Minimalist EDC

That is all.

(Well maybe a pen or pencil somewhere...)

Altoids Tin Pencil Case

A quick search on the interwebs shows that there are dozens of potential uses for an empty Altoids tin, mostly for survival kits or as a case for small electronics projects; but not a pencil case.  So, having sprayed mine with some leftover gold paint I assembled a few stationery items I just happened to have to hand...

Many just use the tins as they bought them, but I prefer to paint mine.

A couple of pencils, a Cult Pens pocket ballpoint, Muji sharpener and eraser, a couple of pins and paper clips and we're good to go.

The pictures of the Dumbbell Nebula and the Pleiades were pasted in to stop the contents from rattling too much.

Caran d'Ache Pencil Holder

One of my presents for Christmas 2012 (!) was a Caran d'Ache pencil holder, which I have used on and off since.  It has held up pretty well in my work bag, and usually holds a stub of a Staedtler Tradition HB.  As you can see it is finished in a smart glossy red finish.

Although the quality is very good, the holder is a bit large for the Tradition so I need to put a piece of tape around the stub end of the pencil so it stays firmly held on to the holder.

Layout

Just for info, I have decided to use one of the basic Blogger templates after a few complaints about the green scheme I used before.  So until I get around to using a better template (erm...) this should hopefully be a bit easier on the eyes.  Good job I didn't go for orange, then.

Tombow meets Muji in London

Just back from a couple of days out in London, where there were a couple of things I found which would interest readers of this blog.  At the British Library, in the gift shop I found a couple of pots of Tombow Mono 100 pencils - fortunately they only had 2H, so I was able to pass.  They were there among a range of goodies connected to the comic art exhibition currently taking place.

Later I popped into the Muji store on Tottenham Court Road and picked up a pocket pencil sharpener and a white eraser for a grand total of GBP2.00.  I have had a quick play with them and they seem to work well, The sharpener is very small indeed and looks good for going in a pocket or bag.

So it seemed appropriate to photograph the new purchases with my Tombow pencils.  I really ought to take up sketching again - I haven't done much drawing since I was at school.  At the time comics were a major influence and I wanted to be the next Brian Bolland (though I modelled my drawing style on Mike McMahon's).  But that was years ago...

Please forgive the awful mobile phone picture.  I hope to post more frequently now that I have had to update my technology, including a newish mobile phone.

EDC Redux

One of my favourite blogs, The Well Appointed Desk,  posted a link some time ago to an EDC (Every Day Carry) video featuring one of the Mythbusters, Adam Savage.  I know him from that series, which I flit past as I try to find something worth watching amidst the "documentary" (sic) channels on my satellite television.

I may not be impressed much by his efforts to drive elderly cars off cliffs in the name of scientific research, but I can't knock his impeccable EDC, which is elegant in its simplicity.  Wallet, keys, phone, and a few other bits and bobs, and that's it.  It's made me re-examine my own EDC to try to sharpen it up a bit.

I posted about my own EDC a while ago, here.  I still own and use the Maxpedition EDC pouch but these days it holds a first aid kit in my work bag.  For a while I used it as a pen case, but now I have a Maxpedition 6x4 Notebook Cover for that.

My own EDC is now similar to Adam Savage's.  I carry a keychain which holds a miniature flashlight and a combination bottle opener/screwdriver, as well as keys.  I also carry a wallet for bank notes and credit/debit cards.  Living in a country whose currency requires most to hold small denominations in the form of coins rather than paper money, I have also made a small drawstring bag for loose change which goes in my pocket or in my work bag.

Of course, I almost always carry a pen and notebook.  Even if I do not have my fountain pens to hand, I usually have a pen on me - as I do not like ballpoint pens, I carry a Pilot G2 0.7mm gel pen, and write in a Muji Passport pocket notebook.  They are half the price of the Moleskine equivalent and hold up well in the harsh environment of the average back pocket.

The other EDC items I have are a Swiss Army Knife (Sportsman model), a Kent pocket comb, a Maglite Solitaire flashlight and a smartphone - at present a Samsung Galaxy SII, though I intend to replace it shortly.  The Sportsman is modified slightly - I sharpened the main blade with a water stone, and I have added a Victorinox small screwdriver, the sort that lives inside the corkscrew tool.  Although dim compared to contemporary CREE LED flashlights, the Maglite Solitaire is a handy little light which does not drain the battery when not in use: unlike the Nitecore D11 I bought as my main torch.

Spambot Supernova

I have just deleted a bunch of spam which has infected the comments, so reluctantly I have changed the comments options to remove the option of posting anonymously.  Sorry about this, but I have better things to do than delete spam from the blog.

That is all.