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Tool Talk => The Mod Squad => Topic started by: RimfireNZ on March 13, 2014, 09:44:55 AM

Title: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: RimfireNZ on March 13, 2014, 09:44:55 AM
First off, thanks Gareth for your very useful post (http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,9808.0.html) on an intro to SAK modding.

Enter the Tinker

The Tinker is a great little SAK. It's crazy that Victorinox don't seem to think the Phillips driver is important. It's excluded from almost every model. It's the most commonly used tool on my Leatherman. The one thing the Tinker is missing is the scissors. So why not add some?

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/93C1A744-1BD2-421B-8B35-A0C11056A116_zpsmlmliq6v.jpg)

After using a centre punch to mark the middle of these pins I drilled them out with a drill press using a 2.5mm drill bit.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/6FD62DBD-883B-4732-8861-2B8E4E022517_zpseyyn5wtl.jpg)

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/7573B5FE-6F40-403D-9557-45DFF8EA28D4_zps5p8vith6.jpg)

Then once I punched the pins partially through using a nail (I don't have a punch that small) I pulled them through with the Leatherman.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/8FC15EDD-9AB2-4650-B21B-B5D8F6C1C383_zpspecyv4xo.jpg)

Then once the pins were out (and I taped the knife together) I needed to file the last little pin away.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/36F368B6-577C-4EBC-B6F7-277007F759A8_zpso6wldegm.jpg)

Then I carefully laid out the bits in order.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/6391976B-DF7E-4FCB-B713-7DE9D02D032D_zpsbcohyaal.jpg)

Making the pins was by far the hardest bit. Not bending them, while peening them properly was awkward,

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/C3ABCF74-8E3D-4F65-9F24-54BA62DE1386_zpsxnyyzxbw.jpg)

And making the 2.25mm pins involved using my new hight tech lathe…

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/22BDD686-BF05-46D7-A4F0-820F49F67AAE_zpsocoeteyj.jpg)

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/BE2117E7-36E2-4DB7-BE58-A28B5C6D996C_zpsw1btjvdr.jpg)

Then starting to put things together

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/75ECF848-194D-4C04-8DAE-3FF01068E064_zpsyiod2bxy.jpg)

Not trying to make everything fit off the bat is important. You can get everything lined up with the springs later.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/6A8B452B-FBBB-479B-9DC0-55051702182F_zpsom6w87a6.jpg)

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/AEC53AA2-E90C-4933-8595-ED04F00439F5_zpsriani6jl.jpg)

I'm nearly there
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/4EC80E39-6C90-4CF9-BA80-43E05021F595_zps5kswbn2o.jpg)

I was crapping myself at this point. I was scared I was going to make the pin too long or short. You don't get a lot of chances at this point.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/8C5915ED-06BA-4AA2-B19A-DC3FBCD121C2_zpsmksbtuzp.jpg)

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/117D8251-CDE5-4790-9905-769C9B5396C1_zps40cercm6.jpg)

You can see I've made an error here. I put a little spacer in the wrong way which meant the knife kept getting stuck. So I had to file it. No was I was taking this apart again!

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/3BD5A9C8-3A74-4E91-B6B8-671CB72C7410_zpsretb2onb.jpg)

Tadaa… super tinker… sort of.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/C84028C2-6A08-4916-A7F9-6B1DD4EE0AAD_zpstcr6q3rp.jpg)

I know it's nothing flash or really that great… but I'm pretty chuffed with how it turned out :D I've just put my tweezers and toothpick down somewhere and lost them. They'll turn up.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/E9646352-519B-4C35-8A54-5A863C30314E_zpsbnlgn8gs.jpg)
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: ducttapetech on March 13, 2014, 09:54:48 AM
Nice job!

that's us mobile

Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: magentus on March 13, 2014, 09:58:24 AM
First off... :salute: I admire anyone taking that first leap. I've not been brave enough yet....

Secondly, Great job! That's a useful mod.

Mostly, I love that you have taken on and successfully completed the task with just basic tools, it gives me confidence that one day I can do the same.

Thanks for sharing.  :tu:
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: zoidberg on March 13, 2014, 10:06:32 AM
Nice one brother.  :tu:
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: PTRSAK on March 13, 2014, 11:05:36 AM

Making the pins was by far the hardest bit. Not bending them, while peening them properly was awkward,

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/RimfireNZ/Mobile%20Uploads/C3ABCF74-8E3D-4F65-9F24-54BA62DE1386_zpsxnyyzxbw.jpg)


Here is a handy tip. I peen the heads on my pins by holding the pin in the chuck of my cordless drill and peening with the drill running.
Many light taps with a small hammer (2oz) it keeps the pins straight and makes a nice even head.
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: RimfireNZ on March 13, 2014, 11:12:09 AM
Here is a handy tip. I peen the heads on my pins by holding the pin in the chuck of my cordless drill and peening with the drill running.
Many light taps with a small hammer (2oz) it keeps the pins straight and makes a nice even head.

Thanks PTRSAK, I'll give that a go next time... As long as it doesn't feel like it's buggering my drill because that wasn't cheap :p

I'm going to have to pick up a few more used SAKs for practice.
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: MadPlumbarian on March 13, 2014, 11:52:00 AM
Very nice job!  JR
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: sawman on March 13, 2014, 12:57:05 PM
Splendid work!  :climber:
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: hiraethus on March 13, 2014, 04:53:31 PM
Good stuff. :tu:

I've only just started modding, but am on my 4th build already - it gets easier and faster.  Very addictive.
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: enki_ck on March 13, 2014, 05:01:36 PM
Very nice looking mod and good work on your first try. :tu:

Here is a handy tip. I peen the heads on my pins by holding the pin in the chuck of my cordless drill and peening with the drill running.
Many light taps with a small hammer (2oz) it keeps the pins straight and makes a nice even head.

Thanks PTRSAK, I'll give that a go next time... As long as it doesn't feel like it's buggering my drill because that wasn't cheap :p

I'm going to have to pick up a few more used SAKs for practice.

And that's how it starts. >:D
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: RimfireNZ on March 13, 2014, 10:52:03 PM
Now I have to build something very similar but with an inline phillips driver instead of the silly corkscrew one. I'd love to try to get an inline phillips with the flathead/cap lifter and can opener across from it like Syph007 does… but I'm imagining it's not going to be that simple :P

I'm eyeing up my Swisschamp but that has sentimental value :s might have to get another Swisschamp! I'm annoyed because one came up second hand for reasonably cheap the other day and I didn't get it as a couple of the tools looked a little rough :s

Oh well, I'm not in a rush. In the meantimeI'll practice by putting together another knife out of the leftovers, breaking it down, then trying again.
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: Aloha on March 14, 2014, 12:45:30 AM
 :tu: great job.  I'm getting closer to giving this a go myself and with basic tools you shown it can be done. 
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: n4vgm on March 15, 2014, 04:19:46 PM
"Here is a handy tip. I peen the heads on my pins by holding the pin in the chuck of my cordless drill and peening with the drill running."

I just used this awesome idea yesterday (I will be posting a "First SAK Mod" when It's all done and I have the best pics) So a BIG THANKS to PTRSAK!   :tu:

Just a teaser, it's a 91mm Vic with a metal file replacing the main blade. However, I am learning the hard way how easy it is to make mistakes during assembly!   :o
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: Fattsgalore on March 16, 2014, 06:32:36 AM
So you finally got your brass...Nice.
Were the scissors from that Climber you disassembled?

What's next on the mod list? You should think about one of my faves. It's pretty much a Compact with pliers. I prefer scissors with screw joint and no hook though. I find it to be one of the most efficient suburban/urban SAK combos. EDC one exclusively...with Electronic scales too boot.

Don't sleep on junk lots or pieces. Any SAK 4 layers and up is a good choice for mood fodder. The condition of the blades themselves shouldn't matter, nor the scales, but the other tools need to be in good order and nothing with deep or heavy rusty.
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: RimfireNZ on March 16, 2014, 09:57:14 AM
So you finally got your brass...Nice.
Were the scissors from that Climber you disassembled?

What's next on the mod list? You should think about one of my faves. It's pretty much a Compact with pliers. I prefer scissors with screw joint and no hook though. I find it to be one of the most efficient suburban/urban SAK combos. EDC one exclusively...with Electronic scales too boot.

Don't sleep on junk lots or pieces. Any SAK 4 layers and up is a good choice for mood fodder. The condition of the blades themselves shouldn't matter, nor the scales, but the other tools need to be in good order and nothing with deep or heavy rusty.

Yeah those scissors were from the other climber  :) (which I've since put back together as a spartan out of).

I'd real like to get a compact, but the only place I really buy stuff from the US from (Optics planet) doesn't have any available. I'll keep an eye out.

The next one I want to do is bringing some life back into my old Wenger. If I can get another blade for it and a set of scissors it'll be great. I'm not sure if they use all the same pin sizes etc but I'm just starting to find out info about it.
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: RimfireNZ on March 16, 2014, 09:58:49 AM
"Here is a handy tip. I peen the heads on my pins by holding the pin in the chuck of my cordless drill and peening with the drill running."

I just used this awesome idea yesterday (I will be posting a "First SAK Mod" when It's all done and I have the best pics) So a BIG THANKS to PTRSAK!   :tu:

Just a teaser, it's a 91mm Vic with a metal file replacing the main blade. However, I am learning the hard way how easy it is to make mistakes during assembly!   :o

I'm a little bit concerned about busting my drill by doing that, but I can give it a go.

I know what you mean about putting things together the wrong way. I had to have a second run at putting the spartan together that I made out of spares.
Title: Re: My First SAK Mod (Pic heavy)
Post by: n4vgm on March 20, 2014, 02:50:25 AM
We need to start an online collaborative music group called "Mod Fodder!"

It will be a "Metal" band - of course!