locks...

They really suck. I think I've said that before. :-)

Anyway, one of the reasons locks suck, is because of the short cuts they take to make them. What kind of short cuts?

Well, I measured several pins tonight. Key Pins (the pins in the key way), and driver pins (the pins in front of the springs), that actually cause it to need the key.

The driver pins were roughly 3 different sizes. My calipers do 3 decimal places, in inches mode. It has a 4rd spot for a 5. The 5 is either there or not, meaning about .0005 of an inch.

The driver pins I was working with tonight measured between 0.181 and 0.182 inches. The spooled driver pin from the same lock measured slightly larger.

I'll try again in MM and see what those numbers look like but not tonight.

Read Rework

Listening to the Exotic Liability the other week, a book was mentioned. Book called Rework. One of the casters (I know who, but not going to name drop here) said he requires his staff to read the book. Since I look up to the guy, hey we all have our info-sec heroes and he's one of mine, I got the book.

It's a business book written by the guys at 37Signals. It was actually a very fast read, and I was familiar with the concepts already. I didn't agree with everything in the book, but I agreed with the majority of it.

It contains concepts of why hiring Rockstars just to hire them is a bad idea. Why meetings suck the life out of your team. Don't chase the large customer, do what you think is right. Run it like you want to be the best you can be. The biggest thing I like in it was the Decisions and Quick Wins.

I have project coming up. I've been thinking that it's going to be a pain, and felt overwhelmed a few times. I'm going to set up the new web site for the Martial Arts School I teach at. Updating it to run on Drupal and the like. The book showed me I can do sections of it at a time, and go from there. Thinking up a finished product and pushing to that keeps you from being agile enough to change. Things won't be as good.

But if I start small, and go from there. Get the basic site up first, and then add things as needed, it'll be better. It'll give me time to move on feedback better. Which will make the site better.

So instead of installing drupal, getting blogs and forums set up, and user accounts, locked video section and all the different pages. I'm going to start with the basic drupal website. Add a few pages to it. And then add things as needed going forward.

Seriously the book is worth the read. It shows how you can be a lean mean company, hobby, or employee and ADD value instead of just being a Cog.

Prototype

I can't get the pictures to load, so you'll have to click on the links.

If you follow my twitter stream, you saw these as I was putting it together. For those that have followed me for a while, you know I have no problem saying I have too much debt and some day I'd like to buy this, that or something else.

One of the things on the list, was a suspension trainer. Be it rings, AOS Bandit Loops, or (what I really wanted) a TRX system.

A couple of weeks ago thefightgeek from the pound online tweeted about a cheap $10.00 version (video on "the pound online"). Which caught my eye. I was impressed and through, i could do that, and it'll be good enough. I replied to his tweet saying as much.

Which lead him to tweeting this page to me. I was really blown away. I liked the option in the second video. Where the guy got the longer one, and then cut it down and used the left over for the foot holds instead of rope.

I was on a mission. But there was one thing I didn't like. The knots. I didn't think the ones in the foot loops would feel good, so I decided to sew them. The bowline is a nice knot, but I prefer the figure 8 knot I use on my harness for rock climbing.

However... being me. I decided if I was going to sew part of it, I'd do all of it.

I got 2 packs of lashing straps, 1 inch by 13 feet from Mejier, a locking carabiner out of my climbing gear (not used), some pvc, and some tape (picture here) They work out ok. The do need to be re-enforced though. I found that out after trying them, the factory stitching was pulling away.

So I decided, based on the factory part, to make 3 inch tabs. This is the taped 1 1/4 inch pvc and the tab. This is the handles pinned together, waiting for the needle.

Then I realized I needed more information first. 1 strap, marked up with everything. Handle points, tab, where it joins the strap.

I didn't take any pictures while I was sewing... I was on the phone, and couldn't take any pictures.

The next night, I moved from the lap desk in the bedroom to the desk in the spare room.

YES IT WAS ALL BY HAND!

Oh no... the strap was binding after I made the first one... Cut off the tape, still binding, get the dremel, and fix it.

One done, and ready. The white specks are beeswax from the thread.

My parrot, Captain Errol Blood (but we just call him Captain) checking on my work. No he was not impressed.

I was asked after I finished, and was showing them off, how I could know to trust my skill. The short answer is I don't, but each set of stitches (minus the re-enforce) look like this (from handle 2).

Now, time to pin the foot loops in place.

The foot loop, got the same treatment as the handle, as you can see from the first completed one here. A close up of the handy work.

I have yet to get a picture of them hanging, or of me using them yet. I'll post a video when ready. So far I've only played around. Inverted rows, elevated push ups, push ups to knees in (foot straps), and very little else.

I've noticed I don't really need the top strap with my pull up bar, since the carabiner goes over the bar quite well.

Things I've learned:
I hate sewing... No kidding, I don't sew enough, show it takes a while to get back in the swing of it.

Make sure the straps aren't twisted before you start. I have one that is, but it's not noticeable.

The next 3, will be done on a sewing machine. I just have to find one to use first.

Yes I said 3. I'll be giving 1 away, one to the lady I'm seeing. Although she wants her's to be pink with hearts and stars on it, 1 to Sarah Rippel and 1 to a guy at martial arts. I had offered to make one for Jen B, but she already has something. :)

Originally when I said I was starting this, Sarah took note, and wanted to see how it worked out. She said she was tempted to try and make her own based on my work. I offered to make one for her. I just want to put mine through a few more paces first.