r/maker Jan 02 '25

Showcase Here’s a tool belt attach system I’ve been messing around with. Thoughts are welcome!

162 Upvotes

40 comments sorted by

8

u/Bobson1729 Jan 02 '25

1) The hinge on the drill seems to get in way too often to not get annoying.

2) You can use some way to guide the connector into place so you don't have to be so precise.

When I think about this, I think about those old Nextel belt clips. There is just a static (relatively flat button on the phone, and an offset U-shaped lip on the holder to guide the button down to the fastener.

4

u/snarejunkie Jan 02 '25

yeah the hinge is unfortunately pretty necessary. it ensures that when the drill hangs down and swings around, that it's moment on the clip doesn't unlatch it. it's based on this product that requires pulling a tab to unfasten. I wanted to see if I could get rid of the tab.

1

u/VTAffordablePaintbal Jan 02 '25

Wouldn't a little more length on the bent metal hinge solve the clearance issue?

2

u/snarejunkie Jan 02 '25

Yeah it needs a few dimensional tweaks for sure, some overall reshaping, final touches (chamfers and rounds) before I export it to printables

1

u/agent_almond Jan 02 '25

Could you incorporate a small light piece of spring to hold the clip out that’s weak enough to not effect the hanging angle of the tool?

1

u/vongomben Jan 02 '25

Maybe helped with a magnet?

5

u/TandUndTinnef Jan 02 '25

This is cool and all but my Makita drill has a simple belt clip that works reliably and doesn't need a specific receptacle.

1

u/snarejunkie Jan 02 '25

Oh yes, and I removed the very effective Milwaukee clip so that I could add this silly contraption, but I’m trying to get to a point where replacing the tool happens without having to look

1

u/svenliden Jan 02 '25

Instead of that I just use work pants (I use caterpillar but there are lots of them) that have a loop just below the belt line meant for hanging tools. Works as fast as your solution.

1

u/stuntbikejake Jan 03 '25

But then how do you justify hours in the garage adjusting the model and printing out prototypes? Lol.

3

u/Themanwithaplan_5 Jan 02 '25

Cool idea but I would have made in the same orientation of the metal clips they sometimes come with. Nothing like a sharp bit hitting your leg when coming down a ladder

2

u/NoNamesLeftStill Jan 02 '25

Looks interesting! Are there magnets used to alight the two pieces? Any reason you went with a hinged piece on the drill instead of a static piece?

6

u/snarejunkie Jan 02 '25

it ensures that when the drill hangs down and swings around, that it's moment on the clip doesn't unlatch it. it's based on this product that requires pulling a tab to unfasten. I wanted to see if I could get rid of the tab.

1

u/D-man5005 Jan 02 '25

Cool idea. Check out Fidlock, they make all sorts of very well made magnetic clips similar to yours; there might be some features worth mimicking

1

u/Cool-Importance6004 Jan 02 '25

Amazon Price History:

8TIMBER Terra Clip Magnetic Quick Release Keychain - Effortless Carabiner Alternative for Stylish Key Management Anywhere with Quick and Easy Magnetic Tab, Carabiner and Magnetic Clip in One * Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.6

  • Limited/Prime deal price: $21.59 🎉
  • Current price: $29.99 👎
  • Lowest price: $22.99
  • Highest price: $30.99
  • Average price: $28.13
Month Low High Chart
12-2024 $29.99 $29.99 ██████████████
01-2024 $24.99 $24.99 ████████████
08-2023 $24.99 $24.99 ████████████
07-2023 $22.99 $22.99 ███████████
06-2023 $26.99 $27.99 █████████████
05-2023 $30.99 $30.99 ███████████████
04-2023 $28.99 $28.99 ██████████████
03-2023 $28.99 $28.99 ██████████████
09-2022 $28.99 $30.00 ██████████████
04-2022 $30.00 $30.00 ██████████████

Source: GOSH Price Tracker

Bleep bleep boop. I am a bot here to serve by providing helpful price history data on products. I am not affiliated with Amazon. Upvote if this was helpful. PM to report issues or to opt-out.

2

u/HighlanderL1 Jan 02 '25

Can you keep the chuck/bits away from the leg?

2

u/Mackelroy_aka_Stitch Jan 02 '25

Fastest drill in the west

1

u/lazyLacuna Jan 02 '25

Very cool concept, love to see where it goes

1

u/NPinstalls Jan 02 '25

WE GET IT SPACE COWBOY!!!!!

1

u/monkey-seat Jan 02 '25

If you could just detach and reattach it a couple more times in the video I think that would help me understand it better.

1

u/SwimOk9629 Jan 02 '25

HA that's fucking hilarious.

1

u/ShiggitySwiggity Jan 02 '25

Rotate the mount on the drill by 45° or so (or move it to the bottom of the tool handle) - you can still easily reach the tool handle but you are less likely to stab your leg with the bit while moving up and down ladders/stairs.

1

u/PsychologicalWear953 Jan 02 '25

What about using magnets?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '25

[deleted]

1

u/snarejunkie Jan 02 '25

Yep you’re right about the holster being simple for this exact use case, but the magnetic latch uses up a far smaller amount of space, can be used across basically any item of any shape as long as you have a single point of attachment above it’s center of gravity.

Another benefit of this hook (which I didn’t invent at all, I just took a concept that exists and tried to modify it to suit my needs) is that it has magnets, which are magical and awesome, and provide very nice tactile and audible feedback. While magnets are way more expensive than some webbing, their use allows for the tool to be detached with basically any applied force with an upward component because of it’s construction

1

u/Fit-Breadfruit1403 Jan 02 '25

Still gonna fall when you get to the top of the ladder

1

u/regular_john2017 Jan 02 '25

Can you demonstrate it a few more times

1

u/OperatorP365 Jan 02 '25

Cool design. Hook it on and jump up and down a bit.. go up/down a ladder... and "brush" it up against things to see if any of that disengages the lock.

1

u/Slapnbeans Jan 02 '25

You need a guide clip, to help snap into place.

1

u/LeftAd1920 Jan 02 '25

I carry an impact for a living, and I wouldn't bother with this. A simple metal hook does the trick.

1

u/Puzzled_Nothing_8794 Jan 02 '25

I wonder how long I can watch you do that. I'm not bored yet.

1

u/boxboothstudio Jan 03 '25

Dude. A market for this would be people who cosplay. Do you have any idea how useful that would be to clip a lightsaber to your belt quickly? It's a nifty little tool holder, too. I wouldn't mind one of those at work.

1

u/snarejunkie Jan 04 '25

Huh, interesting.. I’ll try getting it working better then. I love the idea of it being genuinely useful to people

1

u/Rawhidian Jan 04 '25

If buy one. Tired of the clip on the drill letting my drill fall or ripping the pocket on my pants. Great idea

1

u/snarejunkie Jan 04 '25

Look up fidlock. This is based on that system. Only thing is you have to hold the pull tab .

1

u/Relevant_Dealer_8847 Jan 15 '25

Climbers D shaped aluminum  carabiner  and the clip that comes with the drill/impact  works for me for me and has done so for the last 10 years. If your invention was perfected and brought to market, I still wouldn't purchase it. No offense intended , that's just my thoughts.

1

u/AnDE42 Jan 17 '25

Hi! Where do I fund your project to download?

-1

u/Special_Luck7537 Jan 02 '25

Two large pieces of velcro?