CHECK OUT MY NEW DESIGN HERE!!!

Thanks to Obertech for the excellent original design and Grycz_Design for cool new light and more ergonomic handle!

This is my take on the original. As I was testing and tweaking my tool-free blade holder design, I recently stumbled upon the new handle style and have combined them all. Several of the guys at work (home builder) are using these knives and like them, they are quite functional considering they are made of plastic with the exception of some hardware and a blade.

I will list the primary changes and new features below.

Blade Holder:

• Tool-free blade changes
• Shorter than original to provide better function
• new "keeper" at the heel of the blade provides better blade retention and can be printed without support (the point of this part does need support however)
• Heel shape has been changed for smoother blade closure along with the extended "keeper" to provide safer use
• RCT was added (Rivait Custom Tools)
• Thumb tab added for one-hand opening
• Lefty version added as I am left handed and found the original knife to perform better for right hand use

Handles:

1. Original handles were modified by adding a texture which I created in fusion. These can be printed with colour changes at various layers to create a cool effect. Printed best in PLA at 0.12mm layer height.
2. New organic style body which I have named "skeleton" on the STL files. Button cap screw pockets were adjusted in diameter and depth to provide a tighter fit and landed the 16mm screws just about flush to the outside of the nut on the opposite side. Two of the hex hole depths were also adjusted.

Handle Ring/Spring:

1. "Skeleton" version can be printed without support and provides a cleaner look when using the skeleton style handle. This change didn't reduce the function of the spring as there is very little contact on the side when using the skeleton handle.
2. Original design was modified to fit the new blade holder design. Use this for the texture style handle and print with support. This version provides better clearance but doesn't look as clean in the skeleton handle as it is printed on supports rather than the build plate.

Lock Lever:

• removed the 0.5mm built in printed spacer on both sides (to be replaced with m3x0.5mm washers during assembly)
• modified for new blade holder

What you will need:

• 2 - m3 x 1mm (preferably 8mm diameter) nylon washers [blade holder spacers]
• 2 - m3 x 0.5mm steel washers [lock lever spacers]
• 4 - m3 x 16mm button cap screws
• 4 - m3 nuts

Printing Instructions:

Blade holder, lock lever and handle ring/spring:

• PETG at 0.2mm layers, 3 walls, 0.4mm nozzle
• 100% fill (don't waste your time with less)
• 0.6mm wide T+B and inner wall to speed up print (looks cool too IMO)
• blade holder needs support on the pointed tip only
• standard handle ring/spring requires support, skeleton style does not

*Pay attention to the orientation of the parts when using the left or right handed blade holder (you can mirror them in any slicer). When using the skeleton design, you want the parts on the build plate to face the same side.

Texture Handles:

• PLA at 0.12mm layers, 3 walls, 0.4mm nozzle
• 100% fill (just do it)
• print infill at 0.24mm x 0.6mm to speed up print

Skeleton Handles:

• currently using same settings/material above (it works well)
• try ironing top layer on matte PLAs

I will likely continue adding to this post if there is some interest. I am currently printing on a stock Ender 3 V3 KE. I can share the g-code if anyone likes (including programmed filament changes for the texture handles). Let me know what you think of my version and always open to recommendations.

Eric
RCT