About 44 Delta

Who is 44 Delta?

44 Delta is one guy, me, with a handful of 3D printers and some general know-how. I have many hobbies. Relevant to this topic, however, I am a lock picker with CAD skills and the equipment to craft tools for the community.

Is 44 Delta the same as eschlenz AKA auDiBLe_aGeNT?

Yup, that's me! Same person. Two different names, same person. 

Why did you create an online store?

If you are familiar with me then you probably know I used to manage my product listings and sales in a Google Sheets spreadsheet. It was extremely cumbersome for me, but especially for the people trying to buy stuff.

People kept asking for, and suggesting, a website for orders. I just wasn't sure at the time where this endeavor was going. Fast forward to now, and it was time to make the experience better. I hope this store accomplishes that.

Are you involved in the locksport community?

Yes! You'll find me on the Discord servers such as LPU, Unlocked, SlothPickers, LockPicking101, Picking Time, etc. I'm also in the Facebook communities. And I have a shoddy YouTube channel if you're so inclined.

Are you ranked?

Yes! I received my black belt on 9/15/2024 (LPU) with 5/6 black belt locks picked, and heavy community involvement.

Why is this store called "44 Delta"?

I'll just say that it has a deeply personal meaning to me, and only those closest to me know. You're welcome to guess, but that doesn't mean I'll tell you. :P

What is the goal of 44 Delta?

The goal is to make and sell beautiful community designed locksport tools at reasonable prices. And by doing so, make the hobby accessible to more people. 

For me personally, this is another good outlet for me to take my skills and exercise them. It helps me stay connected with more people out there. And I love seeing the things I craft out in the wild.

Do you ship anywhere in the world?

I will, yes. Just be aware that shipping prices from the United States to other countries is INSANELY expensive. Not much I can do about that, as I don't control the courier costs.

Will prices ever change?

Yes, because the cost to run this store will inevitably change.  However, I will always keep prices reasonable. The whole goal here is to get useful locksport tools in the hands of more people, cheaply.

I do not have ambitions of this store becoming a cash cow. Frankly, that would take up more time than I have. For me, this is just another hobby, and a way for me to contribute to the community. I am not living off of the money this store makes. I'm actually retired and chose to do this mostly for fun.

That being said, there are costs to running this store: machine wear and tear, filament, electricity, hosting costs (for the store), shipping, etc, etc. So at the very least I need to make sure I can cover those costs.

Most, if not all, profits from this endeavor will be funneled right back into the store. Ideally this will mean I can buy more 3D printers to produce more products with a wider range of color and material options.

Where did the designs for the products you make come from?

The community! I personally have designed and shared models with the locksport community. And so have many other people. Now is probably a good time to shout out people like LockChuck, redcatimaging, DrLex, and translucent1 who have gifted the community with wonderful tools that can be 3D printed. A big, huge thanks to them.

Do you have a life?

Surprisingly, yes. In fact it's something I'm kind of stressed out about with respect to running this store.  I will do everything I can to ship quality products quickly. And to work directly with individuals.  Please be aware, however, that I'm one guy with limited time. I only have about 5 or 6 hours in a day where I'm not watching my kiddo or doing family stuff.

Do you make custom stuff for people?

Generally, yes. It just depends though. Asking me to design something from scratch without any real specifics takes up too much time. If you simply want something I already stock, but in very specific colors then that is  very easy for me to accomplish. If you found a 3D model somewhere that you want printed, I can also do that (usually),  but only if it has a license that allows for commercial sale.

Here's a form you can fill out if you have a custom request

How can I reach you directly?

I am eschlenz on basically every platform (Discord, Reddit, Signal, etc). Or you can email me at: support@44delta.com