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De-sticking the Skeletool blade

J-sews · 20 · 7141

us Offline J-sews

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De-sticking the Skeletool blade
on: April 13, 2008, 03:09:46 AM
Much as I like the new Skeletool and Skeletool CX, I find that little bump on the liner lock to be rather annoying. >:(  Why oh why didn't Leatherman use a little ball bearing like what they showed on the prototypes?  The little bump is stamped directly into the liner lock steel, and it has an abrupt edge that "catches" when you try flicking the knife blade open.

The condition is worse when the tool is brand new. After a bit of use, the edge of the bump wears down slightly, making it noticably easier to flick the blade open.

If you are like me and don't have much patience there is a faster way. On the backside of your knife blade there will be a shiney line showing where the little bump rubs.



Using a Dremel tool (or a small abrasive stone) carefully put a shallow angle on the edge of the hole where the rub line intersects it.



This shallow angle acts as a ramp, smoothing out the movement of the blade quite remarkably. The shallow angle you grind doesn't have to be very big (its hardly noticable on mine) nor does it go all the way around the hole. Only where the rub line comes into the hole. See below:



Bob






In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


Offline Leatherman123

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #1 on: April 13, 2008, 03:15:53 AM
I will do this to my CX tomorrow morning... While watching Rocky III, I opened and closed the blade about 2,000 times and the blade is smooth now!
B


gb Offline Mike, Lord of the Spammers!

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #2 on: April 13, 2008, 10:31:16 AM
Patients is apparently a virtue Bob :angel:

Good job mate, I guess they droped the BB idea to save money ::)
Give in, buy several Farmer's!!!!!!


us Offline J-sews

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #3 on: April 13, 2008, 01:09:47 PM
Patients is apparently a virtue Bob :angel:

Good job mate, I guess they droped the BB idea to save money ::)

Yes I suspect you are right.  :-\

Here's the prototype picture with the ball bearing that Leatherman released some months ago.

In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


Offline Tom Munch

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #4 on: April 13, 2008, 06:29:44 PM
I don't have ball bearings on any of my LM's.  Do they make any tools or knives with ball bearings?


gb Offline Mike, Lord of the Spammers!

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #5 on: April 13, 2008, 07:00:44 PM
I can see why they cheaped out, as it's not really neccassary, but it's a shame they did :(
Give in, buy several Farmer's!!!!!!


Offline Leatherman123

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #6 on: April 14, 2008, 02:45:42 AM
I was going to do this with my CX but I watched Under Siege and the bump is almost smooth!
B


ca Offline Grant Lamontagne

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #7 on: April 14, 2008, 02:49:45 AM
Yeah- Stephen Segal has that effect on me too...  :ahhh

Def
Leave the dents as they are- let your belongings show their scars as proudly as you do yours.


Offline Leatherman123

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #8 on: April 14, 2008, 02:55:27 AM
Oh yes, IMO, his best movie was Out For Justice!
B


ca Offline Grant Lamontagne

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #9 on: April 14, 2008, 02:59:13 AM
Yup, just thinking about his "acting" flattens out my IQ....

Imagine how good a fighter he'd be if he opened his eyes!

Def
Leave the dents as they are- let your belongings show their scars as proudly as you do yours.


ca Offline jzmtl

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #10 on: April 14, 2008, 03:28:48 AM

Yes I suspect you are right.  :-\

Here's the prototype picture with the ball bearing that Leatherman released some months ago.

(Image removed from quote.)

The serration looks better on prototype too.


us Offline J-sews

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #11 on: April 14, 2008, 03:35:51 AM

Yes I suspect you are right.  :-\

Here's the prototype picture with the ball bearing that Leatherman released some months ago.
The serration looks better on prototype too.

Yah, I was noticing that.... :-\ 
In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


Offline cgk

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #12 on: April 14, 2008, 08:25:16 PM
J- I did your Mod and I like it, thanks.  While doing yours I decided to try and add a file to the skeletool.  I used a pop rivet on one end so I could rotate it if need be, here are the pics.

* untitled.jpg (Filesize: 80.14 KB)

* untitled2.jpg (Filesize: 45.38 KB)


us Offline J-sews

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #13 on: April 15, 2008, 02:43:35 AM
J- I did your Mod and I like it, thanks.  While doing yours I decided to try and add a file to the skeletool.  I used a pop rivet on one end so I could rotate it if need be, here are the pics.

Whoa, that's a pretty interesting idea! Where did you get the file blade from?


(Oh, and congrats on getting the knife blade action smoothed out)  :)
In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


Offline cgk

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #14 on: April 15, 2008, 02:58:35 AM
It was from a cheapo MT I had laying around.  The second hole was drilled because I intended it to be in another spot, but as with most of my ideas...that turned out not to work.


us Offline J-sews

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #15 on: April 15, 2008, 03:11:16 AM
It was from a cheapo MT I had laying around.  The second hole was drilled because I intended it to be in another spot, but as with most of my ideas...that turned out not to work.

Yah, I can't even remember how many times I've re-learned the old "measure twice, cut once" lesson! :P


In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


Offline scibeer

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #16 on: April 15, 2008, 09:55:17 AM
Good tip, I just got my cx in the mail today and its pretty tight.



Offline cgk

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #17 on: April 15, 2008, 10:46:53 PM
Extra bonus on the file, with the nail tick cut off and filed thinner it makes a pretty good flat head screw driver without having to switch out the Phillips-head on the Skeletool driver.


us Offline prime77

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #18 on: April 15, 2008, 11:05:21 PM
Good tip, I just got my cx in the mail today and its pretty tight.


Mine came today as well and it's tight all right. I'm not brave enough to take a dremel to it though.
"


Offline Leatherman123

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Re: De-sticking the Skeletool blade
Reply #19 on: April 17, 2008, 12:42:12 AM
I love my Skeletool's now! The OHO is so smooth!
B


 

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