Removing the aluminium sides on a Juice, bad idea ?

[appletree_man]

In my ongoing quest to mod (break) things, i'm toying with the idea of removing the aluminium sides on my Juice.
They don't seem to do anything and are a bit sharp edged and tinny.
What do you reckon ? 

[jdailey4206966]

I don't know about removing them. I figure if they are there, they must be there for some reason. I would try to take a buffing wheel or something from a dremel and smooth them down. I did that with my Fuse when I carried it. The zytel handles had a sharp edge on it that would bite your hand, but if you smooth them down, no problems.

[J-sews]

I've been thinking about this one for awhile Kenny. I think the skeletonized frame would look pretty cool with no side panels on it. But it seems those pesky rivets would have to be removed and then re-installed in order to get the aluminum off. How would you do that?

[Leatherman123]

Didn't Tom Munch already do this mod? 

[appletree_man]

I've been thinking about this one for awhile Kenny. I think the skeletonized frame would look pretty cool with no side panels on it. But it seems those pesky rivets would have to be removed and then re-installed in order to get the aluminum off. How would you do that?

  To be honest I was thinking of just wedging a screwdriver or similar in and busting through the aluminium. It's so thin looking that i'm certain it will split.

Didn't Tom Munch already do this mod? 

Ah cool    Have you a link ? 

[J-sews]

I've been thinking about this one for awhile Kenny. I think the skeletonized frame would look pretty cool with no side panels on it. But it seems those pesky rivets would have to be removed and then re-installed in order to get the aluminum off. How would you do that?

  To be honest I was thinking of just wedging a screwdriver or similar in and busting through the aluminium. It's so thin looking that i'm certain it will split.

But if it splits off, won't that leave a small gap under the rivet heads where the aluminum used to be? And therefore cause the blades to have more side-to-side slop?

[AndyTiedye]

Someone else tried taking the scales off their LM,  and complained about the FrankenRivets left behind.

[appletree_man]

I've been thinking about this one for awhile Kenny. I think the skeletonized frame would look pretty cool with no side panels on it. But it seems those pesky rivets would have to be removed and then re-installed in order to get the aluminum off. How would you do that?

  To be honest I was thinking of just wedging a screwdriver or similar in and busting through the aluminium. It's so thin looking that i'm certain it will split.

But if it splits off, won't that leave a small gap under the rivet heads where the aluminum used to be? And therefore cause the blades to have more side-to-side slop?

Hmmm    Yeah that could be a problem. Oh why did they make it with these scales in the first place 

[J-sews]

I've been thinking about this one for awhile Kenny. I think the skeletonized frame would look pretty cool with no side panels on it. But it seems those pesky rivets would have to be removed and then re-installed in order to get the aluminum off. How would you do that?

  To be honest I was thinking of just wedging a screwdriver or similar in and busting through the aluminium. It's so thin looking that i'm certain it will split.

But if it splits off, won't that leave a small gap under the rivet heads where the aluminum used to be? And therefore cause the blades to have more side-to-side slop?

Hmmm    Yeah that could be a problem. Oh why did they make it with these scales in the first place 

I think because all of their normal customers like them that way...

[appletree_man]

  Damned cheek, i'm mostly normal 
I'm going to find Tim Leatherman and give him a piece of my mind.

[Benner]

The pics are in this thread here http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,3461.30.html

[appletree_man]

Cheers    That looks so good without the scales 

[appletree_man]

Well i've passed the event horizon     A few minutes work with a small screwdriver and pliers and I have a nude Juice.

It feels great, far better grip than the smooth aluminium, and this once chubby multi feels much more controllable and thin.
If any problems develop (as they could on an unmodded Juice) i'm certain a little gentle peening would solve it.

Hope I won't be black balled 

[J-sews]

So far so good then eh? Which Juice model is it that you peeled?

[appletree_man]

Juice XE6.

[NeitherExtreme]

Looks great! So it was pretty easy, huh? I've got an S2 in my pocket........

Anyway, looks like you should carry that XE6 with this:

[appletree_man]

^ 

I could actually bend up the scales with my fingers, which surprised me. Then I sort of prised it a bit more with a screwdriver and broke it in half with pliers, each side took about 15 seconds. The aluminium is very thin.

I hope no Juice fans (of which I am one) see it as vandalism. This is a daily EDC so it's not going to be traded or sold.

[J-sews]

Juice XE6.

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Well now that looks pretty dang cool if you ask me!

[appletree_man]

Looks like a bit off Battlestar Galactica doesn't it ? 

[J-sews]

Looks like a bit off Battlestar Galactica doesn't it ? 

Yah, kinda robo-pliery like!

[american lockpicker]

Am I the only one who thinks the Aluminium scales look better?

[max6166]

Nope, I definitely prefer the bare aluminum too.

[prime77]

I really like it. Good job.

[appletree_man]

Am I the only one who thinks the Aluminium scales look better?

Just to clarify I didn't do it for looks. The flimsy feel of the scales meant this was on it's way to becoming a drawer queen for me. The grip and overall feel is superb now.

[duckman1975]

Do you see anyside effects without the scales? will it loosen the tool?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Great job mate

[MultiMat]

I like the look of those apples Appletreeman    . It looks like a well made/cool suspension  . I  recently saw a Juice with the scales really badly scratched up  for sale on Ebay & I thought good luck selling that crappy looking tool ,if only I knew of the beauty under the beast  .

[appletree_man]

Do you see anyside effects without the scales? will it loosen the tool?

None so far. This morning just to be sure I gave the rivets a quick tap.

[appletree_man]

Hmm, just noticed a little bit of slackness in a couple of tools, but a further tap has helped that. Hope this mod doesn't come unstuck 

[J-sews]

Hmm, just noticed a little bit of slackness in a couple of tools, but a further tap has helped that. Hope this mod doesn't come unstuck 

All you need is a bigger hammer