matek Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 (edited) This project started with me wanting an "ultimate choker gripper"; basically a hybrid between Standard adjustables and the CPW/Aaron Corcorran style choker grippers. Although the huge washer solution works really well on the adjustables, the biggest downside is that choking at the spring is suboptimal compared to choking at the end of the handles. So I thought, why not design a gripper based on Standards (my favorite gripper line). I learned about torsion springs, including how to measure things and materials, and made the specification. I found a local company that makes springs for machines, old toys, etc., and they could make the spring I wanted. The handle was more problematic. Not even because of the tapping but because of the knurling. I wanted the handles to be stainless steel with nice knurling like on Standards or GHPs. Thankfully, @Cannon gave me some really useful pointers (thanks again, Matt), so I made the design and ordered the handle from the company I usually buy steel for bending. I wanted at least six levels, ended up with seven including Flush. The levels are laser engraved into the spring. I didn't want to cut the spring, so this seemed like the best solution. Getting the hardware for the choker mechanism wasn't a big deal. I've MMSd some of the easier Levels, and well, it is one hard gripper that's for sure. Even those easier settings are far from beginner level. Btw I don't plan to make this again, it's a nice one-of-a-kind gripper. Only one thing remains: sending the gripper to CPW for rating! Some general stats: Spread: Flush - 70.5mm, Level 6 - 83mm Spring: 8.0mm diameter (slightly thicker than a Tungsten), oil-tempered steel Handle: ~19.4mm diameter (same as Standard because of the aggressive knurling), 304 stainless steel Weight: 521g/1.15lb (for comparison, my CoC #3.5 is 261g/0.58lb) Choker: M6 stainless 304 Some pictures: First one is at Flush Second is Level 1 Third and fourth are showing the choker at Level 3 Fifth pic: the whole "kit" @EmilBB this is the project I was talking about Edited May 13, 2023 by matek 23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Knowlton Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 That thing is sick way cool gripper 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared P Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Wow, that thing is beautiful. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Knowlton Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Great buld 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Arnold Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Wow is all I can come up with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Arnold Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 And you make it sound easy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilBB Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 That looks so amazing man, such a great idea. I'm curious what CPW is gonna rate those different levels, with that huge spring at 83mm spread it must be up there. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane.warrior Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 You did a great job! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matek Posted May 13, 2023 Author Share Posted May 13, 2023 Thanks everyone, I'm really happy with the final product! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stranger Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Wow! That's pretty awesome! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qaroh Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Oh man, you did an amazing job 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liftyzig Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Awesome!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matek Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 Update: today I finally shipped the adjustable stainless gripper to CPW for rating. There are many silly reasons why I didn't do it yet, but in the past few months I was waiting for the Nickels. Then after the release, it took me almost two months to score a Nickel with a rating that makes sense for me. Anyways, the gripper will be rated at Flush, Level 1, Level 3, and Level 5. Ratings of other levels will be interpolated/extrapolated. I'll post the results as I get the gripper back. Probably about a month from now. I also made a few changes to the choker mechanism. The main thing is that I swapped the stainless bolt to a hardened Grade 8.8 bolt. Just to be sure that it can take the choking using the wrench. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Knowlton Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 It's like a work of art. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandsMcHanderson Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 This thing combines all the best features and looks beautiful at the same time. Awesome. Curious to see the rating specs as the spring looks stout. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matek Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 On 2/10/2024 at 1:54 AM, John Knowlton said: It's like a work of art. 23 hours ago, HandsMcHanderson said: This thing combines all the best features and looks beautiful at the same time. Awesome. Curious to see the rating specs as the spring looks stout. Thanks guys. Yes I expect it to be close to 200 at flush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maidenfan Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Very nice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matek Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 (edited) Aand here are the ratings: Spring bottomed out in the handles = 199 (70.5mm spread) Level 1 = 181 Level 2 = 168 Level 3 = 156 Level 4 = 145 Level 5 = 135 Level 6 = 126 (83mm spread) So it covers a really wide range! About 10lb increments (except when the spring is bottomed out). Huge thanks to @Cannon/CPW for the excellent customer service and for going through the trouble of rating all the levels. I'm grateful. + I made some changes to the choker mechanism to make it safer setting to the desired spread with a wrench: 1. Changed the stainless bolt to a Grade 10.9 bolt to make sure the threads are durable enough (earlier I said 8.8, but actually it's a 10.9 bolt). 2. I put a hardened steel washer before the long nut. Although unlikely, even if the joint fails and the ball pops in, the gripper still can't open suddenly because the outer diameter of the washer is larger than the inner diameter of the joint. Edited March 4 by matek 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martincerven Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 38 minutes ago, matek said: Aand here are the ratings: Nice! Will you make Matek Monster Certification? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Knowlton Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Way cool , you have created something really special 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matek Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 3 hours ago, John Knowlton said: Way cool , you have created something really special Thanks John! I'm very satisfied with the gripper (although I would do a few things differently if I did it again) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Valcarcel Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 9 hours ago, matek said: Thanks John! I'm very satisfied with the gripper (although I would do a few things differently if I did it again) This is great looking and you have access to a very broad range. What would you do differently? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matek Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 1 minute ago, A.J. Valcarcel said: This is great looking and you have access to a very broad range. What would you do differently? Thanks! 1. There is some discoloration at the top of the handles from the cutting process. It is possible to cut stainless without discoloration of course, but I didn't ask for this specifically. This is my only true regret. 2. The handles don't really have beveled ends. It's just chamfered a little so it doesn't cut my hand. I really don't like when the handles are beveled a lot because the gripper slides back more easily during the set (+ harder to judge if the handles were truly closed). That being said, something like second-gen Standards would have been more comfortable. But this can be corrected easily. 3. I could have put another level below Level 1, and made the "bottomed-out" level a true flush. But honestly, this is not a big deal. And unfortunately not even relevant to me at this point haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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