xkcdian SkiFree 'F' key pendant by Lithium Rain
Featured
DSCF7659.JPG
skifree.png
DSCF7652.JPG
DSCF7651.JPG
This instructable was inspired by the alt-text on xkcd.com/667/ (hover for the alt-text).  Fans of SkiFree will remember the Yeti...oh do we remember the Yeti. You skied and skied and skied, only to face this...well, this THING. An Angry Thing. Who wouldn't let you by, for reasons unknown and mattering little. Who knows how many hours of misspent youth were lost to the SkiFree boss?

Legend has it if you press "F" during this boss battle it accelerates you to the point where you can pass the Yeti. While it definitely does accelerate you, I cannot personally confirm that you can actually beat the Yeti but that is what they say. That is what this comic refers to. Update: I have outrun 'em for quite some time but never reached any kind of "end". :)

So, make your very own 'F' key pendant symbolizing...anything, really. Cheating death. Overcoming obstacles in life. Your 1337 gaming skillz. Undying affection, maybe? Whatever.

Some may say "Congratulations on drilling a hole in an F key." To which I say, Bah humbug! There is elegance in simplicity. Any designer worth his/her salt will tell you that complexity does not a good design make. Besides, half the fun is that it doesn't look like much to write home about unless you know about SkiFree/the comic.

(If you want to learn more about the game, or download it (runs in windows and works fine in wine), please see http://ski.ihoc.net/. If that doesn't work, try the google cached version. Legal downloads, yay!)

 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Materials & tools

Materials:

An 'F' key (duh).

Cord/wire to string it on (I used SoftTouch nylon beading wire).

Necklace clasp

Crimp beads

Tools:

Source of fire (I just lit a candle).

Small-diameter, sharp-tipped metal implement (I used a special xacto attachment).

Crimping pliers (I mislaid mine so I just used regular small pliers. It works, but be warned it's a bit trickier and you don't quite get the nice crimp you do from using the specialized pliers.)


1-40 of 101Next »
breumer says: Mar 13, 2012. 1:32 AM
Awesome! Great idea! We have mede some too ,thanks for sharing!
toetsenbordkettingklaar.jpg
Lithium Rain (author) says: Mar 13, 2012. 6:20 PM
Nice! Thanks for sharing your take - I love the little beads above it.
busterbuster18724 says: Nov 19, 2011. 5:16 PM
thats sooo cool i am going to make one now could you use a drill??
Lithium Rain (author) says: Nov 24, 2011. 10:30 PM
You mean to make the holes? Sure, if you have something to hold the key still and you have steady hands. Don't drill through your fingers. ;)
icady says: Nov 11, 2011. 2:38 PM
Whaaaaaaaaaat? Someone please go back in time and tell 6 year old me.
rvon ruden says: Jul 29, 2011. 2:45 PM
How I feel is kinda messed up, considering I can not wait until my keyboard dies. LOL
Okapidragon says: Dec 14, 2009. 3:54 PM
Oi. My friend made fun of me because my "F" key is from a bubbletop depressor Dell keyboard instead of an older, contact-sensor IBM. Now I feel somewhat inadequate, though this particular friend is so lame that they don't even have an "F" key at all.
theburn7 says: Jun 23, 2011. 11:06 PM
Actually, those old IBM keyboards should not be wasted only for an "F" key. You are doing great justice.
Lithium Rain (author) says: Dec 15, 2009. 8:45 AM
Tis' the spirit and not the form of the "F" key that matters. :P
WrestlerHoney says: Mar 6, 2011. 4:18 PM
i made the necklace about a week ago, and instead i used the Ctrl,Alt,Delete,"J",and various other keys so that i could personalize the necklace to my likeing, i really enjoyed it, thanks for the inspiration! i also added wax to the inside of the key to give it some weight, but when that wears out, im going to replace it with some lead. it gives the key more weight so it doesn't flop around or turn.
Lithium Rain (author) says: Mar 7, 2011. 12:52 PM
Nice! I like the idea of weighing down the key. I hadn't thought of that - I will give that a try, as this version does tend to flop a bit.
zoltzerino says: Mar 5, 2010. 4:14 PM
 XKCD rocks my socks, you just made instructables rock my feet...
hintss says: Dec 19, 2010. 11:25 PM
its not an acronym
Lithium Rain (author) says: Mar 6, 2010. 4:36 PM
Hahaha - thanks! :)
Wasagi says: Nov 28, 2009. 8:29 PM
 Excellent, I shall wear one with me always....
Wasagi says: Nov 4, 2010. 5:26 PM
In fact, I shall wear This one Always!

DSCI0012.JPG
Lithium Rain (author) says: Nov 23, 2010. 4:44 PM
I don't know how I missed this comment, but that looks great! Thanks for posting the picture! :D
alix-cool says: Nov 23, 2010. 10:57 AM
love this idea , i had to try a different strategy cos all i had was a laptop key which is flatter

thanks for the idea :)
keyboard necklace.jpg
Lithium Rain (author) says: Nov 23, 2010. 4:43 PM
That looks great! Thank you for taking the time to share your version! :)
Yerboogieman says: Feb 14, 2010. 5:59 PM
This is one of my favorite comics.
n8man says: Feb 2, 2010. 9:47 PM
Great instructable but the truth is you can never escape, if you stay next to the ski lift while going down and outrunning the monsters (I have seen at least 4 at once) you get back to the race courses.
Aronbao says: Dec 14, 2009. 12:29 AM
it's nice,i'll try it when my keyborad was die.~~!
Lithium Rain (author) says: Dec 14, 2009. 7:18 AM
Thanks! :D I'd love to see a picture if you do try it.
firefliie says: Dec 8, 2009. 7:40 PM
OH MY GOD!!! i was looking at the comic of skifree, and i had a flashback!!! i played that when i was really, really, really little!!!!! i just barely remember how bad i sucked at it and how my mom was so much better ;) but i had COMPLETELY forgotten about it until now!!! :D
Lithium Rain (author) says: Dec 11, 2009. 11:13 AM
Hahahahahahahaha glad to trigger happy memories! :D
mitt954 says: Dec 10, 2009. 12:12 PM
Awesome Job, loved that comic and love this pendant
Lithium Rain (author) says: Dec 11, 2009. 11:12 AM
Many thanks! :)
handyhippie65 says: Dec 2, 2009. 11:04 PM
i like the "poky metal instrument" label. i use sharp stabby thing, thus named due to my unintended proclivity to stab myself with with said sharp stabby thing. 
Lithium Rain (author) says: Dec 3, 2009. 10:11 AM
Heh, thanks. Ah, I'll have to try a sharp stabby thing next time. ;)
Kryptonite says: Nov 27, 2009. 12:28 AM
Ha ha, anything xkcd related is win. Even if the creator doesn't like Firefox.

I love it! 5/5 for ingenious hole making.
Wasagi says: Nov 28, 2009. 8:32 PM
 I think that Randall Munroe does use Firefox, I believe. I doubt that he uses IE though, We should ask him!
Kryptonite says: Nov 29, 2009. 1:36 AM
One of his comics depicts a graph showing how the member of the religion "Wicca" is closely related to Mozilla Firefox downloads.

I always thought it was the relation between users of Bing, and creators of viruses.
Lithium Rain (author) says: Nov 29, 2009. 11:15 AM
I believe xkcd.com/111/ is not depicting a hatred of Firefox, but a mockery of Microsoft and Christianity (see the alt-text). :)
Kryptonite says: Nov 29, 2009. 11:01 PM
alt text? Is that the same as the mouse over text?

And wow you found that fast.
Lithium Rain (author) says: Nov 30, 2009. 9:28 PM
Yep.

Bwahahahaha! Mad Skillz!
Kryptonite says: Dec 1, 2009. 12:40 AM
Lira strikes again!

Off to the bat cave with you...
=SMART= says: Nov 28, 2009. 10:55 AM
hay firefox is great
Kryptonite says: Nov 29, 2009. 1:36 AM
I prefer it for a few extra things that Internet Explorer blatantly misses.

Out of context; has every one got a cool personalized DP?
Lithium Rain (author) says: Nov 27, 2009. 10:43 AM
Thanks very much! :D
MagiWG says: Nov 30, 2009. 1:46 PM
After I made mine, I printed out the comic very small and made into a small scroll that fits behind the key.
1-40 of 101Next »
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!