Compact Keychain
- March 5th, 2007
- Posted in My Projects
- By Carlitos
- Write comment
Update: I have done an improved version: the compact keychain 2.0.
This is a nice keychain I’ve been using for more than a year now. Since it broke, I had to rebuild it so I took this chance to share it with the rest or the world.
Materials
- 3 washers (number of keys + 1)
- Some keys (I use only two keys)
- A pop rivet (requires a river gun)
Construction
- Fasten the keys together using the rivet and put washers between them.
- Admire your creation.
That’s it. It works well with my two keys, and it is very compact and quiet.
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Hey that is a cool idea! I would do it but if my keys aren’t a little bulky I would loose em. Hell, I still cant find em half the time.
This would be great until the need to remove or add a key. Great idea though.
My apartment complex does this for their spare sets of keys, only they also attach a large piece of plastic with what looks like an iButton, presumably for tracking.
Am I correct in thinking this is a pop rivet?
Yeah.. cool idea, !BUT! You just posted clear (copyable) photos of your keys onto the internet right next to a resume that has your address on it… that was a very poor idea. Keys are easy to copy. I’d change your locks…
Wow, thank you for the feedback guys.
1. Don’t worry, those are not my current keys. So even if you do a set of keys from my pictures, you still wont be able to get into my house with them (my Bogota rake would be required for that
).
2. I know a screw would allow much more flexibility, but I did not have any that worked OK with what I wanted to achieve so I went with pop rivet.
i always black out the cuts in the keys when i post key pics…
This is a great idea. It does leave you in a pinch when you have to separate the keys at an auto repair shop so they can tinker with your car but during which time you need the keys to get into your house. One work-around, while admittedly not as cool looking is to use Chicago Screws instead. http://lifehacker.com/345223/replace-bulky-document-binders-with-chicago-screws
The concept is great! I might suggest using a screw/post setup instead of the rivet setup. Go to McMaster-Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com), and type in “screw post” in the search field. There are even tamper-resistant versions.
Really neat idea - unfortunately some keys are a little bulkier on top. Otherwise I’d be making a trip to the hardware store now.
Would this require a rivet gun?
Cool idea, but as mentioned wouldn’t work with car keys that have moulded plastic on the end or entry fobs. Any ideas on alternative fasteners, since screw posts were suggested?
Do you have any suggestions for how the hell to pare down to just two keys??
I am a janitor and carry 245 keys at all times. I think I am going to need a bigger rivet…
this is soooooo cool!!!
man I jumped when I saw the picture XD seriously…
Greatings from Peru
Renzo
I’m very glad you like it Dexter.
Great idea, but not really suitable for me as I have far too many keys to rivet!
Thanks for publishing this though, it’s something I may do for my wife.
Nice Key chain article. It is looking very good. Really I like it. This one is the popular web site of key chain http://www.discountmugs.com/nc/category/keychains/
Riveting! Outstanding!
as for having too many keys, use a string or wire, maybe even a small ball chain to loop through one or two keys at the end of one rivet set and through the ends of a different set. this provides a categorizing mechanism based on the number of rivet keychains you use as well as expands the capacity.
disregard, string maybe but no way a ball chain would fit now that i take a second look.
This is a great idea but I could see myself losing something small like that very easily. I’m a person who has a lot of stuff on my keychain.(currently 3 16GB thumb drives
I would use something like this for a hide a key for the front and back doors of my house. Maybe stick it under a rock or something.
Creative idea, I stumbled this.
Umm just remember that putting your thumb drives on your keys is a stupid idea. it destroys the lifespan of them.
Great Idea!
@Lou Fancy
Thank you.
Thank you all for your kind comments. The readers’ response on this little hack is overwhelming. I am very happy you like it so much.
Cheers and thank you for your visit.
Hy
Your idea is brilliant, but I have a question:
-as far as I know pop rivets, after you clamped it, it ha a little ball on the other side what we can see on the picture. I’m just curious, what did you do on the other side of the keys.
- because we can see, the keys are laying on the table, and we see the rivet’s holed side, and nowhere the ball between your keys and the table. Thank You:)
@Csaba
The rivets I used did not leave a very big ball on one end so I simply flattened it on a vise grip (and a hammer if I recall well).
thanks a lot
Great, simple solution. One of many solutions for this problem. I like it and may even use it if the right situation warrants it.
But, for all you people to criticize and tear apart such a simple idea is maddening. Accept the solution for what it is and move on.
This is a cool idea. it’s not going to work for everyone obviously, but it is what it is. haters = wasters.
@Tony
Thanks for the kind words
I’m in your house typing this comment.
@joey
Excellent, help yourself!
Hey kid, stick to a job for a while. If you keep bouncing around like that you will never be taken seriously. Rule of thumb, less than 6 months never goes on a resume. Under a year is questionable too.
Compact solution. Perfect!
@Anonymous
You assume that someone can copy precision keys from a picture on the internet? Keys rely on thousandths of an inch precision, without a reference point or at least one known cut on the key, he is completely safe.