Sick addiction, and I blame you

[Lynn LeFey]

So I've got this Explorer and like a lot of the tools on it. I found myself waffling about the magnifying glass, until it occurred to me that I couldn't read the date on a mercury dime I was looking at the other day. Knowing my eyes are getting worse, I suspect it could come in very useful on down the road.

But I HATE that phillips paired with it, vastly preferring the Tinker's phillips. And since I don't need a corkscrew, I don't think it'd be a problem if it were modded out. Of course, that would mean losing a place to put the eyeglass size screwdriver...

The scissors on this old Explorer are pretty darn good, and I found disassembly a snap since it's an older model with the screw.

A realistic appraisal of my use of pliers in MTs tells me the little ones on a SAK should do me fine for most of my EDC needs.

And it seems there might be some among you who REALLY like the can opener.

Then I start thinking maybe the light and pen are better options than the tweezers and toothpick in the scales.

Poking around on the SAK Selector to see what might meet my needs...

And THEN I realize, you rotten smurfs hooked me! I hate you all! Oh God, No, I didn't mean it!! Please don't leave me alone in my sick addiction! 

[Steinar]

*snicker*

Now you know the real reason you got that first SAK as a gift, the first shot is always free. 

Vics are really nasty, or nice, to those of us who collect them, since you have this absurd amount of micro-variation and different production runs... People choose arbitrarily "narrow" fields of collection, and there's still years and years of good hunt in the hobby. I collect Spartans and Campers, though not with any great intensity or focus (I often buy new ones on vacation to places with better knife stores than back home), and I know I will never have anything like a "complete" collection. And I like it that way.

[Lynn LeFey]

I don't have any interest in collecting, but I like the idea of having the best toolset for the least weight, and SAKs might meet that. I fear there may be modding involved though... which is a whole new avenue for my crazy.

[Steinar]

I didn't assume you were infected to a degree where collecting seemed like a good idea, it was just an aside regarding the troubles of SAKs, and how easy it is to start looking for that perfect one. "Now, if I just had X instead of Y there..."

Never started modding myself. All thumbs and too fascinated by high quality F&F (so I don't start and then never will make anything I'd be happy about either ). Should be a good way to get the perfect tool for a reasonable amount of money, though, since you can get loose parts and old beater knives from Rotokid and Felinevet.

[jerseydevil]

And THEN I realize, you rotten smurfs hooked me! I hate you all! Oh God, No, I didn't mean it!! Please don't leave me alone in my sick addiction! 

Hehehe, that's me, the SAK pusher.   You're the third person I've given a Tinker to, and ALL of you have gotten more.  My work here is done. 

[Lynn LeFey]

You... you monster! You KNEW what you were doing! Gaaa!

I'm cruising EDCSource looking for a Deluxe Tinker now. Maybe the midnite manager...

I've recently finished getting keychain MTs to all my friends (and hooking one on Sriracha hot sauce), so I'm as much a pusher as you.

[tattoosteve99]

But it's only just started.  Hehe. Theres more. Alox! Mmmm sweet alox. You know you want one or maybe two. muhahahhaha

[Mr. Whippy]

But it's only just started.  Hehe. Theres more. Alox! Mmmm sweet alox. You know you want one or maybe two. muhahahhaha

The CRACK of SAK's. 

...just one more colored Farmer, honest, just this last one...

[Lynn LeFey]

But it's only just started.  Hehe. Theres more. Alox! Mmmm sweet alox. You know you want one or maybe two. muhahahhaha

Yeeaaahhhhh .... that sounds gooooood ...... Alox......

Wha... Wait, no! Nooooo!!!!!

Ahhh! I DO! I WANT ALOX! Heaven forgive me! What have I become?!? 

[theonew]

But I HATE that phillips paired with it, vastly preferring the Tinker's phillips.

WAIT, HOLD EVERYTHING

What???

[Mr. Whippy]

But it's only just started.  Hehe. Theres more. Alox! Mmmm sweet alox. You know you want one or maybe two. muhahahhaha

Yeeaaahhhhh .... that sounds gooooood ...... Alox......

Wha... Wait, no! Nooooo!!!!!

Ahhh! I DO! I WANT ALOX! Heaven forgive me! What have I become?!? 

They're like little jewels in your hand...

[Lynn LeFey]

WAIT, HOLD EVERYTHING

What???

The phillips on my old Explorer won't slot into a #2 phillips head screw. That whole discussion started here:
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,36905.msg594601.html#msg594601

[Mr. Whippy]

WAIT, HOLD EVERYTHING

What???

The phillips on my old Explorer won't slot into a #2 phillips head screw. That whole discussion started here:
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,36905.msg594601.html#msg594601

It's that "Slippery SAK Phillips" story we hear again and again...

That's why there's such a big LM following...

[theonew]

Interesting thread

[jerseydevil]

I'm cruising EDCSource looking for a Deluxe Tinker now. Maybe the midnite manager...

Just get both like a true MT.O member.  Join us....jooooiiinnnn ussssss.......

[Steinar]

The phillips on my old Explorer won't slot into a #2 phillips head screw. That whole discussion started here:
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,36905.msg594601.html#msg594601

It's that "Slippery SAK Phillips" story we hear again and again...

That's why there's such a big LM following...

I thought that at first at well, but, actually, it isn't.

[Mr. Whippy]

I'm cruising EDCSource looking for a Deluxe Tinker now. Maybe the midnite manager...

Just get both like a true MT.O member.  Join us....jooooiiinnnn ussssss.......

They are complementary...   

[Mr. Whippy]

The phillips on my old Explorer won't slot into a #2 phillips head screw. That whole discussion started here:
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,36905.msg594601.html#msg594601

It's that "Slippery SAK Phillips" story we hear again and again...

That's why there's such a big LM following...

I thought that at first at well, but, actually, it isn't.

[Lynn LeFey]

Just get both like a true MT.O member.  Join us....jooooiiinnnn ussssss.......

Not enough funds... yet...

I couldn't find a Deluxe Tinker with Felinevet, so I might wait a bit and try again.

As for the phillips head issue, Mr. Whippy, it's not the polish issue. Go check out the discussion. The head of the Explorer's Phillips won't go into a #2 screw head at all.

Theonew... I only have 2 SAKs, an old pre-1991 Explorer, and a Tinker. They have two completely different styles of phillips. The one on the explorer is on the same layer as a magnifying glass. The one on the tinker is located where most other SAKs have a corkscrew. So, I have very few examples to compare to. The Tinker's phillips is perfect. The one on the Explorer is ... well... it just doesn't fit into #2 screws at all.

[theonew]

I have to say I have a lot of SAKS with the inline phillips and they all look like the one in your picture but they all function beautifully on every phillips I've ever tried them on.

I'm off to find more phillips headed screws

[Sidhartha]

welcome aboard 

[gustophersmob]

But I HATE that phillips paired with it, vastly preferring the Tinker's phillips.

WAIT, HOLD EVERYTHING

What???

I wondered the same thing. I like the inline philips better for torque, but I don't care for the corkscrew of the mag glass, though...

I have to say I have a lot of SAKS with the inline phillips and they all look like the one in your picture but they all function beautifully on every phillips I've ever tried them on.

I'm off to find more phillips headed screws

Even teh ones on my Spirit's look like this too, but mine have worked on all screws I've tried them on.

[Syph007]

Just wait until you get an alox pioneer SAK.  The fit and finish, slim profile, crisp tool snap... oh boy that's what hooked me!

[tattoosteve99]

Oh and don't forget you'll need 2 of each. Might need a backup just in case. Also need 2 of every mod to make it fair. Welcome to the addiction.

[sergemaster]

Amici,
I believe my next piece will be the Victorinox Spartan with wood scales. Although I'm not a big fan of the corkscrew, it definitely looks sharp and stream lined enough for pocket EDC carry. I only with that Vic will follow Wenger and release other patterns with wood scales. The super tinker or field master would be ideal so lets hope.

Cheers,
Serge

[bushidomosquito]

I think you got a bad inline phillips with that one. I buy lots of Explorers just to mod that inline phillips to the Alox 93mm frame and they all fit a lot of phillips screws perfectly. I and most others think it's way more useful than the T-handle back driver that bumps the handle into everything. You should pick up a brand new Explorer and give it a try.

[gustophersmob]

Just wait until you get an alox pioneer SAK.  The fit and finish, slim profile, crisp tool snap... oh boy that's what hooked me!

For me it was an electrician, then a soldier, but same idea   

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I don't have any interest in collecting, but I like the idea of having the best toolset for the least weight, and SAKs might meet that. I fear there may be modding involved though... which is a whole new avenue for my crazy.

Lynn,

I'll refrain from poking more fun at you for your predicament!  Everyone else has done that well enough.  I completely agree with your stance here.  I am most definitely not a collector, despite that my SAK holdings expanded by one today, a Wenger EvoGrip 81, bought specifically to go into my EDC first aid kit.

I too am searching for the perfect SAK for EDC.  I've come to the conclusion there isn't ONE, and that it will have to be two, and further, both need to be mods.  So, I wanted to share with you my conclusions....

First, is for regular, all the time, pocket carry.  That will be a Compact with a Cybertool layer in it for the bit driver and holder.  I currently have the compact, but am still working on acquiring the CT layer parts.

Second is for carry in my EDC bag.  That's going to be a new Explorer with a pair of pliers added in.  It will live in the MaxPed sheath on the side of my Timbuk2 messenger bag.

I am sincerely hoping those two will meet all my needs on a day to day basis.  I'm not including things like going on family camping trips, or other forms of non-regular outdoor recreation though...  I already have a couple of SAKs for that! 

Anyway, just wanted to share this with you, in hopes you might find some light at the end of the SAK EDC tunnel. 

In all honesty, I'm sure I'll probably end up buying another one after I get these, but for now, this is where I've set my sights so hopefully this will be of some help to you.

[Mr. Whippy]

I would agree that for a serious EDC, the Cybertool driver is tough to beat.  Since it has a detent at 90 degrees, it can generate SERIOUS torque when needed.  It' is the best development in the VIctorinox line up (IMO).

[Lynn LeFey]

As I've never taken these things apart, how much torque can they handle before the pins start giving way or stretching? Also, I haven't been able to tell, the bits for the cybertool aren't standard size hex bits, are they? They look smaller than normal.

And, Heinz... I started the thread to poke fun at this predicament, which I assume most people here have experienced. So, feel free!

EDIT: Also... white Deluxe Tinker spotted on Felinevet's store. Soo... tempting...