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

[Ron Who]

No idea whatsoever. I think you´re showing only a part of the drawing.

[Fortytwo]

R&D day here at SAK labs and im making something that has been kicking around in my head now for 2 years....

Any guesses?  (for scale the blue rectangle is 2x4 inches)

It looks a lot like the "grip" for tweezers except the size is all wrong. I'm still going for a scale tool "grip" but obviously for something bigger. Only thing I can think of around that size would be a nail file from a SwissCard but I guess there are other things that I can't think of.

[Syph007]

Brass part done.  That was what the top down drawing was.  The other part is Ti and im doing that now.

[twiliter]

OK, so it's either a bit exchanger...

or a harmonica 

[Ron Who]

Window breaker?

[twiliter]

Window breaker?

Not the brass part, surely. 

[Syph007]

OK, so it's either a bit exchanger...

or a harmonica 

Nope.  Its not a super weird part or anything but it solves 2 problems Ive been wanting to solve for some time now.. if it works. 

[T14]

Some kind of tool specific pivot hole relocator (like for an 84mm nail file) ?

[twiliter]

Hmm... 

It's shaped like a traditional brass bolster, but I'm almost positive it's a harmonica. 

Then again, not sure how that solves even one problem. 

[Huntsman]

I love puzzles - But this has me fooled.

What do we know

Of course it is a part for a SAK
It is small
It has a pin and a hole
It solves two problems that Syph has identified ?

Well we know he already fixed his scale tool problem
He has been talking about a marlin spike for a while- But this does not look like that
Is it something internal to do with the construction process Not sure where that wee device would fit in a SAK

Hmm maybe a retractable key-ring holder
Or some sort of locking mechanism

[jaya_man]

Blade exchanger like those on LM’s?


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[Syph007]

I love puzzles - But this has me fooled.

What do we know

Of course it is a part for a SAK
It is small
It has a pin and a hole
It solves two problems that Syph has identified ?

Well we know he already fixed his scale tool problem
He has been talking about a marlin spike for a while- But this does not look like that
Is it something internal to do with the construction process Not sure where that wee device would fit in a SAK

Hmm maybe a retractable key-ring holder
Or some sort of locking mechanism

Ding ding!

People keep asking for the Marlin spikes.  I work with Ti as steel needs heat treating and is a pain to machine. A Ti tool on steel backsprings galls so bad it feels like there is sand in the joint. 

So this little gismo let's me use Ti material and solves the gall problem!  The action is smooth as silk!

I guess this would be a pivot bushing adapter?  The same idea would work to make Wenger style wrenches of Ti and pair with Phillips or mag glass.

[twiliter]

That looks like a good solution! 

Is the marlinspike going to look familiar, or a unique design?

[ReamerPunch]

Will you never cease to amaze? 

[Syph007]

That looks like a good solution! 

Is the marlinspike going to look familiar, or a unique design?

I just made some standard looking ones for my first test. Since I cut them as needed and not in bulk like I used to with waterjet I can make any shape.

[Ron Who]

Do you think it´s possible to develop one that doesn´t need scale cutouts?

[Syph007]

Do you think it´s possible to develop one that doesn´t need scale cutouts?

Yes this one. It's a drop in replacement for the wood saw

[Lardlad]

That is so cool!  You could potentially use the same brass mechanism for other TI tools...
Nice design work.

[Syph007]

That is so cool!  You could potentially use the same brass mechanism for other TI tools...
Nice design work.

Exactly!

Wenger style Ti wrench to pair with Phillips OR full length wrench if some sort.

[Don Pablo]

Do you think it´s possible to develop one that doesn´t need scale cutouts?

Yes this one. It's a drop in replacement for the wood saw

So it's thicker and stronger than the stock Victorinox marlinspike? 

[twiliter]

Good stuff, awesome. 

[tankerG]

Syph, couldn't you just carbidize the Ti tool in the area where it will rub against the steel? Like you do to the scales at the rubbing points?

[Syph007]

Syph, couldn't you just carbidize the Ti tool in the area where it will rub against the steel? Like you do to the scales at the rubbing points?

Tried that, and didnt work.  Alot more pressure with a backspring compared to the side contact of the scales.  That solution has been working perfectly though for Ti liners and scales.

[Syph007]

I don't think I ever showed this.

This is my low tech yet very precise method for sizing pivots.  A machined series of holes of incrementally increasing depth and a jewelers saw with a tiny 0.010" kerf.  Been doing it this way for years now.  The Platinum series blades from Ottofrei will cut hardened steel and Ti with ease.  In the old days I used to actually hand cut liners and scales out of Ti with these same blades.

[twiliter]

Syph, couldn't you just carbidize the Ti tool in the area where it will rub against the steel? Like you do to the scales at the rubbing points?

Tried that, and didnt work.  Alot more pressure with a backspring compared to the side contact of the scales.  That solution has been working perfectly though for Ti liners and scales.

I was also wondering, because titanium will polish to a mirror finish, if it would still gall with polished stainless under pressure?

I'm betting you have already tried this too... 

[twiliter]

I have also noticed when using all stainless hardware, nuts and bolts mostly for high corrosion applications or decorative purposes, that the stainless will gall with itself a lot. I nearly always use anti-seize for that, but it's usually (hopefully) a one time assembly, and not a constant movement situation. It really is an annoying thing with stainless, and anti-seize is a messy business also. Not really a problem when it's highly polished, like on a SAK...

[Syph007]

Syph, couldn't you just carbidize the Ti tool in the area where it will rub against the steel? Like you do to the scales at the rubbing points?

Tried that, and didnt work.  Alot more pressure with a backspring compared to the side contact of the scales.  That solution has been working perfectly though for Ti liners and scales.

I was also wondering, because titanium will polish to a mirror finish, if it would still gall with polished stainless under pressure?

I'm betting you have already tried this too... 

The more polished the worse the gall.  Actually even with stainless above 220 grit will gall with other stainless.   This takes about 5 minutes of effort to combine the brass and Ti parts easy soultion now that I got the g code worked out.  I made half a dozen and putting a test one together now.

[twiliter]

Nice, waiting for the prototype... 

Also waiting for your custom damascus phase.   

[Huntsman]

.....
He has been talking about a marlin spike for a while - But this does not look like that
Is it something internal to do with the construction process Not sure where that wee device would fit in a SAK

Ding ding!
People keep asking for the Marlin spikes.  I work with Ti as steel needs heat treating and is a pain to machine. A Ti tool on steel backsprings galls so bad it feels like there is sand in the joint. 
So this little gismo let's me use Ti material and solves the gall problem!  The action is smooth as silk! ....

And my prize for the correct guess is ........

A custom Syph SAK with a ..... marlin spike !!                 

[Poncho65]

That is a sweet fix for that type of problem Syph