Why ULTEM is The Most Popular Material in Everyday Carry in 2023 | Gear Drops Ep. 6

Welcome back to another episode of the Gear Drops Series - Ultem Edition! What the heck is an Ultem anyway, and why has it taken the everyday carry community by storm in 2023? Jade G10 has come and gone, to be replaced with a stronger, lighter, more brilliant thermoplastic that is coming to a fidget toy or knife scale near you.
Timestamps are below if you see gear you wanna check out first, and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for more everyday carry content from your friendly neighborhood EDC enthusiast 👊🏼
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⌚Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:46 What is Ultem?
1:30 Pixel Co. Alt-F Honeypot
2:08 Combat Beads x JW Tools Precision Driver V2 Ultem
2:56 Lautie EDC Mechanic C PEI
4:06 WKRMN Ultem Key Hook, Ghost Bead, Bonehead
5:40 Knife Lounge Worrystone
6:07 JRW x Hitex Tough Guy Chip in Ultem
6:38 Squid Industries Squiddy-A Ultem
7:22 Bloopers
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[@Rascal77s]

I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure a butterfly knife trainer isn't going to fix arthritis.

[@benshaminflips]

I found your video after searching for Ultem since I just ordered the Squiddy-A and I am curious about the handle material. Very cool to see the different Ultem objects, they all look really cool especially with how you layed everything out! Of course my favorite item is the Squiddy-A; I can't wait to flip mine!! Keep up the balisong practice 🫡

[@drbirtles]

I'll suggest everyone checks Reddit for the numerous examples of ultem scales on knives breaking. It tends to crack around screw holes. Ultem is brittle. And coloured like urine. And I suspect this trend ain't gonna last.

[@ashley_pir]

Great video! As always

[@RonKwok]

Thanks Ashley, I appreciate you watching!

[@johannpauw3321]

Love the look of Ultem! Awesome video Ron 🤘

[@RonKwok]

Thanks man!!

[@gabeharlan2601]

I'm glad to hear someone else call it "the year of ultem."

[@RonKwok]

It really is dude (PS I feel like I was the first one to say that 🤔)

[@davidjacobs828]

I just can't see the appeal of this ultem plastic . .. I also fail to see the benefit of fidget toys for adults . Everything in my edc has to be USEFUL ,PRACTICAL , AND ESSENTIAL ....

[@MundaneGray]

You didn’t really touch on how heavy Ultem is, so I looked it up. It has a density of 1.27 grams per cubic centimeter, which makes it MUCH lighter than titanium (4.5) and aluminum (2.7). So the question is, to what extent can it replace those metals? That depends on how strong and flexible it is.

[@RonKwok]

Great points here man! Cross sectional thickness and corresponding application is probably gonna be a defining factor when evaluating just how useful this material is as a stronger, lighter, and hopefully financially reasonably substitute for the status quo moving forward, and I’m excited to see how creative makers get with this stuff! You mentioned knife scales earlier - definitely this.

[@ryanfliegel]

I love the color if ultem. Its like the perfect tone for my taste. Great vid ron🔥

[@RonKwok]

Agreed! Now I gotta get ultem everything 😂

[@rabadabadoo491]

Looks like it should make gor some nice handle scales. Not really fussed for the pocket jewelry. Thanks for the upload. Cheers 🍻

[@RonKwok]

Yea pocket art and fidgets are highly personalized - you either love it, collect it, or think it's a waste of time, space, and money 🤣 I do love that ultem has functional practical qualities to them too for machining and incorporating into gear like knives and tools. It ain't just for show 👊🏼

[@xerostyle]

team ultem fo sho! i love the wkrmn hook. i put it on my key organizer. my fav was easily the honeypot

[@RonKwok]

Hell yes Xero!! Yea the Honeypot is just wonderful to look at and play with 👌🏼

[@tizben]

I don't know if it's because I'm a millennial and have seen the sun turn plastic brittle and yellow to look exactly like ultem. It doesn't appeal to me because that's all I think of when I see it

[@RonKwok]

LOL I get that. PTSD aged brittle plastic snapping on you when you need it

[@EverydayMinimalist]

LOVED the bloops bro! LOL. Ultem is the LWP Material. Nuff said!

[@RonKwok]

That’s what I’m talking about man 🤩🍯

[@MundaneGray]

I think it looks cool, but I’m not really into items like fidget toys and beads. So I’ll be watching to see how ULTEM is incorporated into tools and other practical items. The JW Tools Precision Driver and the WRKMN Key Hook are a good start. I expect that we’ll see ULTEM scales as an option on a lot of knives. I’m sure it will work for pen barrels, too. Is it strong enough for pry tools? Plenty of possibilities.

[@ghostmonkey0432]

The civivi elemtum, And the praxis are getting ultem scales coming in October

[@RonKwok]

Spot on with these observations and I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of ultem accessories and mods coming out of the wetworks really soon 🤘🏼

[@RonKwok]

Praxis ultem? I’m all over it 🔥🔥

[@toxicfpv304]

@@RonKwok it looks great..... the elementium looks great too... good prices on them as always

[@lindastansbury2067]

I don't know where I've been but I've never heard the word Ultem before or seen anything made from it. Very cool stuff.

[@RonKwok]

All good, it’s definitely become more popular this year, super interesting material 🍯

[@CasevacDevilDoc]

Do you think we could make a silcock key out of ultem?

[@RonKwok]

Definitely! But probably need to examine the applications and figure out a maximum torque on it

[@Crangaso]

The HoneyPot brings me back to button mashing on the NES

[@RonKwok]

Yesss

[@DrDrewdude]

I’ve jumped on the ultem hype train 🔥🔥🔥 Edit: favorite piece is probably the bit driver!

[@RonKwok]

Yea the bit driver is legit!! I need the V3 tho for the bit storage in the barrel

[@anthonynovak4015]

The stuff I want in ultem either isn't being manufactured or its priced too high for me but im tempted to by a raw sheet of it and carve out the stuff I want.

[@RonKwok]

Now that would be a fun little project 🤔

[@benshaminflips]

And it seems to be quite cheap! I'm thinking about getting a cylinder to try and make some rings.

[@jfratti1]

But is it recyclable?

[@toxicfpv304]

i have the combat beads v3 and it is pretty close to the same as the v2..... no hollow stem but a redesign on the baring to have easier palms spin from what i understand they satill have a few on dlt trading for sale.... but im 100% bit ny the ultem bug

[@RonKwok]

Ah gotcha! Might be the griffin co bit driver mk 2 that has the hollowed out barrel and magnetic cap, check it out!

[@toxicfpv304]

@@RonKwok griffin co is combat beads..... the v3 is the one they just released.... which is the version i have.... but no hollowed internals

[@jamesfair9751]

I’m team I don’t really like this weird amber translucent plastic looking stuff in my load out! Having said that if I had to pick one it would be the Bali it actually looks pretty dope and I’ve been wanting a good Bali

[@RonKwok]

I respect it man! And yea Squid Industries makes some great budget flipper trainers, esp the Squiddy-A. Looking to check out more trainers from other brands to bring a more well-rounded evaluation tho

[@reyhanpradantyo]

I like the idea of this material being durable and probably cheaper than their titanium counterparts but is there a reason why ultem is only available in this colour?

[@RonKwok]

I think it has to do with the chemical makeup of the material, BUT I am hearing things about Ultem being produced in different colors so we'll probably get more flexibility in that arena soon

[@MundaneGray]

@@RonKwokIf it can be made in translucent gray, I’ll be VERY interested.

[@anthonynovak4015]

I'm about to get my first ultem piece just waiting for it to ship

[@RonKwok]

Oof exciting times 🍯🍯

[@Crangaso]

Ultem is to be replacing Titanium as the new EDC hotness. Still love Titanium though

[@RonKwok]

Ti will always have a place in EDC! Gotta make room for ultem tho 😉

[@bigdeboatl23]

Being gifted an Alt-F by the man himself. You a lucky foo

[@RonKwok]

PixelPapi is a master at his craft, fortunate to have connected with him!

[@SPQR-Z]

Pearl-Stag-Micarta-G10-Ultem

[@RonKwok]

what do you even mean? The ultimate combination material haha

[@jtg_edc]

It's crazy seeing Ultem take over the EDC community now cause a few years ago it took over the vape community. I actually have an Ultem drip tip on my vape right now lol.

[@RonKwok]

That’s awesome haha. Yea I read that ultem is really good for steam and heat applications so makes sense it made its rounds in the vape community. Thanks for watching!

[@rabbittoocute1931]

Team zirconium but i realy like the alt f

[@disarmyouwitha]

Team piss crystal! Have you ever had any problems with it cracking, or scuffing?

[@jakeMTSU]

the 142-16DLCTULS is only $1500 ...

[@PhiTonics]

Man, Ultium is dope.. but I can't be paying those Ultium prices! 🤣 Gonna have to wait till it gets more ubiquitous. 😅

[@RonKwok]

I get that 100%! Pricing in EDC is always crazy lol, secondary market and especially on limited drop stuff is bonkers. Holding out for some good prices homie

[@Goofy-Ahh-channel864]

"pissplastic" this killed me

[@RonKwok]

😂😂

[@Goofy-Ahh-channel864]

@@RonKwok aight u made me buy Combat Troodon with Ultem top all thanks to you lmaoo

[@acevenom2411]

If you don't need/want the Squiddy A can I have it. please I love balisongs and im broke.

[@RonKwok]

I think Nabalis makes some budget ones you can check out

[@acevenom2411]

Not from the US, 60 usd is 961.068,00 Indonesian Rupiah. That could get you a bicycle and a meal 😢

[@RikkiHernandez]

you just need an Ultem knife... get one Ron. Do it.

[@RonKwok]

I'm waiting for the right one LOL it's gotta speak to me

[@PhilthyWon]

i dont like ultem but i like your videos man...im team zirconium

[@RonKwok]

Sheeesh high price tag but we’ll worth it, zirc hits on another level

[@PhilthyWon]

That's why my collection is small lol.

[@HeyItsCoates]

You could say this was the Ultemate video.

[@RonKwok]

😂😂🍯 I see you IAN

[@harunomiya]

Awesome as always. I'm team team Ultem though I have yet to own anything in it. If I could have something in Ultem, it'll be Vegeta in super Saiyan form 😆

[@RonKwok]

Thanks for watching as always Miya!! OMG imagine a figure of SSJ Vegeta just cast in full ultem... 100% purchase. Or should I say 9000% 🤔😂

[@misadventuresoferic]

Explain to me why people are paying more for knives with Ultem vs titanium and carbon fiber? It looks bad “piss plastic”. I understand its use vs other plastics but on a knife over titanium or carbon fiber? Not me.

[@djkillachris]

What?

[@ungabunga6735]

Literally NOBODY calls it “piss plastic”

[@RonKwok]

😂😂😂 I've heard a few ppl call it that

[@fchavez6198]

Love the vids! You are on your way to a million subscribers?

[@RonKwok]

Thank you, that’s the goal!

[@theEDCgeek]

Nothing against you Ron, but this Ultem phase is just...will leave it there

[@ericyoast]

like it on some things. needs to match with whatever its going with. don't love or hate it. like that bit driver. Pocket art, not my thing, useless actually, hahhah..

[@phistlabs]

it's raining pee pee plastic

[@RonKwok]

😂😂😂

[@jerrebrasfield4231]

Looks like a bunch of 3d printed stuff.

[@RonKwok]

Could be! Probably cnc milled tho

[@albypansa]

It looks like pee in the snow

[@ZHB1989]

It looks like cheap plastic from the 80s

[@RonKwok]

Retro always comes back 🍯

[@ZHB1989]

@@RonKwok flock of seagulls hair must never come back.

[@gmuk101]

I would love to buy an Ultem custom scale for Dragonfly

[@RonKwok]

Right?!

[@jeremybrinlee1965]

Couldn't care less