Sabtu, 21 Desember 2013

Simple Edc : Becareful with Vic.. it snaps !

it has no locks, blades snap open and close, i just get my middle finger bleeding due to sheepfoot blade of by Vic Electrician snapped close instantly once it passes halfway closing. it really should be 2 hands opening/closing operation.

Simple Edc : Kershaw Overdrive 2, after a week review

It is small, light, pointy, sharp, little bit tight at first arrival (loosen up with smallest hex allen key i have), flipper action is nice, the flipper button remind me of old camera self timer (on leaf shutter), i dropped several times and found no scratch on the scales.

On the negative sides:
- flipper button scratches other stuff i put on my pocket (phone, etc)
- pointy tip stub my finger several times
- no jimping, minimal grip only by the scales
- the scale use t5 metric allen key, the pivot use (i forget) the smallest hex allen key, it is differently annoying
- the clip is dam* tight, need some bending to soften up
- the metal of the knife is "thick", maybe 3mm (?)
- the scales are thick as it should have hollow area for flipper mechanism,

i'm confuse whether i like it or not, i prefer knife that sit together safely in my pocket, i hate that flipper button so much, it screw up the feeling when you found your phone screen got scratches when they are together. i have no problem with the metal aloy, but it's lightness giving me impression i'm handling a toy, not a real knife.
change the flipper with thumb stud and i'll bring it everywhere !

Minggu, 24 November 2013

Simple Edc : Kershaw OD 2

I was in a search of "perfect" under 2.5" folder knife. Why, i have no idea, maybe I was too much afraid to scratch my buck lux pro, or maybe the fingerprint magnet of lux pro titanium coating has put me down.
then came this OD2 name, a chinese blade under kershaw brand, with attractive flipper mechanism, less than 2.5 inch blade, when i searched it on google, it reminds me my first knife i bought from Academia store on my first US trip.. Kershaw LFK 1700.

my memory were flashing back to eight years back, i can feel the smooth finish of the slick 1700, aus 6 blade with similar shape on OD2. i was never complain of having LFK, except for one issue, it's hard to pull the blade out due to small size blade and handle, and tiny thumb stud.  and then i lost it. somehow i still miss it..

Now as i have OD2 on order, i wish i can outclass LFK 1700, so i can remake the old memory better. i have high expectation of OD2

Jumat, 22 November 2013

Simple Edc : It's arrived..

Just arrived from amazon, a silver Victorinox  Alox Electrician. For a reason, i confused whether i got the right one. In my memory, it should have a keyring. To clear my doubt, i googled picture of it. I was wrong...
For instant, i like the slick thin shape, i like Alox ! I was (again) thinking that the alox is just a thin aluminum cover enclosed over the outer liner. I (again) was totally wrong. The Alox indeed a thick solid aluminum layer (1-2mm) sit next to outer liners. It bring new experience about Victorinox. I'd like to have an alox version of Vic Super Tinker, if possible, now i can say i hate cellidor !
Regarding the Electrician it self, the blade longer (few mm) and thicker than normal Cellidor one, the awl was sharp and ouch, it cut my finger skin as i learn to close it, the electrician blade, is a v shaped blade ( i read somewhere that it has one side sharpening..again i was wrong) with one side sharpened on the curve cable cutter area. it is big/wide to my standard, but it is short and controllable more than the bigger brother. I like it, still enjoying the sharpness out of the box, once i bored, i will start to cut cables to see how it perform.

Overall, i like it very much. what came to my mind :
- do i need a pouch? it so light and almost disappears in my pocket. i don't want to loose it.
- thickness of the Farmer model, i may get aloxicated soon.
- customize it with just small sheepfoot blade, + phillip screw driver on spartan lite model?
- add serration to the bigger knife.

i will test it several day, hopefully it works great on my normal application. fyi, I just win alox executive of ebay. alox virus spreading faster than i tought.

Jumat, 08 November 2013

Simple Edc : Revisiting Buck Odyssey

We have been being together for 7 years.  Your ats-34 plain blade has cut so many cables, your CF scales has survive a lot of scratches, your serrated blade have cut so many ropes, event still sharp for cutting my nails. With a single hand flick, you are there to help me. Nice to know that i still have a tool i can depend on. Thank you !

Simple edc : Why Victorinox (Alox) ?

because :
- it last "forever"
- well known factor
- value for money
- with alox scales, it is "indestructible"

welcome, my new Victorinox Alox Electrician
if you survive 10 years of testing, i will pass you to my son.

Rabu, 09 Oktober 2013

Simple Camera : DP2M, the underdog camera

I have been using dp2m for half year. It really under appreciated by a lot of person as it looks like a big pocket camera, but small if compared to any dslr. people don't care if i'm taking picture with it. that's really what i like about being underdog.
Under the hood, it has apsc size foveon sensor, which perform miraculously in good light. see the example below. a 100% crop can give you hints what the sensor capable of.
Bottom line, it really is freaking awesome camera ! some say, a digital medium format (in term of resolution) camera in small package.

Simple Edc : Victorinox Minichamp mod

Finally, i add serrated edge on the main blade and grind the cuticle pusher to be a pick tool.. it works on my daily activity, for peeling solid rtv, pulling a cable/rope, prying, etc. i think i need to grind it smaller to be able to navigate the pick tool in limited area.

Senin, 23 September 2013

Simple Phone : Wifi Issue with Photon Q

I can connect to my home wifi network, but i can't connect to my office network.
My office use EAP-LEAP, and EAP-PEAP with MsChapV2. My old Nokia E7 can connect to the Leap one easily, but my Photon Q can't. the only reason i buy Photon q is to replace E7, too bad it couldn't.

The problem lies on ICS (android). a lot of issue in internet that ICS can't save the wifi configuration entered. ICS save the config in this file : wpa_supplicant.conf
Why it can't be saved, i don't have idea. How about if i edit the file it self, will it work? i did this crazy idea and.. it works !

I did test 3 way to edit wpa_supplicant.conf. all require root access:
1. use adb, pull the file, edit it in your laptop, push it back ==> it reset file user/group owner. need to change back using chown command, or else can't be accessed by wifi system.
2. copy file to sdcard, put sdcard to computer, edit, put card back, copy file to original location, still need chown command as no1
3. using file explorer (i use ES file explorer), edit the file directly on it's location. works best, no chown needed

Where is the file ? go to /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf

What to edit?
bassically i don't want to mess with setting other than what the phone originally set. i just changed the value which is not saved automatically, and saved it manually.

How to do it?
1. i use native wifi setting, create profile as needed to match the one to use in my office. save it
2. turn wifi off
3. go to es file explorer, view the file. you will see that some value is not saved as before.
4. edit it, changed back to what it should be.
5. turn wifi on
6. check if that profile connects to the network.

I did 2 times :
1. use native wifi setting, it has some extra parameter (i assume, phone spesific to photon q), but somehow it still can't connect.



2. i use wifi connection manager app, create the same profile. save. edit with es explorer as above, it has less parameter compare to native wifi, but somehow it works.


and the next one is to run proxydroid to bypass proxy in the office.
yummy !!

Kamis, 12 September 2013

Simple EDC : Leatherman ES4 Serrated blade

Finally found Leatherman ES4 with torx screw.
directly ground the blade to be "V" shaped blade and add serration to it.


Next maybe try to find junk E4 and grab the tiny flathead screwdriver and 3D screwdriver or the awl on P4. Ruller + nailfile in S4 looks good in place of the current file.

as an electrician i found that the file can only be use in this case :
- you found rusted part (screw/plate) that need to be filed to make better connection.
- no other else

a pick-tool, if possible to be add, is a great tool, useful when soldering, etc.
so many thing i want to add, a lot of idea, but hard to be implemented.

Sabtu, 10 Agustus 2013

Simple Edc : Vic Minichamp Mod ?

i was thinking to add full serration to the emergency blade (so it become fully serated blade, kind of saw blade), and cut the cuticle pusher become a big flat head driver (or prying tool, or picker tool?)
but, are these good ideas ?

Simple Edc : Squirt PS4 Mod ?

Just finished adding V-grind and serration on the small knife of PS4.
It looks good, and works better

next will be adding Squirt S4 ruller (and nailfile) + squirt E4 3D Phillip head in place of PS4 file.

but the question then : should i do this mod in Squirt ES4 or in PS4 ?

well, basically i have both, PS4 and ES4 with torx assembly screws. this opens up a lot idea for modification. still thinking..thinking..

Simple Edc : Piranha vs Pocketwrench ?

After few months carrying and comparing both, i finally choose Pocketwrench as my wrench edc and let Piranha go.

Reason behind this decision were:
- my Piranha is metric one, with some limited wrench size, Pocketwrench can do more
- the open end of Piranha flexs with heavy use removing tight screw, Pocketwrench does not flex at all, thanks to the metal loop
- i never use bottle opener, but i do use (and like to bring) ruller
- i missed the double screwdriver bit in Piranha, but after adding a long double screwdriver bit (and rubber o-ring) in Pocketwrench, i never miss it at all
- prybar? rarely use it, yet Pocketwrench have it
- price? i can get two Pocketwrenches for a single Piranha
- size and thickness are the same
- Pocketwrench have better ergonomic when tightening screw, bigger screw = longer arm = more torque. On Piranha, this can vary depend on screw size.
- box ripper notch in Piranha was never mean to cut something. once i grind it sharp, then it work as it is. rarely use it as i always carry another pocket knife.

So, Bye-bye Piranha...

Selasa, 26 Februari 2013

Simple Photography : just pull the trigger..

I sell some of my old stuff :
- Lumix GH1 + 14mm f2.5
- Mamiya C330 + 80mm Blue Dot f2.8
- Fuji X100
got some money, and just pull a trigger on sigma dp2m of ebay. At $799, i couldn't resist anymore.
Hopefully this can last for a while, like my old RD1.

Senin, 14 Januari 2013

Simple Family : Where is our home?

Start to ask the question to my self

Minggu, 13 Januari 2013

Simple Madass : Combo-Brake & Dual Rear Caliper

just done, and result is impressive.
braking is safer & enjoyable event at panic condition.
tested at 75kmh and try to do panic brake, it works !


but need to change braking style a little bit, still don't know the effect of 2nd rear caliper (foot brake).
thing need to be upgraded :
- caliper bracket (DIY, 8mm aluminum plate)
- 2pcs Brembo Caliper !
- 2 new brake oil line
- brake line splitter (get it cheap from ebay)
- 3/4inch front master brake (KTC Front Master Big)
- bar end mirror, as the new master brake have different position for normal mirror.

next project ? i need to re-think of engine swap.
maybe Jupiter MX 135cc with upgraded 200cc engine block?