Any recs on a BIFL key chain? Those rings always get bent over time, looking for something sturdy. Might just be a flaw in the design because if you can bend it enough to get a key on, you can probably bend it out of shape over time.
I’m kind of amazed that your keychains get bent. How long do you use them for? How often are you adding or removing keys?
How long do you use them for?
Some period of time that’s less than a lifetime, anyway. I wouldn’t say I add stuff super frequently but I do sometimes add stuff like security tokens to it, often work related.
Are you taking your keys off and on frequently? Maybe get something meant to come of like these.
Nice I was just about to suggest something like your first link. Since the metal doesn’t bend they last a long time. Just find one that won’t rust 🙂
Is that a Kunio-kun? 🙂
I’ve never had this happen. Thank you for explaining and sharing. Maybe I’ve never been responsible enough to need that many keys.
I use those and they have lasted me 5 years without issues, you just have to bend them to the side instead of out/in.
If you want anything more durable it would have to be nitinol for the superelasticity and memory effect, but as far as I know you would need to buy some thick nitinol wire and program the shape yourself, and that requires some specialised equipment
edit: spelling
you should ask it on c/edc
Idk about secondary key chain rings, but I use a chain link with a screw thread as my main ring. Have been for 20 years or so.
This is what I use also. I made a little Paracord fob for it to jazz it up.
I have it separated with a few rings so I can remove just my car key or house key.
I find the ones at the locksmith are heavier-duty than others (and have that nice little jog in the wire where the ends overlap so it’s a flat ring unlike the cheaper ones)
Would using a small carabiner as a key chain meet your needs? They can be quite stylish and are sturdy by design.
I was thinking about that, but a lot of them seem to take the form of a ring (or multiple rings) attached to a carabiner, which still leaves the rings as a weak leak. I imagine you could slide keys directly on the carabiner if it’s not too thick but I wonder if that would have flexibility issues and possibly not be 100% secure.
Hmm, that’s a good point. It would have to be a relatively thin carabiner…
While searching for pictures I also found an interesting variant keychain called a “keycase” (picture attached). It doesn’t use any rings. Perhaps that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for?
A little late for a reply, but I use stainless steel 16-14 gauge rings made for chainmail and use pliers to bend them open and closed. The Ring Lord is where I get my material for projects, and then I just use the rings for keychain stuff too.
Do a search for “key holder multitool.” It gets rid of the whole concept of a “ring.”
Downsides
- You need to drill keys to get them on it.
- Taking keys off it, removing keys, rearranging keys, is a pain.
- Some models are not friendly to people with arthritis or other hand issues
Upside:
- lasts forever.
- You can grab any alen wrench multitool and use the body of it so you don’t even need to buy anything. Typically this method can accommodate a dozen keys. Make sure you use the washers between the alen wrenches between the keys
- Attach a carbineer and it hooks to your belt without you ever sounding like a janitor
- Gives you a firm grip on any key in a lock.
Do you have an example of what you’re talking about? Searching for that seems to bring up a variety of types of things.
There are a lot of variations on the theme. I tried posting a picture of my home made one but I’m getting a 403 error. Here is what mine looks like.
I’ve been using this pretty happily for at least a decade. https://www.exotac.com/collections/key-accessories/products/freekey-system
I use A&P key rings. I’ve broken one, probably due to a manufacturing error.
My current 2 are running strong for 3 years and I’ve switched keys many times. They are bendy, but that’s because they’re steel wires.
I have a Lucky Line 71101 keyring that I got 5+ years ago. It flexes to unlock, which makes it very easy to add or remove things to it. Despite it being easy to unlock, it has never come undone without me intentionally doing so. And it still looks and acts the way it did when it was new.
I have used a this snap clip key ring all my life to hold my keys. This one comes with a chain but you can just get rid of that.
https://keyring.com/heavy-duty-medium-snap-clip-key-ring-nickel-plated-with-chain/
I use an S-Biner keychain. https://a.co/d/7nuHlqm
Let’s you take you’re yubikey or thumb drive off your keychain eff effectively infinitely without it wearing out.
I use one of these to attach my yubikey to my keyring.
