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.

  • cybervseas@lemmy.worldEnglish
    13·
    5 months ago

    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?

    • 413j0@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      2·
      5 months ago

      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

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      4 months ago

      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.

  • usualsuspect191@lemmy.caEnglish
    5·
    5 months ago

    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)

  • Nominel@kbin.run
    3·
    5 months ago

    Would using a small carabiner as a key chain meet your needs? They can be quite stylish and are sturdy by design.

    • johannesvanderwhales@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      5 months ago

      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.

      • Nominel@kbin.run
        2·
        5 months ago

        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?

  • PineRune@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    21 days ago

    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.

  • FauxPseudo @lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    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.
  • TreeGhostEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    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.