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

[Lardlad]

A metal replacement for the plastic bit holder would be amazing.  Especially on a Cybertool 41 with titanium scales, with the small blade swapped out for the Electrician and a brass mag glass added (maybe in place of the caplifter/screwdriver?).  That would be my ultimate SAK.

And Bob once mentioned investigating the possibility of making the micro screwdriver a scale tool somehow; that would be the icing on the cake.

[Syph007]

Ive been meaning to try this for ages.





3/32 firesteel concealed in front scale.  I spent awhile thinking of how the hell I can hold it in.. then realized if I made the slot in the right spot the opener tools hold it in.  To get it out open both tools.  When new its a snug fit which is why in this test scale I left the tip hanging into the cross cutout so it can be pushed from the front if need be.

I was worried these tiny firesteels were brittle but I could not snap it with finger pressure.  Its kind of like a little nail.  ANd for its size throws very decent sparks.  These firesteel blanks are 53 cents so its an easily replaceable item as well. 

[lowtech]

Nice idea!
Maybe you should sell the Firesteel SAKs with a replacement firesteel right from the start. People will feel lessbad about scrathcing one if they do have replacement available.
Just an idea.

Waiting for a more double-father friendly (you know what diapers and child food cost?  ) Version of your Phillips and Awl Compact. Maybe with Aluminium or G 10 scales and aluminium liners?  Kind of the basic level mod to infect first time buyers...

[MadPlumbarian]

That's pretty neat!
JR

[Monrogue]

That's pretty neat!
JR

+1

Sent from my SM-G920R4 using Tapatalk

[tankerG]

Interesting. There was a vid somewhere on the web where a guy fashioned a firestarter into a toothpick shape and inserted it into the pick slot. Kinda thin, you had to back it up during use - but made good sparks.

[Aloha]

@Syph007

I love the idea of putting a fire steel on a SAK.  I'm wondering why not just make a dedicated fire steel space in the SAK with a holder that would accept the steel?  It might be thinner than say the cyertool layer? 

What we've seen with the brass mag holder I'm sure you could conjure up something amazing. 

[alexTOOL]

@Syph007

I love the idea of putting a fire steel on a SAK.  I'm wondering why not just make a dedicated fire steel space in the SAK with a holder that would accept the steel?  It might be thinner than say the cyertool layer? 

What we've seen with the brass mag holder I'm sure you could conjure up something amazing.

Something like this, but smarter???

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Wenger+Angler

[Aloha]

YES  .  Thats pretty cool I've never seen that model.   

[Syph007]

Im still experimenting with ways to store a firesteel...  This actually works but Im not sure its its ideal yet.

[SteveC]

 I would think that would hamper the saw's cutting ability and severely weaken it as well.

[sLaughterMed]

Go cut some wood and drywall with it, and see how well it works. If it breaks, or it sucks, go back to the drawing board. If it works, and the fire steel has decent retention, keep it.

[Syph007]

I did saw some small sticks, it doesnt effect the use at all.  Side to side I think it might bend easier though. 

What Im aiming to do on this prototype is have a few ways to store a firesteel and then carry and use it so I know what is realistic to use.  I suspect somehow store in scale is going to be the winner though its hard to have good retention on a scale tool like that, that gets thinner the more you use it...

[captain spaulding]

I did saw some small sticks, it doesnt effect the use at all.  Side to side I think it might bend easier though. 

What Im aiming to do on this prototype is have a few ways to store a firesteel and then carry and use it so I know what is realistic to use.  I suspect somehow store in scale is going to be the winner though its hard to have good retention on a scale tool like that, that gets thinner the more you use it...

Honestly it needs to be tested on more than small sticks. Take it to some 2X4's then find some thick branches to test her out. 

[windson]

Kudos for testing unconventional theories without fear of failure or ridicule, Robert! Only this way, you'll come up with the next big thing (tm).

[Syph007]

The saw cuts through 2x4 fine, but that's not the issue.  Its not held in securely so I dont love this idea.  It was too hard to vet the idea by theory alone so I wanted to try each idea I had as a prototype.

I think I will have to go to a scale tool, but the problem is I have to have a way to hold it in securely and it cant depend on the diameter since that will shrink with use. 

This tiny 3/32 firesteel also is too anemic for hard use as well, so I'm going to change to fitting the next larger size which is a 1/8 inch.  That will be much easier to manufacture a spot for since all my bits are 1/8 inch.  My next idea is so simple that I cant believe I didnt think of it first.  But its the trial an error process that bubbles the best ideas to the surface...

Kudos for testing unconventional theories without fear of failure or ridicule, Robert! Only this way, you'll come up with the next big thing (tm).

  I do this all the time but dont usually post the fails.  But just posting pics of finished SAKs gets boring so I want to explain the thought process behind a new SAK tweak.   

The thing is, I can do it a complex way, but since people will want them, I have to make it not too complex since it wont be a one off, it has to be repeatable and I dont want it to cost more than half an hour of time or its not 'worth it' to offer.

[tjfarrington2000]

The saw cuts through 2x4 fine, but that's not the issue.  Its not held in securely so I dont love this idea.  It was too hard to vet the idea by theory alone so I wanted to try each idea I had as a prototype.

I think I will have to go to a scale tool, but the problem is I have to have a way to hold it in securely and it cant depend on the diameter since that will shrink with use. 

This tiny 3/32 firesteel also is too anemic for hard use as well, so I'm going to change to fitting the next larger size which is a 1/8 inch.  That will be much easier to manufacture a spot for since all my bits are 1/8 inch.  My next idea is so simple that I cant believe I didnt think of it first.  But its the trial an error process that bubbles the best ideas to the surface...

Kudos for testing unconventional theories without fear of failure or ridicule, Robert! Only this way, you'll come up with the next big thing (tm).

  I do this all the time but dont usually post the fails.  But just posting pics of finished SAKs gets boring so I want to explain the thought process behind a new SAK tweak.   

The thing is, I can do it a complex way, but since people will want them, I have to make it not too complex since it wont be a one off, it has to be repeatable and I dont want it to cost more than half an hour of time or its not 'worth it' to offer.

What about on the inside of the scale, where you had to open either the blade or openers layer to get out the rod, and a button to deploy the recessed tool?

[Aloha]

What about a different shape fire steel?  Do they come in flat stock? Maybe Triangle? 

What about figuring a way to include as a back side tool?  Can the back spring be thinned to fit one there? 

What about notching out part of the scale along the top or bottom edge not on the flat shield side.

Clearly I'm no fabricator  I'm just rambling.   

[tallowwaters]

What about a T shaped pivot fixed to the end of the fire steel with an appropriate notch made into the scale so that the steel would flip out at the pivot, which could be pulled back and removed from the scale?

Not the most elegant explanation, but it could work.

[Syph007]

Here is what Im currently trying.  A slot milled into the back scale near center to fit it.  But how to hold it in is the problem.  It sits just about flush.  Im thinking a small bit of a super thin Ti to act as a retaining spring.  Im just trying to think of the easiest way to produce it and not over complicate it.  And I dont want it sticking up to high or it would be annoying when you hold the SAK for normal use.

[hiraethus]

The ferrocerium is slightly magnetic - how about a strip of neodymium magnets inset in a slot in one scale to hold it?

[Syph007]

The ferrocerium is slightly magnetic - how about a strip of neodymium magnets inset in a slot in one scale to hold it?

Yup that was my first thought.  Tried with a strong button magnet, not held very stong at all.

[MadPlumbarian]

Can you mill a notch in the one end? Then cut half of the flint so it slips in on the one side so you only have to worry about the other end?
JR

_______________________
Sak_________________----    ___====flint====.  Kinda like that?

Then maybe put a magnet on the other?
                                     

[HarleyXJGuy]

Couldn't you just mill another slot like the pen slot?

[Syph007]

Couldn't you just mill another slot like the pen slot?

But what would hold it in?  As it got thinner it would just fall out.  Also it would require me to have double the thickness of Ti scales, which ups the cost, thickness and weight.

Ive got a solution now, but it requires new scales to be cut.

[Syph007]

Ive been selling 3 or 4 of these a week pretty steadily.  For sure the most popular 3 layer.  Come to think of it, I rarely build wider than 4+ layer ones.

[SteveC]

 

Did you get your Mill up and running ?  Lets see a video   

[Syph007]

Did you get your Mill up and running ?  Lets see a video   

I had to earn some money to pay bills so the last week was all regular old by hand work to get out 8 SAKs.  Im back to setup of the mill now.  I did the flood coolant plumbing and IM building the enclosure tonight and tomorrow, then I'll post another video.

[SteveC]

Did you get your Mill up and running ?  Lets see a video   

I had to earn some money to pay bills so the last week was all regular old by hand work to get out 8 SAKs.  Im back to setup of the mill now.  I did the flood coolant plumbing and IM building the enclosure tonight and tomorrow, then I'll post another video.

 

[HarleyXJGuy]

Ive been selling 3 or 4 of these a week pretty steadily.  For sure the most popular 3 layer.  Come to think of it, I rarely build wider than 4+ layer ones.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Pictures not working for me.

Sad panda.