LM Wave large outside Vic scissors mod (pics/vid)

[Andreas]

(direct copy from my blog)

Got a few used Swiss Army Knives today, and after disassembling one I ended up trying something for fun and realizing it worked brilliantly – adding the scissors to the Leatherman Wave.

This isn’t the first time someone has added scissors to the outside of the Leatherman Wave. evil510 posted one of the most epic mods I’ve ever seen on multitool.org which includes a pair of custom built scissors. My mod isn’t as extensive, but it still works very nicely. I actually meant to make a single layer SAK with just scissors and a hook, but couldn’t resist seeing if maybe it would fit into the Wave. It seemed to fit so perfectly that I went with the Wave mod instead of the single layer SAK.

What I did was remove the file (which I never really use) and put the scissors in there instead. The Wave already have scissors, but they are so small that they’re not very useful, and they’re also on the inside so not very quick to access. Adding larger scissors is fairly simple, yet works very well to improve the Wave’s scissor functionality. You do need to make a couple of modifications to make this work. First off, the hole needed in the scissors for them to fit onto the Wave pivots is a LOT larger than what’s there by default. I didn’t have a drill of any kind, so I had to use my Dremel to widen the hole. It took forever! I did manage to make it fit though, and that’s all that’s needed as far as mods to the scissors themselves go.

The other mod needed is a way to get the liner lock out of the way. It will block the scissors from opening and closing properly, and won’t work to lock the scissors. The scissors don’t really need a lock since you’ll be pressing them down towards the Wave anyways and hold them firmly in place simply by using them normally. I used a Dremel cutting disc to remove most of the liner lock piece and bent down the rest to be flush with the tool casing. After that all I had to do was mount the scissors and make sure the pivots were tight enough to not give the tools any play while still not too tight to make them usable.

The result is better than I’d ever have imagined. Everything works perfectly, and it even looks like the scissors belong there. I use scissors a lot and so having a decent sized pair easily available on my largest multitool is very useful. PS: Yes, it's extremely easy to open with one hand

Make sure to check out the video below the pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONxed-wWmU0

[evil510]

(direct copy from my blog)

Got a few used Swiss Army Knives today, and after disassembling one I ended up trying something for fun and realizing it worked brilliantly – adding the scissors to the Leatherman Wave.

This isn’t the first time someone has added scissors to the outside of the Leatherman Wave. evil510 posted one of the most epic mods I’ve ever seen on multitool.org which includes a pair of custom built scissors. My mod isn’t as extensive, but it still works very nicely. I actually meant to make a single layer SAK with just scissors and a hook, but couldn’t resist seeing if maybe it would fit into the Wave. It seemed to fit so perfectly that I went with the Wave mod instead of the single layer SAK.

What I did was remove the file (which I never really use) and put the scissors in there instead. The Wave already have scissors, but they are so small that they’re not very useful, and they’re also on the inside so not very quick to access. Adding larger scissors is fairly simple, yet works very well to improve the Wave’s scissor functionality. You do need to make a couple of modifications to make this work. First off, the hole needed in the scissors for them to fit onto the Wave pivots is a LOT larger than what’s there by default. I didn’t have a drill of any kind, so I had to use my Dremel to widen the hole. It took forever! I did manage to make it fit though, and that’s all that’s needed as far as mods to the scissors themselves go.

The other mod needed is a way to get the liner lock out of the way. It will block the scissors from opening and closing properly, and won’t work to lock the scissors. The scissors don’t really need a lock since you’ll be pressing them down towards the Wave anyways and hold them firmly in place simply by using them normally. I used a Dremel cutting disc to remove most of the liner lock piece and bent down the rest to be flush with the tool casing. After that all I had to do was mount the scissors and make sure the pivots were tight enough to not give the tools any play while still not too tight to make them usable.

The result is better than I’d ever have imagined. Everything works perfectly, and it even looks like the scissors belong there. I use scissors a lot and so having a decent sized pair easily available on my largest multitool is very useful. PS: Yes, it's extremely easy to open with one hand

Hey Andreas. Great going there with the mod! Very straightforward. A more viable and feasible option for the masses. I tend to over-engineer things and push the envelope, this more or less applies to anything and everything in my life. By now, most have probably realized that not having scissors on a multitool is a deal breaker for me. I use them often, daily in fact.....

So ya got a few used SAKS's? Got an extra set of scissors? I'll trade you for money lol. I have another project which I honestly don't want to spend the time on to fabricate a custom set of scissors from scratch. I just got a pair of SOG scissors from the forum but they won't work right for this project.....

Congrats on the mod!

~ evil ~


A helpful little tip that coulda saved you a little time and effort for disabling the liner lock is to remove the plier head and force the liner inwards and stress it to the point that it springs back flush with the rest of the frame. Scissors for Project Surge are already in the works. The Surge scissors went into my new pocket knife project.....

[Gareth]

Very nice Andreas.    Are you thinking about replacing the original internal scissors with something?

[Andreas]

So ya got a few used SAKS's? Got an extra set of scissors? I'll trade you for money lol. I have another project which I honestly don't want to spend the time on to fabricate a custom set of scissors from scratch. I just got a pair of SOG scissors from the forum but they won't work right for this project.....

A helpful little tip that coulda saved you a little time and effort on the liner lock is to remove the plier head and force inwards and stress it to the point that it springs back flush with the rest of the frame. Scissors for Project Surge are already in the works   The Surge scissors went into my new pocket knife project.....[/i]

Unfortunately, no. It was a Climber, Spartan, and a couple of Classic SDs. You can probably get a couple of used scissor based SAKs on eBay or Felinevet rather cheap though. Felinevet for sure has some.

As for the liner lock, in heinsight that seems like a much more logical thing to do   Didn't take long to cut off the lock either though, I got a set of those new Dremel SpeedClic cutting discs which are a LOT better than those "will break if you touch them"-discs they have.

Very nice Andreas.    Are you thinking about replacing the original internal scissors with something?

Actually, yes. My idea is to put the small bit driver with the large one and toss out the rest of the tools, leaving one handle empty. One possibility then is to add a micro bit driver, though it seems a bit useless when I have the normal bit driver. If I had the tools I might have made a solid piece of steel to go in there and lock at 90 degrees instead of 180, to use as a hammer. LED light is another possibility... Frankly though I could live with nothing in that handle and still find the Wave perfect now that it has better scissors.

[Neil]

Well done on opening up the pivot hole without a drill.  That can't have been a too much fun on hardened steel.

[Andreas]

Indeed 
Especially since I have cheap Dremel accessories, not Dremel branded ones. At least I have a "real" Dremel. Took forever, with a lot of cooldowns in water, but it was so worth it 

[Neil]

I might have been tempted to go the opposite route and de-temper the pivot end to make it easier to gouge out.  I've done that before to fit a 58mm SAK driver onto a 74mm frame.

[Andreas]

This is why my OCD hates not being able to edit posts after a while; I can't edit in updates 

Second short vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A--rAWwJ2R8

[thetopher]

Very nice!


Are you having any problems with the spring staying in place with the scissors' new home?

[Andreas]

Not really. It's pretty flush with the scissors so it hasn't been a problem

However, there are a couple of things I should add:
First off, you have to add a drop of super glue/loctite or something when putting the pivot back together. There already is glue on there when you take it apart, (see red tip of the pivot screw in one of the pics) so you have to redo that. Otherwise the scissors will "grab" the screw and loosen it when you open it then tighten it when you close them again. A tiny drop of super glue makes the pivot stay in place. This is because the scissors are a bit thicker than the tools that are normally there, and also I think you'd have the same problem with the default tools if LM didn't use glue.

You also have to tighten the pivot it just right, or there will be play in the blade on the other side. If there is much play, the springs on the scissors will actually flip them partly open randomly, especially when you open the pliers. Don't worry, you don't have to tighten more than you would anyways.

I really am surprised something this simple works this well, and I'm also surprised no one tried it before me. This is such a cheap and easy way to add much better scissors to a wave or Charge.

[SlackOne]

...dammit Andreas.  I've actually been contemplating getting rid of my Wave's serrated blade, but couldn't think of anything to put there.  And I just happen to have a pair of vintage screw-tightened Vic scissors lying around, but no backspring for them.  AAAAAAnd...the scissors are actually much closer in thickness to the Wave's blades than they are to the file and saw.  This would actually give the Wave better scissors than the Swisstools...kind of ironic

One question though...what's keeping them in the handle?  I would figure that the scissor spring would eventually push them open enough to snag something.  I'm halfway thinking that I wouldn't have to do a darn thing to the liner lock to get it to work on that side...might even be able to put a retention divot on the scissors to keep them snug in their slot.

[Andreas]

One question though...what's keeping them in the handle?  I would figure that the scissor spring would eventually push them open enough to snag something.

If the pivots are too loose, it will pop out. Had that happen a few times while I was adjusting. However, if you tighten the pivots enough (won't make the tools difficult to open) the scissors will stay in there no problem.

[DaveK]

I really am surprised something this simple works this well, and I'm also surprised no one tried it before me. This is such a cheap and easy way to add much better scissors to a wave or Charge.

I suppose, first of all you have to agree with your last statement.

I greatly prefer the LM scissors to the Vic design as they are generally sharper and cut better and I really appreciate the little folded tab on the handle!

Granted, they aren't as big which can be a down-side, but you have a couple of other cutting options on the Wave or Charge if the scissors can't cut it (see what I did there )?

[Andreas]

I don't like the folding thing on the LM scissors at all. Adds to the time it takes to deploy them (which isn't exactly a quick task because they're inside with a bad deployment method) and I don't find them to be sharper at all.

[DaveK]

Well, we're all entitled to an opinion I guess (just remember that's what it is though )