Hints and Tips thread.

[kkokkolis]

I magnetized mine easily and allready fished some screws from tight places. It helps also to keep a needle (two for me) under the fish scaler/ wood saw space. Even when carelessly unfolding the scaler the needle is held in place magnetically (and comes out with the scaler, ready to use). Do it. There is no drawback.

[firiki]

  Not sure if was mentioned yet, the flathead/bottle popper & the Phillips lock-in temporarily when used on the Wenger S557. These tools press into the springs when bearing down on a screw.

Vics function in a similar way: The key-ring is part of the bottle opener's spring that you can push down with your thumb to increase friction. The half-stop notch further helps with that. Finally, when, with the bottle opener open, the can opener is deployed tension is somehow increased thus resulting in a almost locking flat driver. Surprisingly, the can opener's stiffness is not affected. You can try this by opening the can opener first and then see how the bottle opener's action becomes harder.

[dbeeks1]

I use the Leatherman removable bit driver with the small screwdriver on the back of the Craftsman. (Its on the Handyman and Champ too, and probably other models) I keep a small piece of gutted paracord inside the driver. It locks it on to the screwdriver pretty well. It also scrunches down inside of the driver when I use it with my Juice S2 so there is no need to take it out. The "T-handle" isn't ideal but works for some applications.

[nuphoria]

That's a rather clever find, thanks for that

[J Mackrel Jones]

  Not sure if was mentioned yet, the flathead/bottle popper & the Phillips lock-in temporarily when used on the Wenger S557. These tools press into the springs when bearing down on a screw.

Vics function in a similar way: The key-ring is part of the bottle opener's spring that you can push down with your thumb to increase friction. The half-stop notch further helps with that. Finally, when, with the bottle opener open, the can opener is deployed tension is somehow increased thus resulting in a almost locking flat driver. Surprisingly, the can opener's stiffness is not affected. You can try this by opening the can opener first and then see how the bottle opener's action becomes harder.

True enough - with the caveat "ALMOST locking".
The flat on the back of the canopener's tang is a little farther from the pivot than the flat on the front side, putting more pressure on the back-spring which controls both tools (and so the canopener is just a little harder to close than to open), so with the canopener deployed the caplifter/screwdriver is indeed harder to close than with the canopener closed - much harder with the newer square-base half-stop driver.  And the canopener IS just as easy to rotate whether the caplifter on the other end of the spring is open or closed - the front and back flats of the caplifter are equidistant from its pivot-pin.
Will Victorinox used the locking design on the 2014 generation of their screwdrivers?

[colt 1911]

I use the Leatherman removable bit driver with the small screwdriver on the back of the Craftsman. (Its on the Handyman and Champ too, and probably other models) I keep a small piece of gutted paracord inside the driver. It locks it on to the screwdriver pretty well. It also scrunches down inside of the driver when I use it with my Juice S2 so there is no need to take it out. The "T-handle" isn't ideal but works for some applications.

Nice one, fits better than i thought.

[Nhoj]

When going on large backcountry trips with people who aren't outdoors as much as you, make sure your multitool has an awl. The person who isn't outdoors much (my dad) will need a new hole on his belt to tighten it from the reduced stomach fat. 

[Outback in Idaho]

  When using the magnifier glass for fire starting, attach the SAK onto a stick via the awl or corkscrew. Poke spick in ground (or use rocks) and focus the beam onto the fire starter material by raising or lowering the stick, and rotating to match the sun/earth movement if necessary.

  Don't forget to remove the SAK/stick after you get a flame going, if you haven't fallen asleep by then. 

[BradGad]

Mini-Driver Compass
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Wow... Just tried this and am super impressed with how well it works.

I keep a tiny NATO mini button compass in my wallet. I just tested the SAK mini driver -- hanging from the thread I keep on the needle that's under the parcel hook -- and it actually settled to north more quickly and reliably than the dedicated compass.

Thanks Xelkos!

[Jothra]

This one's a bit of effort, but it has worked very well in two Huntsmen (Huntsmans? Whatever.) and a Ranger so far. It should theoretically work in any 91mm with an opener layer next to a scissors layer.

I like to have a sharpener around, and what lower-profile method is there than carrying one in your knife? Granted, it's a small sharpener, but it's better than nothing, and sometimes it's something that I need right now.


Step 1: Find a cheap V-sharpener you don't mind tearing into bitty pieces. I've done this with at least three different brands, and they've all behaved exactly the same.


Step 2: Get all up in its business! All I needed was the awl to get started, and the bottle opener driver to finish the job. Chances are the sharpening rods aren't glued, and will fall right out.


Step 3: If the rod isn't short enough to fit completely under the bottle opener without touching the bottle-opening tab on the bottom, break off a little of the rod with some handy pliers.


Step 4: Use electrical tape to make a little hump at one end of the rod. This hump will wedge lightly in the space between the opener layer liners, keeping the sharpener from falling out when the scissors or bottle opener are open. I used superglue to stick it all nicely, then cut the tape from the sides to keep them from pushing on the scissors when everything's closed.


Step 5: Be done. See it in there? That sharpening rod should sit in there without touching the can opener at all, and without affecting use of either the bottle opener or the scissors. Unless you often use the scissors and bottle opener at the exact same time, it shouldn't fall out.

There may be an easier way to do this without the sharpener falling out, but I don't know what it would be. In a Wenger Evo s18 (and presumably other 85mm Wengers with scissors) you can skip the shortening step, since the rod will fit right under the scissors instead. In a Victorinox OH Forester (and probably the OH Soldier, I imagine) a completely unaltered rod will sit nicely in that odd gap behind the corkscrew/backside Phillips, in that space left by the saw's spring.

Also, while I'm here, I should mention that I'm very excited about the mini-driver compass and the Leatherman bits in the multi-purpose hook. I'd never thought of those. Nice work, guys!

[firiki]

When extended, the bottle opener can be used for extra leverage while using the main blade on Vics. It also allows me to rotate the SAK in my hand more safely. Note that the Compact has the combo tool in the same layer as the knife blade. The combo tool has the half stop notch. When fully opened, it works as above only better: the half stop notch offers extra friction so the knife can be used a little harder.

[Chaka]

A 1/4" socket fits the 91mm sak bottle opener so 1/4" bits can be used. I prefer the long sockets and epoxy a small magnet inside for retention.

[Minics04]

Desk lamp for Voyager lite and Traveler lite

[Luna Knife]

While wearing a lanyard around the neck, the multipurpose hook can be used to hold a can of beer while grilling meat.

[ducttapetech]

Now that is a cool idea! Beer holder. I like it.

sent from my mobile

[pfrsantos]

While wearing a lanyard around the neck, the multipurpose hook can be used to hold a can of beer while grilling meat.

Why are you holding the beer can?! Haven't you drank it already?!
 

[ducttapetech]

I think its for holding the beer you are about to drink while you are finishing the other one.

sent from my mobile

[Refrigerator]

I could've sworn I saw a picture of the mini screwdriver to lock the main blade...was probably from the sak owners manual. Anyone else heard of this?

[J Mackrel Jones]

"Trust this lock less than a factory one. Much less."     
the SAK  OM

[pfrsantos]

I think its for holding the beer you are about to drink while you are finishing the other one.

No... That's why you have two hands! Oh, maybe for the third beer... Ok, I get it now!

 

[victordomingos]

"Trust this lock less than a factory one. Much less."     
the SAK  OM

That works only on SAKs with bail, right? There is no hole in the ones with keyring...

[Syph007]

"Trust this lock less than a factory one. Much less."     
the SAK  OM

That works only on SAKs with bail, right? There is no hole in the ones with keyring...

You have to drill a hole. 

[victordomingos]

"Trust this lock less than a factory one. Much less."     
the SAK  OM

That works only on SAKs with bail, right? There is no hole in the ones with keyring...

You have to drill a hole. 

Oh... I wouldn't dare :-)

[J Mackrel Jones]

"Remember Hippocrates’ Oath: First do no harm."     SAK OM

[enki_ck]

Desk lamp for Voyager lite and Traveler lite
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Cool.

Should be added to the uses for a hook thread too.

Welcome to the forum.

[Jothra]

Desk lamp for Voyager lite and Traveler lite

Every time I see a new use for the hook, I feel warm inside, like I've eaten a bunch of delicious tacos.

[Reinier]

Desk lamp for Voyager lite and Traveler lite
(Image removed from quote.)

Cool.

Should be added to the uses for a hook thread too.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,26460.msg503395.html#msg503395

[enki_ck]

OK, I was lazy to do a search.

[AimlessWanderer]

I just checked, and the lamp thing does indeed work, but is of course utterly pointless due to the piddly amount of light emitted by the tool 

[Reinier]

OK, I was lazy to do a search.

 

It's really not very useful like Al already pointed out