Design The Ultimate Credit Card Multitool

[jyl]

We’ve all seen ads for credit card size multi tools like these:

https://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_store.html?ttl=Credit%20Card%20Size%20Tools&b=card&

Have you used one and found it lacking, or thought you’d like one if it were only useful?

Have ideas for the ultimate credit card multi tool?

Let’s hear, and better yet see, your ideas. Maybe we can come up with a design that actually is the ultimate. Hell, if our design is good enough, maybe we can even do a group make/buy.

RULES:
1. The design has to be the exactly the same size as a credit card and at most the thickness of 3 credit cards.
2. The design has to be one or more solid pieces. No hinges, electronics, or gimmicks. The only “complication” allowed is that if the design is two or more pieces, it can have a slip case or something to hold it together in a credit card shape.
3. The design has to be capable of fabrication at a low cost. No space-grown sheets of nano diamond laminated under solar core pressures or any of that BS.

Your call on what functions to have in the multi tool. It can be for camping, fix-it-ing, close quarters battle, whatever. But frivolous <> ultimate. Is it something you’d actually pay money for and carry every day?

[RWebb]

it should be made out of Ti by PB Swiss

no idea what tools on it

[jyl]

The tool selection is tricky. It would be nice to have some hex wrenches, a flathead screwdriver, half of a Phillips screwdriver, a wire stripper notch, a can opener, a bottle opener, a box cutter, a serrated blade, a file.

But the cards I see with tools like that don’t look very usable - the tools aren’t well positioned.

If we make it in two or more pieces, then the tools could be more accessible. Maybe the pieces are held to an adhesive foil backer to have the credit card shape. It could be a disposable sort of thing - use once to defuse the bomb, then replace it.

[RWebb]

metric hex - yes

[herr_oberst]

The thing about a credit card multi-tool is that there is so much wasted space. Here's one I have and let's compare it to the Leatherman Micra. The Micra is 1000 times more useful in a smaller size. Plus, the quality can't be beat. Leathermans were made to beat on... (I do wish those were pliers, though, not scissors)

And in a delightful bit of irony, the credit card tool doesn't fit the credit card slot in my wallet!

[jyl]

Yeah, the middle of the card is wasted space.

That is why i’m thinking the card can actually be two or three separate pieces, and fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to make a rectangular shape.

Suppose it’s three pieces. The first could have 5 mm and 6 mm hex, small flathead and small Phillips, and the middle part could be a serrated blade and a file. The second could have 8 mm and 10 mm, large flathead and large Phillips, and the middle part could be a bottle opener and can opener. The third could have 12 mm and box cutter, with wire stripper notch and not sure what else in the middle part.

All three could fit in a credit card sized sleeve. Or maybe the mating edges could be tongue and groove.

Three credit cards stacked are about 2 mm thick, if steel that should be strong enough to be a usable tool. The little tools that come in a vintage MAFAC bike toolkit are about that thickness and they work fine.

[drcoastline]

Credit card tools always seemed useless to me, but if there is going to be one that has any real uses it will be the group here that does it.

Some great brain power on this board. Have at it guys, I will watch.

[jyl]

Maybe something like this. This is the size of a credit card, assumed 2 mm thick steel. There are four tools, A - D. Maybe they come on an adhesive backing that you peel off when you need to separate and use the tools. This is an emergency tool, gets used once, you don’t worry about how to fit it back neatly in the wallet.

Tool A is 4mm, 5mm, small flathead, small Phillips, file blade, saw blade.

Tool B is 6mm, 7mm, large flathead, large Phillips, serrated blade, and a leverage slot.

Tool C is 8mm, 9mm, chisel, and leverage notch.

Tool D is 10mm, 12mm, straight blade, and leverage slot.

Tool C can be inserted in Tool D’s slot to extend the handle on Tool D, which might be needed for those larger nuts. Tool C can be inserted through Tool B’s slot to form a T handle allowing you to press the driver blades into the screws and apply more torque. Tool C doesn’t have any blades on the sides, so it can be used this way.

Thoughts? Other/different tools? Any way to fit in a can opener? I decided a bottle opener is dumb, in an emergency you can always open a bottle. But if you’re in the desert with a can of pineapple juice, a can opener will be lifesaving.

This can’t be a commercial product, because you have to use your head or you’ll cut your fingers off while wrenching. Product liability lawyers will sue you out of business. But something like this could possibly be laser cut from good steel as a group make/buy for a small number of people who all sign waivers. I’d be inclined to let people grind and sharpen the edges themselves. Idea being if you can’t do that, then you may not be handy enough for this tool to do you any good. Also to reduce liability and cost.

[ckelly78z]

I think the most used tool (besides the knife) would be a detachable Phillips head screwdriver with a folding "T" handle. I don't think this would be TSA approved, but would be detectable with their scanner.

[LWJ]

I am a big advocate for scissors. Not sure why, but I use them on my Swiss Army knife often.

Must have: scissors, blade, std & Phillips screw drivers. Like to have - pliers. Make me consider owning one? Bottle opener. Luxury addition: Tweezers.

Never use file/ saw/ ruler/ can opener.

[jyl]

It would be cool to have metric allen wrenches too. I wonder if some flat “bits” sized to fit between two opposing corners of the Allen bolt head would work?