LM ReCharge with a twist

[babola]

Finally got around to finish my 'Oxy-ReCharge' project today. 

Since for me the MTs need to not only work well but must also look good (Zoidberg, get that smirk off your face! ) I sometimes put a little too much emphasis on the appearance, but can't help it, sorry   

So I decided to oxidize the Ti scales to force that well known darker shade of Titanium that normally takes years to develop by a normal oxidation process, plus few extra details you don't see everyday done on an MT.

Mods:

- Swapped stock Charge pliers with the Rebar pliers with replaceable wire cutters.

- Awl also from Rebar - this one wasn't a simple drop in as it required a little bit of 'meat' taken off the top arch closer to the tip so that the pliers would close properly inside the handle. 

- Oxidized Ti scales; although not that visible from the photos, these are now 2-3 shades of gray darker than the original Ti scales. I'll see if I can borrow a standard Charge TTi from a colleague of mine sometime next week for comparison photo.

- Blued pivot screws; I originally wanted to acid etch these but like the blued finish better this time as it's near perfect fit with the Ti scales, almost identical. You wouldn't tell the scales and screws are made from a two very different materials.

- Flattened the dome on screws. While I like button top screws very much, I found a flattened top being in sync with the flat edges of the Ti scales. You may like this or not, but I believe LM should have included slightly flatter screws on a factory standard Charge.

Anyway, that's about it and I'm really stoked how it all came out in the end. 

[ducttapetech]

Wow!! That looks good!

Nate

[bmot]

 


Besides that, I do think you need to somehow make the clip more matching, too 

[babola]

Besides that, I do think you need to somehow make the clip more matching, too 

Thanks Nate and bmot, yeah I agree...the clip darkening is certainly something on my radar. Unfortunately the area of the clip is a little too large for an even blueing effect (I use a small hand torch), so will have to acid etch it with some ferric chloride which I have inciming sometime next week. Stay tuned for more...

[Lichtbote]

Really nice looking. 

[zoidberg]

Very nice mate. 

[babola]

Very nice mate. 

Thanks for your help with those fiddly Rebar screws 

[Dexter]

Looks great!

[hiraethus]

Very good finish you've got there, looks like a factory model.

[Toolslinger]

Very nice .

How'd you flatten the screws? I presume you ground some material off the dome?

[JAfromMn]

        

[Aloha]

That sure is a terrific color and I'm sure in person its even better looking.  Great job 

[Metropolicity]

Super!!!

[Kampfer]

 

[Breezy12]

excellent work!

[enki_ck]

Now that's more like it.

Excellent job.

[babola]

Thanks guys, I thought about doing similar to my Wave too but I'm broke at the moment with both of my kids birthdays next month and Christmas around the corner, so will have to wait better days 

How'd you flatten the screws? I presume you ground some material off the dome?

You can put them in a vice and file off the tops, or hold them in a pliers and run them upside down over a sand paper you placed on a flat surface. I do normally do the latter. Start with 400 grit and go down to 800 if you like the brushed top finish, or end up with 2000-4000 for the more polished look.

Whatever you chose make sure the screw is held 'perfectly' up right and that there's no wiggle as you'll end up with rounded top instead of flat. 

[pietervn]

G'Day,

That looks REALLY good. I'm a big fan of the Ti Charge, and darkening the scales looks fantastic. Would you mind sharing how you did it?

I have heated a set of scales for the rainbow effect, but I think this looks very nice, almost gunmetal gray. Never thought about the screws, I might give them a bit of heat... 

Well done,

Pete

[babola]

G'Day,

That looks REALLY good. I'm a big fan of the Ti Charge, and darkening the scales looks fantastic. Would you mind sharing how you did it?

I have heated a set of scales for the rainbow effect, but I think this looks very nice, almost gunmetal gray. Never thought about the screws, I might give them a bit of heat... 

Well done,

Pete

Thanks mate...not hard, oxidized them for about 15mins. Will drop you a PM. Cheers.

[Mr Biriyani]

Very,very, very beautiful !

[DazMechanical]

Looks great babola! 

[MARIOS7319]

Very nice !
If you didn't told us this mod and i saw the photos elsewhere, i will probably thinking that this Charge was a special version.

I really like when i see people with imagination, to be able to make the thoughts into reality.

If someday you decide to sell it, let me know.

[babola]

Thanks for your kind words...I think I'll keep this one for a while

[babola]

For comparison purposes I borrowed my colleague's original un-touched Charge TTi.
The difference in gray color of the scales is definitely there and is even more evident in real life.

[zoidberg]

I know which one I want more. 

[Breezy12]

great comparison pics! and I really like the way your oxidized scales turned out...

[babola]

great comparison pics! and I really like the way your oxidized scales turned out...

Thanks man, your mods definitely add to my inspiration. Thinking about next one already. 

I happened to have a spare Wave...hmmm 

[Breezy12]

great comparison pics! and I really like the way your oxidized scales turned out...

Thanks man, your mods definitely add to my inspiration. Thinking about next one already. 

I happened to have a spare Wave...hmmm 

thanks for the kind words. but I can't be held responsible for you catching the modding fever!

you know it's bad when you look for good deals on tools that you already have just so you can use them in mods.

[babola]

thanks for the kind words. but I can't be held responsible for you catching the modding fever!

you know it's bad when you look for good deals on tools that you already have just so you can use them in mods.

Oh yes, one can never own too many Rebars, for example 

[Outback in Idaho]

  Wow, impressive. Could go for that one too.

  My TTi has been used and abused, and the awl I had on doesn't look half as good as yours does. Don't know why Leatherman hasn't woken up and smelled the coffee yet. Charge owners want the awl too.



  Was so not impressed with Dave Canterbury's version, as he put the awl in the middle instead of the outside. He obviously did not do his homework or looked here in the forums. And here leatherman says they don't mod for anyone, ha!