My small adventure into 58mm SAK modding!

[Syph007]

This doenst really fit into my big alox thread since I'll be doing a few cellidor and alox 58 mods, so I'll just make this thread to document my work into 58's.  I only have a few planned so this wont be a very big thread anyhow.

I got a pink alox slim usb for cheap as I think noone likes pink as much as the other colors.  So it gets to be my very first 58mm alox breakdown.  I have a nicer orange one coming from Germany, and I will be much more careful with that tear down to keep the scales nice.



The center drills pictured are what I use to take off the rivet head to break down 84 and 93mm alox super fast.  If you are trying to drill out a rivet with a standard drill bit, stop the aggravation and pick up center drills. 

I started off with the small one, but it was actually a tad too small to get the hole head of the rivet off cleanly.



So i switched to the larger one I normally use. And it got the head just perfect.



Here is a closeup to show how it looks after the rivet heads have been obliterated!



I didnt have a small punch so I just ground off the drill bit part of a tiny drill bit and that became my punch.



Now just tap it with a small hammer against something solid and that little rivet pops right out.



And here we go with the alox part all disassembled. There are only 3 brass barrel spacers, the 4th is that clear plastic piece that rotates to deploy the USB module.



The scales are not perfect and have a few scratches since I wasnt super careful, but this will get hard anodized red anyhow, so it's really no big deal.  I only bought this for the USB module and modding practice!

Cheers

[Mr. Whippy]

Like those drill bits.

[crackout]

Guys, lock up your Classics, Syph is in town

[enki_ck]

Like those drill bits.

That's what I was thinking as well

Looking forward to updates to this.

[Syph007]

I prototyped the fat spacer with T&T from polycarbonate, and it works just fine...







...but I can't make a part from what is essentially plastic, when metal is so much better, and barely any harder to work with.

I only got the shape cut out so far from 6061 T6, and just need to cut the channels then polish er up and its good to go.

The added benefit of course is that being metal and stronger it acts as a liner instead of the plastic one which would need a liner on each side to be strong enough.

[nuphoria]

Nice... and how many people will be begging you to make 58mm mods for them now?

[jrp316]

As always, Syph can be counted on to take it to that next level...

[Syph007]

Nice... and how many people will be begging you to make 58mm mods for them now?

I dont think I'll get too into it, but its an interesting side diversion for now.  I promised a few people Ti and brass scaled minichamps that I'll likely build, and for myself I want to do a few monsters.  Cellidor and alox ones for sure.  But I think thats about all I got planned.

I've got 31 93mm mods in the queue right now, so I still have lots left to do in that size.

[oreogaborio]

Nice!   

[Mr. Whippy]

Amazing concept.  I would have never thought the T&T would fit in a 58mm Alox scale. Simply amazing. 

[PTRSAK]

The added benefit of course is that being metal and stronger it acts as a liner instead of the plastic one which would need a liner on each side to be strong enough.

Not to mention that it can be anodized...

[Syph007]

The added benefit of course is that being metal and stronger it acts as a liner instead of the plastic one which would need a liner on each side to be strong enough.

Not to mention that it can be anodized...

That thought never even occurred to me! 

Yes... for sure!

[PTRSAK]

That thought never even occurred to me! 

Yes... for sure!

You're pulling my leg right?

[Syph007]

That thought never even occurred to me! 

Yes... for sure!

You're pulling my leg right?

No, well I mean I know I can anodize Al, I just hadn't thought of doing it for this project.  Im doing red next so it might look nice in red...

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Okay, let me engage of my specialty of derailing threads here...

Any info you want to share about making your own Alox scales?  I remember in one of the other threads here in Mod Squad you mentioned you might be doing that... any updates?

Back on topic, very cool mod!  You are truly an artist with this stuff Bob!  I just wish I could afford a SAK USB drive that I could afford in a usable capacity!  (64 GB+!)

[Syph007]

Any info you want to share about making your own Alox scales?  I remember in one of the other threads here in Mod Squad you mentioned you might be doing that... any updates?

Im hoping by the summer I can have some made.  It will take a mill converted to CNC, and me learning how to run it.

[Syph007]

Some more 58mm donor victims showed up today.  Even thou they are only cellidor scales I always liked the silver tech ones.







The new white leds are surprisingly bright.  Oddly enough there seem to be 2 stages as well.  Both of these are white led, but one is noticeably bluer in tint and about half as bright.

[Syph007]

I finished the T&T holder layer.  Worked out perfectly.





















Now I just need the rest of my donors to show up and I can put together the monster.

Cheers

[PTRSAK]

that is very cool

[enki_ck]

Very cool. Did you cut that by hand? No you got me wanting to do it too.

[Syph007]

Very cool. Did you cut that by hand? No you got me wanting to do it too.

Yup, with my jewelers saw.   I was thinking about trying to make one for the pen holder to put in a middle layer to put the stylus in since one scale tool is already the pen, but the stylus adds yet another tool. 

I think that would about be all i wanted to add.  That other file variant is only found on old duchess's and they seem to cost too much.  Although I did find one tool variant the original 58 monster doesn't have.  Its the sd tip ruler, but it has no rule on it. Just a flat plain tool with an sd tip, so I have to find one other tool to pair it with. Id love to track down the old file version, but no luck yet.

On there is also the whistle scale.  If I did interior layered pen and stylus, I could then have a whistle scale but Ive never found one for sale.

[enki_ck]

I've seen a used one (the whistle) on eBay a couple of months ago. It went for about $8 if I remember correctly. Maybe Tim can get you a used one somewhere. Neil used to have a bunch of them. Usually for less than $10 http://www.edcsource.com/...uction_id,auction_details
Maybe he has some left and you can get one when he gets back.

[Outback in Idaho]

  When I added a tweezers channel on my 6mm wood scales I gouged out the wood right where the tweezer legs spread open at the epoch. This helps keep the tweezers in place and prevents them from being molded flat for longer periods of time.

  Left scale


  You have room for that on your idea, but would entail a bit more work too. By opening both sides to accommodate the tweezer spread width this would not only help maintain the bent sprung shape but also hold the tweezers into the material. As opposed to pancaking them in between a thin channel.

[Syph007]

Hmm I didnt think about whether the tight quarters would compress the tweezers over time, but thats a good idea to leave some extra space at the end for it to expand.  I'll widen that part before I do the final assembly.

[oreogaborio]

Lookin good, Syph!

I like those silver tech scales.

[Outback in Idaho]

Hmm I didnt think about whether the tight quarters would compress the tweezers over time, but thats a good idea to leave some extra space at the end for it to expand.  I'll widen that part before I do the final assembly.

  Just trying to help. 

[neillcurrie]

The new white leds are surprisingly bright.  Oddly enough there seem to be 2 stages as well.  Both of these are white led, but one is noticeably bluer in tint and about half as bright.


[/quote]

The battery quality on one might be slipping, try them with brand new batteries. But I agree with you, the newer white LED's are surprisingly bright for such a crappy little power source.

[Syph007]

I'm still waiting on donors for my mega monster build, but in the mean time to satisfy my 58mm modding urges I knocked up some cartridge brass scales and liner today.  I do love the look of brass.    I think I'll likely put together a rambler with these.





Next is going to be Ti scales and liners as a few folks have expressed interest in those.

[jrp316]

I'd love to make a brass lined Rambler...blue alox scales and brass liners would be the thing for me right there.

[rickinFL]

would love a ti scaled rambler.