Beiträge von Traveller

  • Photon Fanatic's Block Party - "hosted" by MokuTi

    Conclusion
    Functional art is what Photonfanatic is all about; from the design principles, to the precision engineering and the desire to produce the very best that he can. This is what got my attention in the first place and this has only been reaffirmed now that I've had the pleasure to use and enjoy Photonfanatic's latest masterpiece, the Mokuti Block Party!


    :1st:







    Precision-engineering, inside and out...






    A MokuTi...


    ...Chameleon...


    ...in shades of blues, gold, purples and greens




    Typical forms of illumination patterns*, from throw to flood, hotspot, halo(s) and spill, "dirty" and clean (Block Party at bottom-right)


    *All shots exposed at hotspot, for pattern-comparison purposes. the above is not intended to compare output power and all lights shot at lowest power-modes.

  • Photon Fanatic's Block Party - "hosted" by MokuTi

    Intro
    ServasGrußDi aus :austria: Here is the Executive Summary version for my German-speaking friends :buds:


    This is the story of Photonfanatic and his love of exotic materials…


    :zauber:


    Fanatic about Photons
    Photonfanatic has been “playing with” things that go bright in the night for quite some time now and he is no stranger to base metals & alloys, having made numerous [flashlight] hosts from stainless, aluminum and Titanium too. He anodized the Titanium, splashed the aluminum, bead-blasted / polished and coated just about everything (using just about everything - PVD, DLC, …).



    (above photos c/o Photonfanatic)


    Photonfanatic decided to try his hand at various forms of damascus. There was Mokume Gane (bi / tri-color, using nickel / copper), then came a wave of Chad’s awesome stainless Damascus (nickel & SS). Once he was done with "plain" damascus, he gave mosaic damascus a try and created something so special that it’s making it’s way around the Country to get photographed :smoking:



    (above photos c/o Photonfanatic)



    Next step in the evolution
    I asked Photonfanatic about his thoughts on the various Welded Titanium alloys in use by the knife-making community. Little did I know that he already had organized to get a bar of Chad's MokuTi! For those of you who are less familiar with the material, Chad is taking a similar pattern-welded technique used for Damascus and applying it to Titanium. For Mokuti, Chad uses industry-standard 6AL4V Ti and layers it with "commercially pure" (CP) Ti.



    Click-the-pics for hi-res goodness.



    Mad Skillz
    Photonfanatic has a good eye for design and the skills to bring that design from his mind into reality. Amazingly, he uses very few machines compared to the average modern knifemaker.




    New horizons
    With every new material comes new adventures; When working with Mokuti, there are so many color variations you can achieve by changing a few variables, like solution, voltage and yes, even surface finish (matte, polished, ultra-polished...). After a few weeks of experimentation, Photonfanatic did manage to sort out what variables would produce certain color ranges but just as importantly, he learned that Mokuti is a beautiful, exotic and unpredictable creature. One can aim for a color-range, but that's as close as you will get with Mokuti...


    Base colors are blue and gold, "interference" colors are purple and green...



    Mad eSkillz
    Photonfanatic's hosts are some of the most creative and artistic in the customs-flashlight arena, but he doesn't make hosts, he makes state of the custom-world art flashlights. The Block Party may be stunning to look at, but it is a formidable powerhouse of a light too. First off, some specs:


    Host: Chad Nichols MokuTi - welded Titanium (Ti alloy & Commercially Pure Ti), Solution anodized
    Length: 120mm (4.7"), diameter: 25mm (1.0")
    Weight: 170g (6.0oz) - including 47g 18650
    Emitter: Cree XM-L (U2 bin) mounted on a 2mm thick MCPCB (Copper base)
    Driver: Three-mode regulated (140mA, 1A, 2.8A), memory mode
    Power Source: 18650 Rechargeable 3.7V battery (1)
    Reflector: 20mm Khatod, stippled (orange peel)
    Output: < 500 lumens (before glass)
    Operation: "Twisty"
    Other: O-ring seals for water resistance, 2mm-thick mineral glass, silicone gasket (instead of commonplace spring)



    While I am no expert in the area of LED flashlights, I'm familiar with the basic principles and will review them for those with a heavier background in knives. Every light has a specific design in mind; illumination of a broad area, of a target area, or a bit of both. This is controlled by several design aspects of a light; the LED type (Emitter), reflector shape, length and surface and the glass ("window"). These properties also affect total / perceived output, along with the driver (which supplies constant current to the emitter) and power source (battery).



    Photonfanatic used an XM-L emitter coupled to a relatively hi-current driver, capable of delivering up to 2.8A to the emitter and powered by a 3.7V Li-Ion. Photonfanatic's "Light Engine" (LE) can put out an estimated 500 Lumens. Photonfanatic selected a 3-mode driver (high@2.8A, medium@1A and low@140mA) for this build.



    Most modern handheld lights use a side-button or a tail "clicky" or in the simplest form, the modes are controlled by twisting the head ("twisty"). Simply twist the head clock-wise to turn it on, off/on within 1s "toggles" through the three modes. Once left on in any given mode for more than 2s, the driver will "remember" the mode the next time your turn on the light. There are no springs in use; instead, a silicon gasket assures that battery remains secured. Photonfanatic's tolerances don't allow for much play anyways... 8)





    The illumination pattern of a flashlight generally consists of the hotspot, halo and Spill. Photonfanatic chose to make this one a "Wall of light" by using a stippled reflector of a shallow(er) depth. This in turn produces less of a prominent spot and enhances the spill. Thanks to both Photonfanatic's build accuracy and chosen setup, the so-called halo is almost unnoticeable...




    Perfectionist
    So far so good. Or maybe not. Photonfanatic apparently was not impressed with the fit & finish of the driver, noting that there were visible electronic components on the battery-side as the designers wanted to shave off an additional pcb layer... Photonfanatic machined a piece of delrin to cover the exposed electronics. Furthermore, he decided the factory-installed spring was crap, so he replaced it with a brass button. So when I say this is a custom light, I do damn well mean custom in every possible way... :worship:


    before & after
    (above photos c/o Photonfanatic)



    Every rose has it's thorn
    The multi-mode driver used in this build uses a technology known as Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM). Unfortunately PWM has a few side effects when using the light in any mode other than high. The first is the fact that the light flickers at some (high) frequency. The second problem is that a PWM system can cause an audible "whine" (as recorded in this video). I cannot notice any flicker however I do hear the whine. The sound is barely noticeable in low but readily apparent in medium, assuming a quiet environment (like your basement, etc.)


    The only other possible area of concern is the heat output of an LED like the XM-L driven at 2.8A. When the light is on high, it will warm up in no time. After approx. 1min, the head will heat up to an uncomfortable level. This is normal for hi-powered handhelds and you will often see a warning sticker on the heads. Having foreseen the need to cool this emitter, Photonfanatic made the host longer then his usual 18650 hosts (120mm vs. 100mm) and housed the emitter and driver in a beefy Al heatsink. While it is hard to imagine a more attractive host, MokuTi or simply, titanium, is not the best material for head-dissipation... . In terms of real-world usage, Medium (@1A output and moderate heat emission) is the more useful mode, with high being only necessary in very rare circumstances (like showing the light off... :biggrin: ).




    to be continued...

  • VIS T MK IV

    Servus aus Wien!


    Leider, wars das mit meinem Hoch Deutsch, also mehr Bilder, weniger talk.


    Cheers :thumbup:


    Introducing Crusader Forge's latest, the VIS T Tactical MK IV

    click-the-pics for hi-res goodness



    Length: Overall 223mm (8.8") / Closed: 127mm (5.0")
    Weight: 303g (10.7oz)
    Blade Type:
    -Hollow ground, modded DP (43mm / 1.7" in height!)
    -Length: 94mm (3.7")
    -Material: 5mm (0.2") stock, CPM S30V/CF2 (CF2 = CF's triple temper heat treatment)
    -Finish: CF's "3D" coating (KG gun kote military spec. 2401-F)
    Frame: 5mm thick Ti frame-lock (total width, 15mm / 0.6")
    Pocket Clip: tip-up, Ti
    Action: frame lock / thumbstud
    Design aspects: over-sized everything.











    A few of my frame-locks for comparison




    click-the-pics for hi-res goodness

  • Lion Steel SR-1

    Zitat von Traveller

    ...I really want a second damascus SR-1 but with at least a different handle color ... I hope they do end up mixing up the colors a bit, if not more patterns...

    Don't believe it. but the day after I wrote the above post, I saw this...

    Not my color, but the point being, they already started to mix it up :thumbup:


    Zitat von Traveller

    I hate to split hairs but it's Nichols Iguana... one of my favorites...

    My bad :oops: I just saw that Lion Steel is using Lizard as well as Iguana & Raindrop... !

  • 135g SMF vs. 200g SnG.... (nur Bilder)

    Servus aus Wien :austria:


    Click-the-pics for hi-res goodness... enjoy! 8)



    Duane Dwyer goes XL for Blade '11
    Strider DDC XL


    Length: Overall 25.4cm (10.9") / Closed: 14.3cm (5.6")
    Weight: 200g (7.1oz)
    Blade Type: double-ground Tanto, coated
    Length: 11.0cm (4.3")
    Material: S30V stainless
    Frame: smooth Ti frame-lock / sculpted Carbon Fiber scale









    Strider Production brings out the Titanium for G3
    Strider's 135g SMF


    Length: Overall 23.0cm (9.1") / Closed: 13.0cm (5.1")
    Weight: 135g (4.8oz)
    Blade Type: hollow-ground modded DP (aka "Dagger Grind")
    Length: 10.0cm (3.9")
    Material: Titanium, flamed
    Frame: flamed Ti frame-lock / "concealed carry" G-10 scale








    And now together...





    tscheers :bounce:

  • Lion Steel SR-1

    Zitat von cptn64

    ...habe mittlerweile auch mein SR1 Damast Raindrops...

    Gratulieren :thumbup:


    Zitat von Xyored1965

    ..Mit dieser Kombination, also CNC-gefräster Titanium-Griff in silbergrau ... kombiniert mit einer klassischen Rosendamast-Klinge : Mit dem Gesammtbild komme ich absolut nicht klar ... Annehmbar wäre für meinen Geschmack so gerade noch eine Rosendamast-Klinge mit eloxirtem Ti-Griff in bräunlichem Farbton...


    Na gut... sure, no problem, everyone has their own taste! ;) I had the option between Iguana, which is a very modern pattern imho and Raindrop. I thought for sure I'd go with Iguana, which is one of my favorite patterns, but in the end, the Raindrop fit to the SR-1's handle better. Perhaps another pattern, as you said, might work even better, who knows? I'd certainly love to see Gianni pump out a few more variations :D


    Speaking of which, my problem is that I really want a second damascus SR-1 but with at least a different handle color. I saw a beautiful red Al handle which I think would actually look great wit the Iguana! I hope they do end up mixing up the colors a bit, if not more patterns...


    Zitat von S&RT

    ...Lizard Skin...

    I hate to split hairs but it's Nichols Iguana... one of my favorites, as seen below on my two Elishewitz customs 8)




    click-the-pics for hi-res goodness

  • Hogue Ex-01

    Hallo,


    ein super, super Messer! Ich habe der 3.5" aber ich glaube der 4" ist besser geeignet für mich.


    So much for my lousy attempt at German (lol). I love the knife, although I can't say that I have "long term use" with it. I wrote a nice "1st impressions" post on mine, to be found elsewhere... . But at least I can post a few pics here to help make up your mind... :D




  • Lion Steel SR-1

    Zitat von Traveller

    ... In any event I've asked Gianni Pauletta (of Lion Steel) and I will let you know if / when he answers my questions regarding the damascus types in use.

    Servus aus Wien / also, wie versprochen... :)


    Gianni informed me that they are using Chad Nichols' Stainless damascus :thumbup:


    p.s. Actual hardness is [still] unknown...



    Zitat von agentdan

    ...very nice pics of a lovely version of the SR-1...

    Danke danke :)

  • Lion Steel SR-1

    Zitat von Heine

    ...dafür ist dieses jetzt gekommen



    Zitat von Sharpix

    Ist das Chad Nichols (Lizard Skin) Damast?

    Hallo,


    es tut mir Leid aber Deutsch is nicht mein Fachgebiet also Ich erlaube mir auf Englisch weiter (mindestens bis ein Mod werft mich raus...) :S


    Anyways, I also wanted to compliment you on your fine acquisition, Heine! As per my PM, I am also the lucky owner of a Damascus SR-1 :)






    Mine is a "Raindrop" Damsacus and Heine has the "Iguana". Many Damsacus designers provide the Raindrop style (Devin Thomas, for example) but AFAIK the Iguana is strictly Chad Nichols. My guess is that we are talking stainless, too, as this damascus' rough texture is noticable to the touch. High-carbon damascus is usally covered with a protection layer, which also makes the texture smoother to the touch. If Lion Steel is working with Chad on the Iguana chances are they do most of their damascus business with him. In any event I've asked Gianni Pauletta (of Lion Steel) and I will let you know if / when he answers my questions regarding the damascus types in use.