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Ergo Kiwi Is the Perfect Knife for Hip Designers and Awesome Makers
Xacto knives. Pfllllt. They walked in and thought they were the go-to tool for precision crafting. Ok, I admit, they pretty much have been, whether it’s for a small art project or a huge building design, they seduce us with their oh-so-sharp blades. But holding the knife for so long can literally cramp yo’ style. Strain caused on the fingers and wrists means you have to take breaks (breaks?!), making the project take longer (longer?!), not to mention all the near-miss finger flaying (FLAYING?!). Well, this is where the Ergo Kiwi comes in.
Created by Sean Riley the Ergo Kiwi is a craft knife ergonomically designed to reduce stress and strain as well as encourage prolonged productivity.
Riley got the idea for the Ergo Kiwi after using standard pen knives that caused cramps in his fingers after using them for hours. What makes this knife different is pretty obvious–the ergonomic shape of the handle. Riley claims it eliminates hyperextension in the first joint of your index finger. The curved shaped also allows you to hold the knife in any position that feels most natural. With a more comfortable fit, you should then be able to work for longer periods of time.
Another drawback on standard Xacto knives is blade replacement, which can lead to injury if you’re not careful. The Ergo Kiwi team has considered this, providing a solution with a magnet embedded in the handle. This allows you to both pick up blades from any surface–No more tiny cuts on your fingers–and store the knife on any magnetic surface like fridge doors, car doors or re-bar sculptures of cats.
Sounds great so far, but what about making sure the knife doesn’t get stuck in your working materials? The Ergo Kiwi has that covered also. Along with the magnet there’s a latch built into the handle which allows prefabricated holes in blades to lock them into the place. This means blades won’t get stuck in thicket materials. It also makes blade replacement easier since you don’t have to tighten the blade in place and risk it coming loose. Glorious.
The Ergo Kiwi comes in four different finishes: injection molded white plastic, plywood, Padauk wood, and Bocote wood–I’m considering one of each. To ensure the consistency, longevity and strength of the wooden handles, they were first CNC milled, followed by a hand polish. The tool was successfully funded through Kickstarter and can be bought through Indiegogo with the most basic model starting off at $25.
Whatcha think? Worth it?
Images: Imgur
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Source: http://www.solidsmack.com/design/ergo-kiwi-is-the-perfect-knife-for-hip-designers-and-awesome-makers/
