), also with hook velcro on the baskside.

So far I've been able to use this small kit on everything from my convex to flat ground knives sized from a small pocket whitler to my newly acquired Kabar Cutlass machete and a 12" tramontina. I've very happy with it.

By all means, go for it. I'm certain there is a market for this type of kit. Mine is a bit more inclusive because I carry both flat and convex edged knives and am very anal about sharp knives.

As for the concern over the velcro on the back of the leather, it does make the surface just slightly more giving but honestly not that much, especially if you take the time to really set the velcro. Do this by slightly wiggling the mousepad or leather as you push down on it. It'll become ver stable.

Charlie
 
Talfuchre said:
Charlie,

Thanks man.

I was thinking about a ceramic rod too - what did you use?

TF
Click to expand...

Just a little one I found at the local army supply house. They sell them for 75 cents. I've bought bunches, keep dropping them. Man they are brittle. :grumpy:

I'll try to post pics in the next day or so.

My only concern with the altoid tins would be waterproofness, especially if there is leather involved. May not really matter, just my concern. I will tell you, the kit I built is not lightweight. It will shed some weight when I get rid of the arkansas stone and get the other diamond plates.

One suggestion would be to put the instructions permanently on the inside lid, or perhaps on the bottom outside so they are easily accessible but not easy to loose.

I would put the leather, or whatever on the top of the lid. The thought is that when you wrapped the sandpaper over the top and tucked it in, closing the lid on an altoids tin would probably tighten up the sandpaper and make it more secure. Might not actually work that way but just a thought.

Would love to see your finished prototype.

Charlie
 
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I like this idea. Depending on price point, I may buy one to try, even with the one I currently have. :thumbup:
 
I would charge the leather with black. The black actually sharpens, but the green just polishes.
 
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I would add a chunk of green compound as well to add more as needed.
(sorry if that was mentioned)
 
quietmike said:
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Click to expand...

That is a fantastic idea!
 
Quitmike,

That is actually the video that got me started making a portable sharpening kit. Mine just sort of grew because I like options. :-)

Charlie
 
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