And so it begins.... (My adventures into Alox!)

[Raukodur]

that is nearly identical to the mod I've asked Steve to make for me, only without the combo tool and blade, and instead having an awl and file/metal saw in their place. Otherwise identical 4 layer alox SAK (if the bit driver can be fit to the alox frame).

[Syph007]

Otherwise identical 4 layer alox SAK (if the bit driver can be fit to the alox frame).

I'm going to make it fit somehow.  I'm not in love with the plastic bit holder, that's going to get remade out of anything nicer than plastic, probably aluminum, Ti if im feeling richer.  I dont have the driver part yet though, its en route so I cant test yet to see how it fits.

What I found when I swapped the standard opener layer for the combo too, i missed having the driver ends of those tools.  But if I add in the bit driver layer, that solves that problem, and the combo tool becomes mostly just an opener.

[Raukodur]

well, I'm a UK user so knife is problematic, and I don't use openers and the bit driver replaces the bit ends as you said, so no need for knives or openers. The awl and file/metal saw are much more useful tools for me, hopefully both can be fit into a single layer.

If that plastic bit holder was metal, that would be pretty sweet. An entirely stainless steel SAK would be quite something to behold, liners and all. Although would take up the weight a fair bit.

[Syph007]

If that plastic bit holder was metal, that would be pretty sweet. An entirely stainless steel SAK would be quite something to behold, liners and all. Although would take up the weight a fair bit.

Ya I think all parts that can be made for Titanium for weight, and then the standard SAK components.  Id LOVE that.. but a sheet of thick titanium is quite an investment.   But a man can dream.

[bushidomosquito]

Let me know how thick that bit holder is. I have small chunks of 1/4" and 3/16" titanium that I'd sent you just to see you try it. Also some 1/8" CF scrap that might work better because you could carve it clamshell style and sandwich the halves together. Does anybody have a picture of a naked bit holder? I've always wanted to look up one's skirt.

[Syph007]

Let me know how thick that bit holder is. I have small chunks of 1/4" and 3/16" titanium that I'd sent you just to see you try it. Also some 1/8" CF scrap that might work better because you could carve it clamshell style and sandwich the halves together. Does anybody have a picture of a naked bit holder? I've always wanted to look up one's skirt.

I have one attached to a cybertool, I'll break out the calipers and camera after I get this baby to fall asleep!   The wife is at work tonight.

[Syph007]

Let me know how thick that bit holder is. I have small chunks of 1/4" and 3/16" titanium that I'd sent you just to see you try it. Also some 1/8" CF scrap that might work better because you could carve it clamshell style and sandwich the halves together. Does anybody have a picture of a naked bit holder? I've always wanted to look up one's skirt.

I have one attached to a cybertool, I'll break out the calipers and camera after I get this baby to fall asleep!   The wife is at work tonight.

I snapped some good pics.  The part is almost exactly 0.250 thick.  Roughly 3/4 inch by 2 1/4.  It has a seam around it, you can see it was made by pressing 2 parts together.

Anyways here are the pics.... Id love to remake in Ti.. oh boy!

By the way, this cybertool has the thickest liners ive ever seen on a 91mm SAK.. 0.050!  Its the butter soft aluminum though, so I think they beefed up thickness for this tool.  Yet another benefit if remade with stronger thinner liners, the tool would be thinner!

[ICanFixThat]

Oh this will be VERY Exciting... definetly one of my goals to have a Alox Cybertool!

The only thing with a titanium bit holder is I wonder if the bits would kind of stick in there too tightly, maybe since the bits would be enough smaller than their sockets because of the bearing that would not be a problem.  Titanium seems tough to get right when threads or friction fit is required.

[Syph007]

Oh this will be VERY Exciting... definetly one of my goals to have a Alox Cybertool!

The only thing with a titanium bit holder is I wonder if the bits would kind of stick in there too tightly, maybe since the bits would be enough smaller than their sockets because of the bearing that would not be a problem.  Titanium seems tough to get right when threads or friction fit is required.

Ya I dont think a friction fit would work.. maybe tiny leaf springs... hmm. I'll have to think about it, but there's gotta be a way.

[bushidomosquito]

The driver has magnetic retention right? Why not the bit holder? Teeny tiny neodymium magnets.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DH101

A titanium bit holder is totally doable. I'd go with multi layered construction riveted together. The slots could be cut into a single piece, retention magnet holes drilled and the outer layers riveted on. I really like eliminating SAK plastic. 

[Syph007]

The driver has magnetic retention right? Why not the bit holder? Teeny tiny neodymium magnets.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DH101

A titanium bit holder is totally doable. I'd go with multi layered construction riveted together. The slots could be cut into a single piece, retention magnet holes drilled and the outer layers riveted on. I really like eliminating SAK plastic.

Magnets! Yes that would work.  Each bit though does have the spring loaded steel ball in the center, so a corresponding tiny indent ring in each bit holder slot would work too.

This SAK plastic is really low quality on the holder, so an upgrade to metal would be wonderful.  The design would have to be altered anyhow to fit in an alox frame as currently this slots into a gap in the springs, and on my alox model there would be no gap as the springs would extent the length of the knife.

[bushidomosquito]

Ah, treat it like a ball detent on a folder then. Assemble the layers without peening the rivets down and insert the bits a few times until the balls rub a line on the inside of the hole. Then pull it apart and drill a hole where that line stops. 

My only problem with magnets at the bottom of holes is keeping them clean of the metal shavings they pick up over time. Seems to be a bigger problem for me than most people for some reason. 

[Reinier]

Reminds me of this reply:

Most useful: CyberTool driver/bit holder. But that's also the ugliest tool (I don't like the plastic "cage" thing).

So I'm totally interested in a CT 34 with metal bit holder, be it titanium, stainless steel or even aluminum

[Syph007]

Reminds me of this reply:

Most useful: CyberTool driver/bit holder. But that's also the ugliest tool (I don't like the plastic "cage" thing).

So I'm totally interested in a CT 34 with metal bit holder, be it titanium, stainless steel or even aluminum

Ya the plastic cage is a pretty horrid part.  I tend to think of SAKS as amazing potential just wrapped in a temporary shipping package of cellidor...   I would stick to 93mm components only, but they dont make many!  So we have to find ways to get the 91mm goodness to a better frame.

Titanium sure sounds nice to me, and you can anodize that as well.  Hard anodized aluminum would work too... so many options so little time! lol  At least I discovered a fun hobby now though. 

[Syph007]

Looky what I just got from my local neighborhood electroplater!  My first batch of hard anodized (HA3) black scales!!!   

Most of these are 93mm but I did 2 sets of 84mm as well.  I want to pocket carry a cadet with scissors with these scales.



Here is a comparison with standard vic scales on the left.  The color is darn close, but not exactly the same blackness.  Next I want to experiment with a self etching primer to see if I can re-highlight the shield outline.  Unfortunately all that color gets stripped off by this process.



I had a long talk about what I wanted with the shop owner and what he could do.  He does use a bit different process to do his HA, which actually allows for a few other color options.  Stock natural is 60 RC from him, but he can do red and orange that is still 55 RC, which is really darn good considering stock regular anodizing is 35 RC.

Cheers!

[Reinier]

That is so cool!
And orange... awesome

[Syph007]

That is so cool!
And orange... awesome

Ya i know I'm pretty excited but I'm out of scales to run now so I have to wait till I have enough to make it worth while.

The red and orange are not as vibrant as regular anodize, more muted flat finish, but I think that's still fine if the anodize is hard and doesn't come off easily.  I got tired of only having the silver scales to mod with so I had to give this a try.

Edit: my wife being Dutch, I know how awesome orange is!

[enki_ck]

OH MY GOD. And I'm not even religious. Those will look so cool. Do you have a price point for a Huntsman slim mod maybe? Red, black or BLUE

I tend to think of SAKS as amazing potential just wrapped in a temporary shipping package of cellidor...

[Syph007]

Ok I'm impressed.  I just did a toughness test. Grabbed a coin and rubbed it like crazy on the textured part.. then i noticed little silver flakes and my first thought was oh no its already coming off... then I blew on it.. nope that was the coin dust. Scale was unharmed!  It acts like a mini hardened file!  Im impressed.    Should last forver in pocket carry unless your keys are harder than 60 Rockwell

[MadPlumbarian]

Kobolt! A nice dark blue,, that would look good,, JR

[bushidomosquito]

Ok I'm impressed.  I just did a toughness test. Grabbed a coin and rubbed it like crazy on the textured part.. then i noticed little silver flakes and my first thought was oh no its already coming off... then I blew on it.. nope that was the coin dust. Scale was unharmed!  It acts like a mini hardened file!  Im impressed.    Should last forver in pocket carry unless your keys are harder than 60 Rockwell

That's awesome. Carry it with your keys in the same pocket and eventually realize your keys are too nubby to work anymore.

[Syph007]

Ok I'm impressed.  I just did a toughness test. Grabbed a coin and rubbed it like crazy on the textured part.. then i noticed little silver flakes and my first thought was oh no its already coming off... then I blew on it.. nope that was the coin dust. Scale was unharmed!  It acts like a mini hardened file!  Im impressed.    Should last forver in pocket carry unless your keys are harder than 60 Rockwell

That's awesome. Carry it with your keys in the same pocket and eventually realize your keys are too nubby to work anymore.

LOL ya, and whats this pocket full of shavings about... LOL  No i pressed really hard down on it, wouldnt come anywhere near that kind of force in normal jingling around in a pocket.

[Gareth]

they look excellent mate.

[Threeme2189]

Those look awesome!!!

[kahyja]

 

 

[Santos]

Ok I'm impressed.  I just did a toughness test. Grabbed a coin and rubbed it like crazy on the textured part.. then i noticed little silver flakes and my first thought was oh no its already coming off... then I blew on it.. nope that was the coin dust. Scale was unharmed!  It acts like a mini hardened file!  Im impressed.    Should last forver in pocket carry unless your keys are harder than 60 Rockwell

Wow if its that hard could you sharpen carbon knives with it.. be damn handy

[WWW]

[/quote]

Wow if its that hard could you sharpen carbon knives with it.. be damn handy
[/quote]

Huuummmm....

That would be an interesting one... A coated scale for sharpening would be really sweet....

[Syph007]

Here's my latest that got finished tonight for a member here.  Two alox compacts with spare blades.

They turned out darn nice and are really light weight pocketable tools.  I will be making one for myself next.

Cheers!

[k12cop]

Yeah, those beauties are mine and I can't wait to get my paws on them. If they look half as nice in person...I'm in love

[MirrorEdge]

You should make some voyaguers next
http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Voyageur