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

[crackout]

Tempting. I'm thinking about trying to scissor up a Cadet myself now that I found my old 84mm Climber.

[Syph007]

Tempting. I'm thinking about trying to scissor up a Cadet myself now that I found my old 84mm Climber.

Hey if you already have 84mm scissors ready to go from a small climber, that mod should be straight forward.  The nice thing about 84s is the parts between the alox size and cellidor are interchangeable, unlike the 91/93 sizes.

[crackout]

You mean like the pivot holes and liners? Yes, I like that, too.
However, I think I'd try to peen though. I'm not comfortable with drilling the 2.2mm holes to 3mm. Especially the center one.

[Syph007]

You mean like the pivot holes and liners? Yes, I like that, too.
However, I think I'd try to peen though. I'm not comfortable with drilling the 2.2mm holes to 3mm. Especially the center one.

Peening would be easier for sure.  The funny thing is there is more metal on 84mm springs than 93mm springs.  I drill 1/8 inch which is about 3.2 mm and there is far more metal left around the hole on 84s than 93s.  It's just the way they were designed I guess.

[crackout]

My problem right now is the broken spring inside the scissors.
I have replacement springs, but the little curl on the one end is too big for the hole on the scissors.
Victorinox must have changed the size of the holes on their current 84s compared to the old ones like the small Climber...

Guess I'd have to drill the hole bigger because I see no way of slimming down the curl on the little fragile springs without breaking them.

[lowtech]

I´ve got 2 spare springs which i suppose to come from older 91 vics with screwed together springs (as they came with a spare screw). shipping is cheap, so i can ship one of the m to you and you can test them. Or you measure teh curl on your springs and i check mine.

BTW: I did not find any older screwed together Scissors on any of my donor knifes.

[Gareth]

Looking great Syph, love the snap you are clearly getting.   Can the same spring be adapted for use on the 84mm frame?

Sadly no.  The 84 has more in common with the 91 as they share the center hole position (different size but some location).  That's how I was able to use 91 springs on 84s to get scissors on.  The 93s are completely their own beast as far as hole spacing for springs go.  This spring I made up should work for a number of components though. I can even completely grind down the one end and use it for 2 tools.

If I run out of the old scissor backsprings from 91s that I got from Tom, I may have to make some springs up for the 84 scissor mods.  I got a pile of them from him at the time, and I think i have 20 left, but he said he was running low on that old style last time I asked.

Ah well.   I rather thought that it was a long shot.

[Syph007]

Here's a very different one from my typical jobs.  It was a request by a user with the use of only one hand.  He wanted a one hand opener but just the electrician blade and nothing else.

This uses my custom spring for a type of solo electrician.  The blade was straightened out as normally they are bent to fit with the cap lifter.  I also rounded out the hump on the pivot on one side to require less force to start the opening process since the blade is shorter and there is less leverage.  I also peened this one.  Crazy I know...     The customer wanted it so I obliged.







My cat and I took some video to show the action. (He was just taunting the neighbours dogs which is why they were barking)



Cheers

[crackout]

May I see the other side?
Crazy mod!

[Syph007]

May I see the other side?
Crazy mod!

The back side doesnt count!   It looks the same but not polished.  I spun those rivets and buffed them before I peened the back.

[nuphoria]

That's great. I like the idea of OHO blades on SAKs but thought they would ruin the over all look... not so!

[nj2656]

It doesn't look like it but is the thumb stud drilled and tapped or does it just go over the top? Reason I'm asking is as I mentioned to you I would like that mod but in a multilayer.

[Syph007]

It doesn't look like it but is the thumb stud drilled and tapped or does it just go over the top? Reason I'm asking is as I mentioned to you I would like that mod but in a multilayer.

This type is just attached over the blade and you tighten with a set screw.

[Syph007]

I just finished delicate surgery to upgrade a red old cross pioneer.  This is my first colored stock anodize mod.  They are much trickier to work with than say silver stock anodize, or my hard anodized scales.  I cant countersink the center hole from the outside as I don't have the benefit of being able to re-anodize.  If I tried to countersink in these scales there would always be some rough edges showing around the screw and to me that's not acceptable.

So to do these type of mods I drill 1/8 from inside the scale in the center hole, careful to not go all the way through, then use smaller head screws from the outside.  It works out perfect, it's just much more fiddly.  Im reminded when I work with stock ones though how much I prefer my redone scales.  I take the time to edge sand the inner edges of the scales that Vic does not and leaves sharp.  That sharp edges is prone to chipping much more than mine does after gentle rounding.

You have to love the look of the old cross though, it's by far my favorite of the alox scales!













Cheers!

[Marius]

Delicious!

 

[Dexter]

Have to agree with you on the old cross style. Love it. 

[crackout]

Nicely done!

[nj2656]

Looks great but not your first. My pocket clip Urban was factory black anodized. Every once and awhile I can feel a slight burr but can not see it. No big deal it'll wear off. Anodizing is starting to wear. Can't wait for the blue jean finish.

[Syph007]

Looks great but not your first. My pocket clip Urban was factory black anodized. Every once and awhile I can feel a slight burr but can not see it. No big deal it'll wear off. Anodizing is starting to wear. Can't wait for the blue jean finish.

Oh you're right I'd forgotten that black alox.  The stock Vic anodize does wear pretty quick compared to the HA stuff.  I have one set of red scales with a ding on the finish Im thinking of sanding the top of them to get them a worn look just for fun.  Noone has carried one of mine long enough yet to get any natural wear.

[nj2656]

That stuff is so hard I don't think my 7 year could wear it out. He can wear ANYTHING out. Recently got an old cross red pioneer. Really like it, and really fighting the urge not to have it modded.

[heardrwt]

Just opened up the package containing my Syph007 mod.
It's so awesome!

I've dubbed it the Alox Climber. (Urban pioneer with small blade instead of the Awl.)

Syph007, thanks for all the hard work that went into making it a reality.

[Syph007]

Just opened up the package containing my Syph007 mod.
It's so awesome!

I've dubbed it the Alox Climber. (Urban pioneer with small blade instead of the Awl.)

Syph007, thanks for all the hard work that went into making it a reality.

Glad it made it to you safe, and I hope it serves you well! 

[Marius]

Just opened up the package containing my Syph007 mod.
It's so awesome!

I've dubbed it the Alox Climber. (Urban pioneer with small blade instead of the Awl.)

Congrats! I noticed the small blade being mentioned. Spear point, Settler style? Or another small blade? It looks we got at about the same time a similar custom from Robert  because I just got also an Urban Pioneer (Pioneer with scissors) with a small spear point blade instead of the awl. Could you or Robert post some pics or links to pics?

Robert, one more BIG thanks to you!

[Syph007]

Just opened up the package containing my Syph007 mod.
It's so awesome!

I've dubbed it the Alox Climber. (Urban pioneer with small blade instead of the Awl.)

Congrats! I noticed the small blade being mentioned. Spear point, Settler style? Or another small blade? It looks we got at about the same time a similar custom from Robert  because I just got also an Urban Pioneer (Pioneer with scissors) with a small spear point blade instead of the awl. Could you or Robert post some pics or links to pics?

Robert, one more BIG thanks to you!

That custom can be found in this album.   

http://s1117.photobucket.com/albums/k587/Syph007/Custom048/

[Marius]

Cool! So is that small blade from a Settler (93mm)? Seems a bit thicker than one from 91 mm like I got. Or is just the thicker spacer? Here:

[Syph007]

Cool! So is that small blade from a Settler (93mm)? Seems a bit thicker than one from 91 mm like I got. Or is just the thicker spacer? Here:

(Image removed from quote.)

Nope regular pen knife blade from 91mm SAK.  They are 0.015 inches thinner than the awl being replaced and I add a washer of phosphor bronze of that thickness between blade and spacer to compensate.  Same as I did to your mod.

[Marius]

I was just looking at the thickeness difference between the Settler blade and one from 91 mm.  I wonder if the washer can be skipped with a Settler blade. The profile is exactly the same on both, but thickness is different. It looks 1 mm for 91mm and 1.4 mm (?) for Settler.

[Syph007]

I was just looking at the thickeness difference between the Settler blade and one from 91 mm.  I wonder if the washer can be skipped with a Settler blade. The profile is exactly the same on both, but thickness is different. It looks 1 mm for 91mm and 1.4 mm (?) for Settler.

Ah, I see.  Is the settler blade the same thickness as the awl then?

[Marius]

Ah, I see.  Is the settler blade the same thickness as the awl then?

Yup. Would be great to find some donor Settlers for such future mods.. Until then the 91mm pen blade does just fine 

[Syph007]

I finished up just a regular urban pioneer this morning... but I still love the look of the red every time I use it.  Nothing like a shiny Vic wearing hard anodized red in the light of the rising sun...