And so it begins.... (My adventures into Alox!)

[captain spaulding]

I'm not a fan of the combo tool, but I wouldn't kick it out of my pocket. 

LOL I feel the same way actually.  I prefer the standard openers since they are thicker, but sometimes the combo tool has its place.

Most definitely. 

[nj2656]

I'd love that combination without the magnifier. Never had the need for it. Wish Vic would do a combination wrench or find some other tool. Could you have the combo opener blade side and the awl in place of the mag.

[Random Dan]

I'd love that combination without the magnifier. Never had the need for it. Wish Vic would do a combination wrench or find some other tool. Could you have the combo opener blade side and the awl in place of the mag.

I know he does them with the separate can opener and bottle opener both across from the phillips. That's how I'd go.

[nj2656]

That's one of the four mods I've had Robert do. Just got two back and looking at another. Isn't the first step admitting you have a problem.

[nj2656]

Robert, I saw a picture on line of a marlin spike mod. Not sure if it was one of yours or not. Marlin spike, main blade, saw, combo tool and awl. Combo and awl looked like same layer. Awl was opened to the same side as the blade. Have you done one like that? I'd like to have some thing like that but don't really care for the spike. Thought maybe scissors or a metal saw/file instead.

[Random Dan]

That's one of the four mods I've had Robert do. Just got two back and looking at another. Isn't the first step admitting you have a problem.

Four? 

[Syph007]

Robert, I saw a picture on line of a marlin spike mod. Not sure if it was one of yours or not. Marlin spike, main blade, saw, combo tool and awl. Combo and awl looked like same layer. Awl was opened to the same side as the blade. Have you done one like that? I'd like to have some thing like that but don't really care for the spike. Thought maybe scissors or a metal saw/file instead.

I did put the awl and the cap lifter in a layer once. I had to bend the caplifter to get it to fit though so I dont think it was the best way to do it.  The awl is longer than it looks, longer than the can opener which is the problem.

[nj2656]

Way back near the beginning of this thread he added scissors and a pocket clip to a black Pioneer. Then I had him remove the opener layer from a +B fire steel Farmer and add red anodized scales. Just sent the Pioneer back for a new mod. The clip didn't work out. So I had an opener layer mod done with orange scales and black liners. The donor knife for the Phillips was a Yeoman  that I had him add a saw to for a Huntsman slim+. Got a few more in mind.
   

That's one of the four mods I've had Robert do. Just got two back and looking at another. Isn't the first step admitting you have a problem.

Four? 

[Syph007]

Take a wild guess what is the least loved and least requested SAK component for mods.....


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So I have to wonder ... has anyone ever scaled a fish with the fishscaler?

[Reinier]

I'd love an orange mod with 17 fish scalers

[kkokkolis]

I tried it once, perhaps 15 years ago, just to see how it's done. Geeky, I know. I wouldn't do it again but the hook remover proved useful many times.
The fish scaler is also a human scaler. A safe scratching device, although the form prevents it from working everywhere. But it might be able to be modified to a serrated blade with some sharpening. I don't know.

[PTRSAK]

I used the fishscaler on my old Wenger back in the day when it was my only SAK and IT still had ITS original scales on it. (see what I did there?)

Used to work okay on smaller fish, but was too short to do anything decent.

The gob-stick (hook disgorger) was more use, but again was a bit small for bigger fish.

[Glofindel]

No surprise there, but it works as ruler too, right? maybe think of main use as ruler.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

[Syph007]

No surprise there, but it works as ruler too, right? maybe think of main use as ruler.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

Ya it just doesnt feel though that the tool 'fits' in a modern day SAK.  If it were up to me Id remake the 'ruler' tool, with a single prong on the end and an eye, so basically a straight backed sacking needle with ruler markings.  That I would find much more use for.

[Syph007]

I'd love an orange mod with 17 fish scalers

Actually I have 3 more from knives that came apart today so I can make it an ever 20.  Ive used 2 in mods before and sold 2 to another modder so I guess that makes a total of 24 swisschamps Ive disassembled so far.      IVe taken apart more compacts and explorers though.

I did try to make one into a sacking needle but after grinding off the humps, making it pointed and a hole, it was too thin and fragile to be much use.

[Syph007]

I finally had enough of hand finishing my custom springs, so I did some research and blew 300 on a heavy duty vibratory tumbler and some ceramic media.  Time to experiment and figure out how to make parts look nice.  I know I need burnishing fluid and water to drip in the top at a slow rate, and the tumbler has a drain, so I'll have to rig up some bucket and value system.



I was going to get the big floor mounted monster but it was 800 and well its for bigger parts than I make.  Part of me thought get it so you can do bigger parts too, but I couldnt spend that much, so the small bowl one will have to do. 



There are also cheaper bowl tumblers, but the vibration was not ajustable, and it also said the bowls could not be used with ceramic media.  I guess they would eat through it maybe...

Anyway hopefully this works out.   

[PTRSAK]

You should make up a couple of two layer knives using "leftovers" from the 91mm donors.
Just a main blade on a scissor spring and the scaler.

When you get the CNC running you could make up scales without the corkscrew cutout, get then done in HAIII or Cerekote and sell them as a Fishermans knife.

Just a blade, Hook and Scaler.

The hook might actually be quite useful in that setting.

Jump on some fishing forums and show them off. Who knows, might get some coin for a bunch of "useless" parts.

[Syph007]

You should make up a couple of two layer knives using "leftovers" from the 91mm donors.
Just a main blade on a scissor spring and the scaler.

When you get the CNC running you could make up scales without the corkscrew cutout, get then done in HAIII or Cerekote and sell them as a Fishermans knife.

Just a blade, Hook and Scaler.

The hook might actually be quite useful in that setting.

Jump on some fishing forums and show them off. Who knows, might get some coin for a bunch of "useless" parts.

I like the idea!

[sawman]

I have nothing against the fish scaler but I don't require it either. Same goes for the mag glass. I like it just fine but don't miss it or the scaler in my CT41.

[hiraethus]

When you get the CNC running you could make up scales without the corkscrew cutout, get then done in HAIII or Cerekote ...

I've been thinking about this too.  I don't like the way the corkscrew sticks out when you put thin scales on a 91mm knife - so I think I'm going to see what I can replace it with.  Got an idea for a knife with philips opposite dual openers and four back tools - awl, chisel, hook and fine driver.

[Syph007]

In an effort to speed up the custom build process I decided to drill out and prep a few hundred parts so they are ready to go.  These have all been drilled out to 1/8 inch, and had the inner edges polished so they move nice and smooth on the pivots.  I went through a few carbide bits in the process but hopefully it will save some time.  Next I need to prep some scissors springs en masse, but I am waiting for the vibratory tumbler to arrive for that. 

[enki_ck]

No fish scalers?

[Syph007]

No fish scalers?

LOL.  Its not to late to add one to yours!

[enki_ck]

No fish scalers?

LOL.  Its not to late to add one to yours!

I think I'll pass.

[ducttapetech]

That's because he want 5 on his.

live from Nate's mobile

[crackout]

How about grinding the Fishscaler into a rescue blade (keeping the blunt tip)?

[twiliter]

How about grinding the Fishscaler into a rescue blade (keeping the blunt tip)?

That's an excellent idea! Or even a fillet blade, losing the tip. 

[Syph007]

Ive been out of green for about 5 months and black is now surpassed red for popularity, so I did a bigger run of black this time.  Now blue and red are next.  I've been trying to keep on top of the situation and have colors run before I run out, but then its rather costly to have that much parts inventory, since Ideally Id love 20 sets of saks in each of the 5 colors, but thats 100 alox worth of parts!

[Dr Gonzo]

Ive been out of green for about 5 months and black is now surpassed red for popularity, so I did a bigger run of black this time.  Now blue and red are next.  I've been trying to keep on top of the situation and have colors run before I run out, but then its rather costly to have that much parts inventory, since Ideally Id love 20 sets of saks in each of the 5 colors, but thats 100 alox worth of parts!

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WOW
I'm liking the green
Love your work...you've come up with a great way of putting them together to save the peening
Now if only I could save up enough for an Electrician Plus Deluxe  

[Syph007]

So... I was running low on black alox liners for all black type mods.  I made these by cutting them out of aluminum with a jewelers saw and it was a painfully laborious process which I havent been too anxious to repeat. 

So... I'm trying a new option to get black liners and make use of parts I have.  Since I have taken apart alot of alox SAKs and used custom liners on alot of builds, I ended up with quite a stock pile of stock nickel silver liners.  Now I cant anodize those, but I can cerakote them black.  This means I can get some more black liners that are already guaranteed to be the correct size since they are stock original, and I get to make use of a pile of parts.

I got a great quote for a batch of 50 liners coated in armor black, so I prepped these over the last couple of days.  Holes were drilled out and polished, and I edge sanded all of them to provide a nice true surface.



And since I need that little black spacer to be black too for my all blackout builds, I just went ahead and hand rivetted them to 20 of the liners so they will be ready to go.  Ive been doing this for all custom builds that have special colored liners, or ones I make from brass.





Now to pack them up and patiently wait.