Write up of my EDC multitool

[TeeJay]

After the warm welcome I received, I've been scouring the mod forum, spent half the night thinking about getting my EDC multitool and nearly-EDC multitool modded into one more versatile tool, and decided to implement another mod today  I can't call this a review, as I really can't remember where I acquired the tool... Given my financial circumstances and general tightfistedness, if I had bought it, it would only have been at a discount store, but, I'm actually thinking it might have been a prize in a Christmas cracker a few years back, I just can't be sure... I can't even call it a pictorial, as my iPhone isn't really any good at macro photos, my pc is knackered, so i can't load photos from my camera, so a write up this will have to be...

As mentioned in my greeting thread, my EDC for several years was a Victorinox Spartan, which I recently retired, following a renewed interest in camping and survival skills (aka watching too much of The Walking Dead ) when I decided that a multitool would be more versatile, and I found this one in a box of my camping supplies. 





Initially, I had never considered modifying a tool, and simply put in my pocket, and found it adequate. The original tool line up was: pliers, cutting blade, bottle opener/flat head screw driver, phillipshead screwdriver, double-sided nailfile (metal and wood qualifications) can opener, hinged loop for attaching to a key-fob, metric and imperial ruler markings and two small tools I couldn't identify. The first modifications took place when I compared it to another multitool in my collection with an LED torch, and I realized that that had much finer needlenosed pliers, so out came the warding files and a Sharpie, and I went to work re-shaping the pliers to have a much narrower tip. While I was at it, I also reshaped the 'unknown tools' into a toothpick, and a precision flathead screwdriver respectively. I then read some reviews, found this forum, and got reading...  This time, rather than simply refining the existing tools, I had ideas of functions I wanted to add by modifying the existing tools, and the bottle opener seemed the most suitable candidate for modification. First on the list of tools to add, was a wire stripper... A few strokes with a hacksaw, and then some more with a triangular warding file, and there was a bladed notch added for stripping wire. I also liked the idea of a belt cutter, so with the round and D-shaped warding files, I started work on the inner curve of the bottle opener, until I had worked a bladed edge into place. I haven't tested this on a seatbelt or bag strap yet, but several layers or folded shirting cotton proved no hassle, so I suspect it will cope nicely with belts and straps The next mod, was even more random, and I decided that a clam pack opener might come in handy, so with the flat warding file, I started chewing into the tip of the nailfile... Maybe thirty minutes work, and I had an edged notch carved into the file which cuts though clam packs with no effort at all, and will spare the main cutting blade for more worthy tasks So that's three extra tools added, simply by using a set of warding files, something I certainly wouldn't've thought to do had I not found this forum I've read comments about some tools pinching the hand when using the pliers, but that is not an issue with this tool, as the back of the jaws have 'ledges' which the handles rest against, remaining open by maybe 40 degrees when the jaws are fully closed. The sides of the handles have nice cutouts, allowing easy access to the nail nicks on the inner tools, and despite the tools then being against the fingers and palm while using the pliers, the edges of the tool handles don't really bite into the hand at all  One future mod I am planning on doing, is rounding off the ends of the handles, as at the moment, when the tool is flipped open, there is a little piece on the tips which hits against the knuckles, and which would not happen if not present. I'd also like to install a spring at the back of the jaws, the only problem being drilling the necessary guid holes into the backs of the jaws, as I don't have the necessary tools to do that. Overall though, I think that this is a great tool, which has so far met every challenge I've thrown at it, and which has now had its range if uses expanded through modification, and would rate it as 8.5 out of 10: Still room for some improvement, but does what it does very well.

Thanks for reading

[Grant Lamontagne]

Nice to see we are having an effect on you!

One of the great things about a forum full of tool people is that everyone here is pretty handy, making and modifying things in the real world, so why not the tools they use to accomplish these feats pf back yard engineering?

Looks like you made some interesting changes, but remember, a mod is never finished, it's only abandoned!

Def

[TeeJay]

Nice to see we are having an effect on you!

One of the great things about a forum full of tool people is that everyone here is pretty handy, making and modifying things in the real world, so why not the tools they use to accomplish these feats pf back yard engineering?

Looks like you made some interesting changes, but remember, a mod is never finished, it's only abandoned!

Def

Very much so, as creatively modifying a tool simply wouldn't've occured to me before reading the forum   Sure, on one of my larger multitools, I had to re-work the can opener, as the blade was about a centimeter too long, so when it was pit to the can, the end of the blade would rest on the rim, but that was a matter of making the tool functional, rather than creative modification Again, the mods I performed to my EDC prior to reading, was to improve functionality of the pliars, and to create functionality on two tools which I simply could not see uses for   I think the work I did on the bottle opener is the highlight though, once I get my pc working again, I'll get some decent macro shots of it   And that certainly makes sense, I think I'll consider the spring mod abandoned, as I simply can't do it, but the re-shaping of the handle tips can wait, as it's not a major issue   My only other plan, would be to take the most useful four tools from the EDC, and have someone install them in the frame of the multitool with the LED, thus getting the best of both tools (although I would miss being able to flip the handles open like a butterfly knife )

[Zed]

As Def said im glad your taking a interest in modding and this forum has some of the nicest folk you could ever meet, another possible future tool for you could be something like my sog paratool, these are great tools and come aprat and you can buy other tools for them, handyniknaks are doing them for around £45 posted and parts are about £10 each from heinne haynes , your tool looks cool and keep up the modding, you could try SAK's as well 

[TeeJay]

As Def said im glad your taking a interest in modding and this forum has some of the nicest folk you could ever meet, another possible future tool for you could be something like my sog paratool, these are great tools and come aprat and you can buy other tools for them, handyniknaks are doing them for around £45 posted and parts are about £10 each from heinne haynes , your tool looks cool and keep up the modding, you could try SAK's as well 

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Thanks, I just wish I knew how I came by it so I could pass the info onto others, as it's a great little tool to use, and I think one folks would appreciate I'm definitely tempted my a SOG, especially given the ability to customize the tool load   Maybe when my piggybank is in better health, I'll see about picking one up