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Billet Box Appreciation Thread

zadlives

Member For 2 Years
I just saw a conversation about citrus juices cracking pods, and of course I remember that being a thing everyone talked about a lot in the Vivi Nova days, but I hadn't thought about it in years. What are the boros for BBs made of, and is that a concern? I don't think I actually have any tank cracker juices at the moment but it did get me thinking about it.
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I just saw a conversation about citrus juices cracking pods, and of course I remember that being a thing everyone talked about a lot in the Vivi Nova days, but I hadn't thought about it in years. What are the boros for BBs made of, and is that a concern? I don't think I actually have any tank cracker juices at the moment but it did get me thinking about it.
The tanks are made of delrin and have a glass sliding face plate.
 

R3alJim Shady

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I just saw a conversation about citrus juices cracking pods, and of course I remember that being a thing everyone talked about a lot in the Vivi Nova days, but I hadn't thought about it in years. What are the boros for BBs made of, and is that a concern? I don't think I actually have any tank cracker juices at the moment but it did get me thinking about it.
Nah you're good. They're made of delrin or ultem. No worries

Sent from the Death Star
 

R3alJim Shady

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Finally got on with some mesh. YFTK Sat22 clone has nice build quality. Not sure I like it enough to hunt down the OG. I'll probably hunt down some 28g kanthal to get a bit of a cooler vape. All I have at atm is Ni80. 9 wraps coming out to about 1.3 ohms.

Flavor is really great, though. Smaller chamber of any atty I've ever had! That probably helps.
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3a6e5084b023f5b232885805c60033b4.jpg


Sent from the Death Star
 

TrollDragon

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
Finally got on with some mesh. YFTK Sat22 clone has nice build quality. Not sure I like it enough to hunt down the OG. I'll probably hunt down some 28g kanthal to get a bit of a cooler vape. All I have at atm is Ni80. 9 wraps coming out to about 1.3 ohms.

Flavor is really great, though. Smaller chamber of any atty I've ever had! That probably helps.
d2cb4adee37510d15996b6268e975e2b.jpg
3a6e5084b023f5b232885805c60033b4.jpg


Sent from the Death Star
One of my absolute favorites, only bested by the Origin Genesis V2.
OuoOycyh.jpg


Had to drill that top hole though.
UwSQAPCh.jpg
 

R3alJim Shady

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Wow that was incredibly well done! I liked how they incorporated echos of the prequels (even though they were over-produced and bloated story-wise) to get that emotional reaction.
My only question is this: why did Obi Wan have Luke's lightsaber from ROTJ? It didn't even exist until two movies later!

Sent from the Death Star
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
hmm figured by now I'd see pictures of @BrewBear with his Wicked Edge all set up, practicing on that Kershaw I gave ya ;)
They'll be coming up soon, brotha, just as soon as I get a bit of time. I've been busy at work and busy ordering more bits and bobs for the WE 130. I need to get a riser block and I just got the Tormek holder (for the small pocket knives). I finally got the 1500 grit stone and put the 6 micron diamond lapping film on the other side. Now I need to order the rest of the lapping films and handles/platens and then the strops. I have to pace myself, this stuff is a whole hell of a lot more expensive than any of my vaping gear ever was.
@~Don~, what is your opinion on the Alabama Damascus?
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
They'll be coming up soon, brotha, just as soon as I get a bit of time. I've been busy at work and busy ordering more bits and bobs for the WE 130. I need to get a riser block and I just got the Tormek holder (for the small pocket knives). I finally got the 1500 grit stone and put the 6 micron diamond lapping film on the other side. Now I need to order the rest of the lapping films and handles/platens and then the strops. I have to pace myself, this stuff is a whole hell of a lot more expensive than any of my vaping gear ever was.
@~Don~, what is your opinion on the Alabama Damascus?

Daaaaammmmnn!

You got the bug of mirrored edges

No idea what Alabama Damascus is, but I can tell you this with 100% certainty, true Damascus has yet to be replicated...there are some engineers along with a US forger/blade smiths close to replicating Damascus, but are probably years away still.

As for Damasteel pick one, it’s all about heat treat anyway...wrong HT even on the best steels render them worse off than the cheapest perfectly treated (well not always but you get the idea)

Back to mirrored edges- With my daily use knives I tend to not sharpen past using 600/800 grit...and just strop a shiny edge. If one can’t get hair popping sharp at 300-600 grit, nothing finer will help making it sharper...all about that initial apex/burr.

Can’t wait to see your set up once complete



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BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
there are some engineers along with a US forger/blade smiths close to replicating Damascus, but are probably years away still.
From what I've seen, there was one ferrier (passes away a year or so ago) who actually did make it, wootz damascus but a lot had to do with the ore he started with and it was a bit of a hit and miss. Very interesting process but I don't think I'll get into it, I have enough on my plate for now. I'll probably keep playing with mokume gane once I set up my kilns again.
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
From what I've seen, there was one ferrier (passes away a year or so ago) who actually did make it, wootz damascus but a lot had to do with the ore he started with and it was a bit of a hit and miss. Very interesting process but I don't think I'll get into it, I have enough on my plate for now. I'll probably keep playing with mokume gane once I set up my kilns again.

exactly, I think I saw a docu-series about the wootz, which lead me to saying 100% certain, for within that video they even said it wasn't 100% ;) but was dang close...

Was done with ore shipped in and done in like Kentucky or some place...had a dude on his computer telling the other guy and his apprentice temps to run hotter etc...was a really cool video to watch.

I watch a lot of forging videos/knife making videos... and if I lived in a house I'd probably over time get into knife making...but I don't think I'd ever do forging... probably do all steel stock/grinds/heat treats etc.
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
exactly, I think I saw a docu-series about the wootz, which lead me to saying 100% certain, for within that video they even said it wasn't 100% ;) but was dang close...

Was done with ore shipped in and done in like Kentucky or some place...had a dude on his computer telling the other guy and his apprentice temps to run hotter etc...was a really cool video to watch.

I watch a lot of forging videos/knife making videos... and if I lived in a house I'd probably over time get into knife making...but I don't think I'd ever do forging... probably do all steel stock/grinds/heat treats etc.
I live in a house but if I start another hobby I may have to kick the dog out and move in the dog house. My wife keeps reminding me I haven't made any jewelry in the last three years or so and I keep telling her I will as soon as my barn/toolshed/shop gets built- I still have to get the plans done and all that. I will very likely make some small jewelry stuff this summer since I'll be doing the Living History presentation in Solvang this September (we have been doing it for the last five years).
 

R3alJim Shady

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
The North Bridge by Signature Tips should be here today. It uses the Smok Nord coils. I have some 1.4 ohm ones that my wife is using in her Nord and the flavor is really great!
Got a fresh Boro waiting for it. Now I just need to decide what flavor to put in it!

P.S. troydestroy is releasing DryPlugs made to use with these coils. I'm definitely picking up an MTL one as the draw on these are pretty loose for my taste.

Sent from the Death Star
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
The North Bridge by Signature Tips should be here today. It uses the Smok Nord coils. I have some 1.4 ohm ones that my wife is using in her Nord and the flavor is really great!
Got a fresh Boro waiting for it. Now I just need to decide what flavor to put in it!

P.S. troydestroy is releasing DryPlugs made to use with these coils. I'm definitely picking up an MTL one as the draw on these are pretty loose for my taste.

Sent from the Death Star
Let us know if they're as good or better than the MF bridge. :popcorn:
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
The North Bridge by Signature Tips should be here today. It uses the Smok Nord coils. I have some 1.4 ohm ones that my wife is using in her Nord and the flavor is really great!
Got a fresh Boro waiting for it. Now I just need to decide what flavor to put in it!

P.S. troydestroy is releasing DryPlugs made to use with these coils. I'm definitely picking up an MTL one as the draw on these are pretty loose for my taste.

Sent from the Death Star
keep us updated...

saw these bridges a while back and was curious... ok I'm lying...who am I kidding, I wont ever go back to the BB...

but I truly am curious of the Nord coils and if they are just leaps and bounds better than the EUCs...the whole cost to flavor upgrade thing... EUC coils are dirt cheap...are the nord coils dirt cheap also?
 

R3alJim Shady

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
keep us updated...

saw these bridges a while back and was curious... ok I'm lying...who am I kidding, I wont ever go back to the BB...

but I truly am curious of the Nord coils and if they are just leaps and bounds better than the EUCs...the whole cost to flavor upgrade thing... EUC coils are dirt cheap...are the nord coils dirt cheap also?
I haven't been able to find the Nord coils for any less than $9.99 plus shipping (including China). More sites and shops carry them than the EUCs, but they're almost twice the price.

I will say though, I really like my wife's Nord. Might pick one up for myself.

Allegedly Friendly Flipper is supposed to be releasing an EUC bridge, but no word if it supports the Drizzle coils. One thing is for sure though, it's FF and made of titanium so you KNOW it will be expensive



Sent from the Death Star
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
I haven't been able to find the Nord coils for any less than $9.99 plus shipping (including China). More sites and shops carry them than the EUCs, but they're almost twice the price.

I will say though, I really like my wife's Nord. Might pick one up for myself.

Allegedly Friendly Flipper is supposed to be releasing an EUC bridge, but no word if it supports the Drizzle coils. One thing is for sure though, it's FF and made of titanium so you KNOW it will be expensive



Sent from the Death Star

Curious if they are paying MF a fee or what not or bought the rights to resell it... or manufacturing their own and sticking it to MF... probably slap some stupid dolphin on it and make 2 separate bridges, one for EUC and one for EUC drizzles, cause you know, more money that way if they sell 2 separate bridges...

Will be fun to see, and fuck with Matthew Freedman over it... be like, #fuckclones etc. when he posts that shit LOL
 

R3alJim Shady

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Curious if they are paying MF a fee or what not or bought the rights to resell it... or manufacturing their own and sticking it to MF... probably slap some stupid dolphin on it and make 2 separate bridges, one for EUC and one for EUC drizzles, cause you know, more money that way if they sell 2 separate bridges...

Will be fun to see, and fuck with Matthew Freedman over it... be like, #fuckclones etc. when he posts that shit LOL
I think this was an independently developed bridge. I can't say for sure why but I imagine they won't be offering the MF Bridge anymore

Edit: as far as that Freedman guy goes, he's been a cocky asshole from the first time I dealt with him. He messaged me when I was looking for a used RPG.

Him: how much are you looking to spend?
Me: about $200
Him: that's way too low. it's not hard to get RRP for these.
Me: if I wanted to pay full price I'd get a new one. I'll pass then.
Him: Good luck

A week and a half later I had a brand new one in hand for the same price he wanted minus shipping from Germany.

TL;DR Fuck that guy.


Sent from the Death Star
 
Last edited:

ben73

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
So what difference with
the MF bridges and using EUC coils
Or using the coil adapter that comes with the vapresso EUC coils and The A boro tank + adapter.
Do they do the same thing or is MF bridge offering different airflow adapters on it ?
If both allow fitting of EUC coils,
Asking as im finding it difficult to acquire one but do have EUC coils up and running using the adapters


Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk
 

R3alJim Shady

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
So what difference with
the MF bridges and using EUC coils
Or using the coil adapter that comes with the vapresso EUC coils and The A boro tank + adapter.
Do they do the same thing or is MF bridge offering different airflow adapters on it ?
If both allow fitting of EUC coils,
Asking as im finding it difficult to acquire one but do have EUC coils up and running using the adapters


Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk
So the A-Tank with the EUC adapter works great with the 0.5 standard coils. With the MF Bridge and the same coil heads you get more juice capacity And it works with the standard Boro.

If you get the MF Bridge Full Kit, you're able to use both the 0.5 ohm standard coils and the Drizzle MTL coils with the included adapters that further restrict the airflow.

Sent from the Death Star
 

R3alJim Shady

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
North Bridge first impressions:
Nice engraving, great tolerances
Hols the coil where it's supposed to be

Nord 1.4 ohm coil first impressions:
Great flavor right off the bat with about 5 primer drops.
Not as airy as I thought it would be. Think Nautilus coil.

I'll report back on longevity, leak status, etc.

Sent from the Death Star
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
trying to get used to this new juice... got some one shots of Red Pill in thx to a parlay from @robfisher and Trevor... mixed up a 15ml tester of the stuff at their recommended dilution... might have to back it down some, like in the 15% range or lower lol

That mint is like up in your face... upside... my sinuses have not been this clear in A LONG TIME

Rob, any way to get the mix done without the Candied TFA mint, and just with TFA mint? Leaves that odd after taste for me with Candied Mint ;)
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
You reprofiling that knife? or did you do the marker and glide over to match the angles? Cause that looks awfully close to 12* per side there
I did the marker thing and it was at 12* closer to 13*per side and uneven but it is a El Cheapo brand so I set it at 16* per side now. I was going to do a 20* but it was a bit more grinding than I wanted to do today. I have the WE 3 on a nice slab of alder for now. As soon as I get some time I'll make a proper base and a few holders for the stones. I have an idea of what to do but I need to finish the things I started in the house first.
 

robfisher

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
trying to get used to this new juice... got some one shots of Red Pill in thx to a parlay from @robfisher and Trevor... mixed up a 15ml tester of the stuff at their recommended dilution... might have to back it down some, like in the 15% range or lower lol

That mint is like up in your face... upside... my sinuses have not been this clear in A LONG TIME

Rob, any way to get the mix done without the Candied TFA mint, and just with TFA mint? Leaves that odd after taste for me with Candied Mint ;)

@Don I don’t make the juice... I just vape it... it’s not TFA Mint... it’s a local secret concentrate... there are two renditions of the juiced... Red Pill and there is XXX.
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
ok, the MSDS mentioned TFA Mint Candy *Shrug* ;)

Either way, its a decent juice...just for me the candied after taste kills it from being .840+ OPS to a .730- OPS
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
@~Don~, you are an evil, evil man! After watching this (
) and the second part to it, not only do I want a Sebenza, I feel I need one! I'd be happy with a plain jane Inkosi but a Sebenza would be great! I gotta save, save, save and attend the Garden Grove show at the end of October :headbang:
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
@~Don~, you are an evil, evil man! After watching this (
) and the second part to it, not only do I want a Sebenza, I feel I need one! I'd be happy with a plain jane Inkosi but a Sebenza would be great! I gotta save, save, save and attend the Garden Grove show at the end of October :headbang:

Sebenza's are nice... own one...

Reason I like the Inkosi more, its less prone to user error when it comes to cleaning and servicing. With the biggest mistake people make is pinching the washers... which will cause the knife to go out of spec...and the only way to fix that is sending it in and waiting up to 8 weeks for it to be returned.

Also, whatever shows CRK goes to, they bring for sale, limited run knives and sell them at table prices... these runs of knives are not available any other way. Most of the limited run knives they have made recently sold for $800-900 a pop... with the most recent being the Damasus Inkosi Tommy Gun inlays... $800... and already doubled in price for the secondary...

My Sebenza is a black micarta inlay, same as my inkosi.

Tim Reeve has a few videos of the break down and maintenance of CRKs...

My next CRK is either going to be a PJ Inkosi or an Impinda... leaning towards the Inkosi

To get the Sebenza juices flowing LOL

upload_2019-5-11_15-6-10.png

Classic Sebenza

upload_2019-5-11_15-6-52.png

Tommy Gun Inkosi with Special Tanto Grind

upload_2019-5-11_15-7-46.png

upload_2019-5-11_15-8-28.png

Sebenza

lol
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Small Sebenza and an Impinda

The Small Seb is exactly the same as mine.

upload_2019-5-11_15-12-28.png

Here is another shot of that Tommy Gun Inkosi

upload_2019-5-11_15-13-58.png

Umnumzaan USN limited Edition

Tommy Gun Inkosi (Real Tommy gun , gun stock used as inlays

2003 Annual Sebenza ( they no longer make annuals)

1st Run Inkosi with CF inlays

Nice size comparison here

upload_2019-5-11_15-18-52.png

Left to right

Small Star-Benza from Wilson Combat... Impinda... Large Sebenza, Large Inkosi, Umnumzaan
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Sebenza's are nice... own one...

Reason I like the Inkosi more, its less prone to user error when it comes to cleaning and servicing. With the biggest mistake people make is pinching the washers... which will cause the knife to go out of spec...and the only way to fix that is sending it in and waiting up to 8 weeks for it to be returned.

Also, whatever shows CRK goes to, they bring for sale, limited run knives and sell them at table prices... these runs of knives are not available any other way. Most of the limited run knives they have made recently sold for $800-900 a pop... with the most recent being the Damasus Inkosi Tommy Gun inlays... $800... and already doubled in price for the secondary...

My Sebenza is a black micarta inlay, same as my inkosi.

Tim Reeve has a few videos of the break down and maintenance of CRKs...

My next CRK is either going to be a PJ Inkosi or an Impinda... leaning towards the Inkosi

To get the Sebenza juices flowing LOL

View attachment 137984

Classic Sebenza

View attachment 137985

Tommy Gun Inkosi with Special Tanto Grind

View attachment 137986

View attachment 137987

Sebenza

lol
WOW!!!! Very, very nice!
I'm leaning towards the PJ Inkosi for now too.....I looked at the blade forum but I'll wait a bit longer and see. All the stuff there was in a different, alien language for me.
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
WOW!!!! Very, very nice!
I'm leaning towards the PJ Inkosi for now too.....I looked at the blade forum but I'll wait a bit longer and see. All the stuff there was in a different, alien language for me.

You wanting a large or small PJ?

Larges are nice...but they are a tad on the pig end in the pocket, where a small is more than adequate for 95% of EDC tasks.

Small Inkosi's are a skosh smaller than small Sebenza's


Either way, On FB, CRK has 2 fan based sale pages... a lot of great deals for second hand knives.

Like a small PJ Inkosi in really good shape for $285 ($375 retail)

Large PJ Seb/Inkosi's going for $325

I log in, check out the exchange and BST pages, looking for that right deal on a PJ...looking for that $265ish range one lol

Also... If you're really wanting a Sebenza and decide on a small... I'll sell you mine for what I paid $325...regularly $475... its the one I sent back to have double thumb studs put on ($25) since Sebenza's only come with a single stud... Insingo blade though, not Drop Point... I find for my use the Insingo blade shape to be the most useful...



f0a2f617a7ef4d6009744d7272dfd84c.jpg
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Also... If you're really wanting a Sebenza and decide on a small... I'll sell you mine for what I paid $325...regularly $475... its the one I sent back to have double thumb studs put on ($25) since Sebenza's only come with a single stud... Insingo blade though, not Drop Point... I find for my use the Insingo blade shape to be the most useful...
Now you are playing really, really dirty!



But hang on to it for a little while longer if you can. The price is more than fair but I'think I'll start with a Inkosi in your price range too. I really like the flipper Kershaws and if CRK made one I'd go for it!
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Now you are playing really, really dirty!



But hang on to it for a little while longer if you can. The price is more than fair but I'think I'll start with a Inkosi in your price range too. I really like the flipper Kershaws and if CRK made one I'd go for it!

Oh I'd only sell it to you if you were interested, otherwise its staying put ;)

Can get a small PJ Inkosi BNIB from DLT trading for $364 (Register then do their stupid share stuff for $11 off )

Only down fall is they come with the Blue anodized thumb studs which will fade, rather than the Silver lugs.

I will tell you this though... Inkosi's although imo are better...are harder to thumb open than the Sebenza's, and I can picture the small Inkosi being a tad more troublesome in that regard; due to the tiny thumb cut out...but it really comes second nature once you have one... CRK's do not open like a Spyderco.

If you're wanting a top notch flipper...Shiro's
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
upload_2019-5-11_18-20-35.png

$395 is the upper end for me... would be sold if it were closer to $325 lol... my benchmark is my Large Inkosi Micarta was $395
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
If you're wanting a top notch flipper...Shiro's
Some of those things cost more than my car.....and I actually need my car every day!
I'm not a big fan of the thumb stud system, and as far as the blue wearing off, I can always send it in for a replacement.....but if I go thru all that trouble I might as well get the Sebenza for a few dollars more. I'm gonna wait and save for now, I still have a few things I need to buy for the WE setup.
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
They have the small Sebenza 21 for $375 also.....

Yup, PJ Smalls are the same price.

Wilson combat Small Sebenza’s are a nice change of look.

On CRKs site you can do custom graphics...price ranges from $75-200 extra.

KnifeArt’s Carbon Fiber scale smalls a tad more but nice looking.

I really like the Wilson Combat Large Inkosi...but they are smoking ***** with their premium price

Best value bnib large knife is the Unmanzaans at $450

fb52bb74434b6bb8963f18ef66ece89e.jpg

ec19d2dafb7dfc6875bf44a4cde13bd9.jpg


Some weathered CRKs

Trying to find some more photos on FB


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

BrewBear

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Yup, PJ Smalls are the same price.

Wilson combat Small Sebenza’s are a nice change of look.

On CRKs site you can do custom graphics...price ranges from $75-200 extra.

KnifeArt’s Carbon Fiber scale smalls a tad more but nice looking.

I really like the Wilson Combat Large Inkosi...but they are smoking ****** with their premium price

Best value bnib large knife is the Unmanzaans at $450

fb52bb74434b6bb8963f18ef66ece89e.jpg

ec19d2dafb7dfc6875bf44a4cde13bd9.jpg


Some weathered CRKs

Trying to find some more photos on FB


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
YOU"RE NOT HELPIIIING!!!!!
 

~Don~

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
YOU"RE NOT HELPIIIING!!!!!

I really love the look of long user PJs, most of those especially that Zaan is nearly 9 years

I’m probably going to grab a PJ small Inkosi soon.

Once you get the small seb I’ll send you the Inkosi to whip about for a while.

I truly believe the Inkosi is the superior knife

Now to pay $364 for a new one, or save up to $80 on a used one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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