Modders help needed.

Zack · **on:** October 17, 2009, 08:56:53 PM

Ok, so I have this Cybertool Lite, but its too dang big to carry and use comfortably. I would like to make it a little slimmer, by removing the scissors, openers, mag and lite, and the small blade. I would like to replace the small blade with a combo tool. Is this possible? I would also like to make another smaller knife making a sort of hybrid scientist with the lite and mag layer. I can send donors I just don't have the two combo tools. So how much would it cost and who would be willing to do it?

Tools I want in the CT Lite mod: Large blade, combo tool, pliers, and bit driver.
Tools I want in the hybrid scientist: blade, combo tool, lite and mag.

Gareth · **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2009, 01:36:21 AM

Both certainly sound possible.

Tsquare · **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2009, 05:23:12 AM

I think I saw one of those in the show off your mods thread about page 57 if I remember correctly. You may want to ask the one who modded it. Hope this helps.

Mike 56 · **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2009, 04:16:10 PM

I would not mind doing it for free but the thought of tearing a part someones Cybertool scares me. That and i have only modded one knife.

max6166 · **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2009, 05:58:36 PM

They should both be pretty easy to do.

Are you sure you don't want to just give the 1st layer removal mod a try yourself? It could be fun.

Just scrounge a combo tool from someone and you are good to go. I think there is a detailed step-by-step layer removal guide somewhere.

Honestly, it is pretty easy and a lot of fun.

At the very least, you should give the disassembly a try if you are at all interested in how SAKs work. You will never see SAKs in the same way again.

Benner · **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2009, 06:02:25 PM

You could always give Bill (Scibeer) a shout. Haven't heard from him in a while though.

nuphoria · **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2009, 07:23:26 PM

Quote from: Benner on October 18, 2009, 06:02:25 PM

You could always give Bill (Scibeer) a shout. Haven't heard from him in a while though.

Spoke to him a few weeks ago and he was stupid busy but still at it. He just goaded me in to doing it myself!

Zack · **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2009, 01:40:04 AM

I would do it, but I don't have the tools.

max6166 · **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2009, 02:00:40 AM

You don't need many tools. You could probably do it with just a hammer, a hacksaw and a nail if you really wanted to.

You just pop off the scales, remove the bushings, take out the layers your don't want, and smack the pins back down. Simple!

The most common tools used are a drill, a punch, and a ball peen hammer. A small bench vise would be handy too.

I got the hammer and a set of nail punches at a large dollar store for about $10 total.

The vise is mainly used to just keep the SAK in place while drilling out the pin heads. I got a small portable one for $10 at a hardware store, but there are other ways to keep the SAK from slipping.

It only gets complicated when you are doing weird mods where you need to reshape and drill parts, etc. Layer swapping is dead simple though.

Modding sounds a lot more difficult than it is and it is really a lot of fun. But I won't bug you about it any more...

ari6126 · **Reply #9 on:** October 19, 2009, 02:03:21 AM

I do my mods with my Locksmith, a $10 Dremel knockoff and a hammer.

Zack · **Reply #10 on:** October 19, 2009, 02:03:43 AM

I might give it a go, I just don't want to mess it up.

max6166 · **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2009, 02:14:54 AM

It is really, really hard to mess up a SAK. The only parts you might mess up are the bushings and pins, which can easily be replaced. The tools, etc. are really hard to damage.

I am sure the other modders here would walk you through things and throw you a few extra pins if you mess them up. Rotokid also sells pin stock.

You will probably not run into any major problems though.

The first step is to gently pry off the scales with something very thin. I use the small blade of a SAK, but other things would work.

The scales are held on by indents that go over the bushings. So basically, you are just prying the scale holes off the bushings.

As long as you go slowly, the scales should be fine. It's better if you don't damage the attachment holes, but even if you do, you can just glue them back on.

If you just pry one scale off, you will be able to see exactly what we are talking about and what is involved in doing the mod.

Go ahead and pop one scale off right now. It will take less than a minute and you can just pop it right back on after anyways....

jzmtl · **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2009, 02:36:35 AM

I know you can get replace pins fromm rotokid, but where do you get replacement bushings?

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2009, 02:54:07 AM

I did a Cybertool Compact once. My conclusion is that the minimal width reduction from removing the opener layer was not worth the bother and loss of several features...especially the Awl.

max6166 · **Reply #14 on:** October 19, 2009, 03:15:26 AM

Most modders save them up when ripping apart other SAKs. I don't know if Rotokid has any for sale.

You can always buy a junker Tinker or Spartan from Tim or somewhere else if you were really stuck.

But you are right - the bushings are not readily available like the pins.

Zack · **Reply #15 on:** October 19, 2009, 03:20:27 AM

Well I am trading the CT lite for the regular 34 so we will see if that is any better.

Gareth · **Reply #16 on:** October 19, 2009, 09:53:11 AM

Quote from: max6166 on October 19, 2009, 03:15:26 AM

Most modders save them up when ripping apart other SAKs. I don't know if Rotokid has any for sale.

You can always buy a junker Tinker or Spartan from Tim or somewhere else if you were really stuck.

But you are right - the bushings are not readily available like the pins.

You're right, there isn't a source that I'm aware of other than from scrap SAKs or "mod fodder" as Neil calls them.

Neil · **Reply #17 on:** October 19, 2009, 10:50:29 AM

I have to admit I don't bother carefully removing bushings. I've been through enough totally beat up SAKs to have accumulated a little supply of spare bushings.

If that's all that's putting anyone off having a go I can soon drop some in a jiffy bag

As with all tasks you may not have tried before the key is just to go really slowly. It may only take someone like scibeer half an hour to put a mod together (or less) but that doesn't mean its wrong for it to take you two days

I'd start by taking apart a couple of cheap used knives and then building yourself a small two layer knife. A popular starting point is putting together a SAK with a couple of blades and a wood saw. Not only is it a non-commercially available SAK but it makes for a good woods knife.

As always if anyone needs a couple of beaters (and I mean beaters) to get them started just PM me. I would politely point out that if you're in the USA Tim aka FelineVet always has very cheap used SAKs in stock and offers free shipping

Should you really be blessed with two left thumbs and not feel its something you can do then shoot Bill aka scibeer a line to see if he can put a knife together for you.

Yes I have been know to produce custom SAKs for cash and trades but frankly SAKs and hence parts are expensive over here.... oh and I'm not cheap

Gareth · **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2009, 11:14:07 AM

One of the simplest SAKs you can mod for yourself is a 91mm version of the Gourment.

It's just a case of taking a Spartan and removing the openers. As it's a simple layer removal than you can re-use the pins (they'll still be long enough) and so you don't even need to buy in pin stock. I also rather like it as a pocket knife myself.

Neil · **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2009, 11:33:38 AM

No saw?

smurf, been hanging around Mike too long

Gareth · **Reply #20 on:** October 19, 2009, 11:53:32 AM

Quote from: Neil on October 19, 2009, 11:33:38 AM

No saw?

Colorful Enunciation, been hanging around Mike too long

Oh smurf! So have I.

Neil · **Reply #21 on:** October 20, 2009, 10:39:30 AM

He's a bad influence

I'm surprised he hasn't persuaded me to make a 74mm saw as yet

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #22 on:** October 20, 2009, 04:43:58 PM

Mike, Lord of Colorful Enunciation!

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #23 on:** October 20, 2009, 05:58:15 PM

Quote from: Neil on October 20, 2009, 10:39:30 AM

He's a bad influence

I'm surprised he hasn't persuaded me to make a 74mm saw as yet

Why is that again?

Zack · **Reply #24 on:** October 22, 2009, 08:33:46 PM

Well I think I might give it a go tonight. No promises but I think I will least tear it down, as it seems fairly simple.

Neil · **Reply #25 on:** October 23, 2009, 12:22:02 AM

Remember, slowly

Good luck

Zack · **Reply #26 on:** October 23, 2009, 12:56:04 AM

Well i got the bushings drilled out and everything is apart, now I'm just waiting for the boy to go to bed so I can work on it some more. I can see a few of the mistakes I made so far, but I think it should still work out, if it doesn't I'll be back on here with pics. Should have it done tonight I suspect, then I will take some pics and post. This is quite fun and SAKs are very interesting when you get them apart...I didn't know exactly how they worked until now. Quite ingenious really.

max6166 · **Reply #27 on:** October 23, 2009, 02:18:34 AM

Quote from: Zack on October 23, 2009, 12:56:04 AM

This is quite fun and SAKs are very interesting when you get them apart...I didn't know exactly how they worked until now. Quite ingenious really.

Well done!

I think every SAK lover should disassemble a SAK at least once for the exact reasons you mentioned.

Zack · **Reply #28 on:** October 23, 2009, 06:02:53 AM

Well first attempt was a failure, I messed up somewhere in the peening. I am going to take everything apart again tomorrow, and use the brass rod from my craftsmen.

Neil · **Reply #29 on:** October 23, 2009, 11:31:44 AM

Quote from: Zack on October 23, 2009, 06:02:53 AM

Well first attempt was a failure, I messed up somewhere in the peening. I am going to take everything apart again tomorrow, and use the brass rod from my craftsmen.

Not slow enough

Hang in there Zack, you'll get it sussed

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