Monday 25 April 2011

C.R.K.T. Zilla Tool Jr.

Scroll down for English version in yellow. Thanks.

Iz radionice ID Works Columbia River Knives and Tools dolazi nam još jedan multitool srednje klase. Dizajneri Tom Stokes dizajner i mašinski inženjer sa Univerziteta u Virdžiniji sa preko 20 godina iskustva i Launce Barber posvećeni kreativac su odgovorni za kreiranje i patentiranje ovog alata.


CRKT Zilla Tool Jr. se odlikuje sa svega nekoliko alata i odličnim dizajnom. Dimenzije I glavne karakteristike ovog multitoola su:

  1. Ukupna dužina otvorenog alata                  190mm
  2. Dužina zatvorenog alata                              133mm
  3. Težina                                                            108g
  4. Dužina sečiva                                                57mm
  5. Materijal                                                         2CR13
  6. Površinska obrada HRC                              51-53

Alat dolazi u lepoj futroli od balističkog platna sa čičak trakom koja se može nositi vertikalno, takođe na sebi poseduje pocket clip šnalu koja je odlična za nošenje u džepu pantalona ili torbici. Šnala je postavljena na jednom mestu i ne može se premestiti a kada je upotrebite alat će stojati sa glavom klešta na dole. Rukohvat na Zilla Tool Jr. je od zytel plastike koja možda nije previše otmena i skupocena, ali ovom alatu daje upravo ono što je potrebno, dobar hvat i malu težinu.

Prvi alat su naravno kombinovana klešta, koja imaju oprugu. Glava klešta viri iz alata, i sam alat nije sklopiv na bilo koji način, ručka klešta lepo prati zadati oblik alata. Klešta se upotrebljavaju tako što se povuče malo dugmence na telu pri čemu se ručka otključa i uz vrlo lep zvuk otvori. Kombinovana klešta su špic oblika, imaju ravan nazubljeni deo na svom vrhu, zatim je tu zaobljeni nazubljeni deo za hvatanje navrtki i zavrtnjeva, a na samom kraju su sečice za žicu i zarez za blankiranje.


Na drugoj strani je oštrica noža, koji se takođe može otvoriti jednom rukom povlačenjem flippera na vrhu rukohvata kada je nož sklopljen. Oštrica je osigurana liner lock sistemom. Sama oštrica je spear point oblika, brušena tehnikom hollow grind i delom nazubljena. U radu se ovaj oblik oštrice pokazao zahvalno, ali nije namenjen težim zadatcima zbog izuzetno male debljine pri vrhu koja se može pokazati kao slabost pri većim opterećenjima. Nož je naoštren fabrički da brije.


Sa iste strane gde se nalazi oštrica imamo i otvor za prihvat bitova sa magnetnim dnom. Bitovi su skriveni u zytel dršci sa svake strane po jedan u svojim držačima. Zilla Tool Jr. poseduje po jedan bit standardni ravni i philips. Zbog veličine samog alata CRKT je morao da pribegne nestandardnim dimenzijama bitova, pa tako oni ne mogu biti zamenjeni standardnim 1/4inch bitovima.


Sveukupno nakon nekoliko nedelja korištenja ovog multitoola, i nekih srednje teških zadataka koje sam postavio pred njega, Zilla Tool Jr. se pokazao kao vrlo ozbiljan takmičar u svojoj klasi. Sa lakoćom sam završavao neke kućne poslove sa njim, većinom vezane za električne uređaje. Veoma lepo leži u ruci i intuitivno se koristi za svaki posao. Oštrica se pokazala vrlo sposobnom, iako i dalje postoji bojazan od oštećenja zbog njene debljine. Sveukupno ovo je veoma zadovoljavajući alat za sve kućne i lake do srednje teške poslove, kao i kamp, lov, ribolov i uopšte sve outdoors aktivnosti na kojima bi mogao zatrebati multitool.


From the Columbia River Knife and Tools ID Works workshop comes another middle range multitool. Designers Tom Stokes a mechanical engineer from the University of Virginia with over 20 years of experience together with dedicated creative guy Launce Barber are the ones responsible for creating and patenting of the Zilla Tool Jr.


CRKT Zilla Tool Jr. characteristics are few tools and excellent design. Dimensions and main characteristics of this multitool are:

1. Overall length                                 190mm
2. Closed tool lenght                         133mm
3. Weight                                            108g
4. Blade length                                   57mm
5. Material                                          2CR13
6. Surface treatment:                         HRC 51-53

The tool comes in a nice nylon pouch with velcro enclosure which can be worn vertically, also on itself Zilla Jr. has a pocket clip that is great for pocket carry or bag. Pocket clip is set in one place and can not be moved, and when used it’s a plier down position. The body of Zilla Jr. is made of zytel plastic, though it’s not too refined and precious, but zytel provides to tool exactly what you need, good grip and light weight.


The first tool is pliers which are spring assisted. Pliers head sticks out of the tool, and they are not folding in any way. Plier handle follows the form of the tool nicely. Deployment of pliers is somewhat neat, by pulling a small button on tool body you deploy pliers with pleasant snap sound. They are needle nose pliers with flat portion at the end, followed by rounded part for nuts and bolts, and wire cutters and strippers at the end.





On the other side of the tool is knife blade, which can also be opened with one hand pulling flipper on top of the handle when the knife is closed. The blade is secured by liner lock system. Blade itself is a spear point shape, hollow grinded and partially serrated. The blade shape proved up to many tasks, but it is not intended for heavier tasks while beeing so thin at the point, which can prove to be a weakness at heavier duties. The knife is razor sharp out of the box.


On the same side with the blade there is magnetic bit holder. Bits are hidden in the Zytel handle on each side in their holders. Zilla Tool Jr. has two bits standard flat and philips. Due to the size of the tools CRKT had to resort to non-standard dimensions of bits, so they can be replaced by standard 1/4inch bits.




Overall, after several weeks of using this multitool, and some medium and moderate tasks they have encountered, Zilla Tool Jr. proved to be a serious competitor in its class. I ended up with ease to some home jobs mostly related to electrical appliances, and Zilla Tool Jr. finished them easy. It feels very nice in hand, and it is intuitive to work with. Blade proved to be very capable, although there is still a risk of damage due to its thickness. Overall CRKT Zilla Tool Jr. is a very convenient tool for all home and light to moderately heavy work, as well as camping, hunting, fishing and outdoors.

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