First mod idea

[jrp316]

So, I've been kicking the idea of doing a mod around in my head a little bit lately. Since it's something I'm very new to (and my tool selection isn't great), I've been thinking conservatively. Alox mods are right out for now until such a time as I build up experience. I also wanted to do something somewhat original and with that, here's what I've come up with: the advanced Mechanic.

The donor knives would be a Spartan Lite and a Mechanic. Essentially, I would take the Mechanic pliers and add them to the Spartan Lite. As the Phillips head on the backside of the Mechanic would be redundant with the top side one, I would leave the Spartan's corkscrew and fit it with the eyeglass driver. Plus scales to wrap it up with. The Mechanic would then be converted to a Tinker to give me some practice assembling a finished knife. Any thoughts?

[82brutus]

Sounds like a good idea!!  The mechanic to tinker mod will be relatively straight forward.  Lots of threads related to layer removal mods.   

Take lots of pics along the way and share your experience!!   

[Gareth]

Sounds good to me.

[WiSAKfan]

sounds like a good plan too me, it will be wide with both light and pliers layers but that's not a big deal

have you tried the lights before?  they aren't the most powerful, reducing their usefulness.

igood luck
have fun.

[enki_ck]

Go ahead. And take pics whey you disassemble the layers so you know which backspring/liner goes where. Also be carefull not to damage or loose the bushings. When they fall on the ground it takes ages to find them.

If you have any questions along the way, members here are always happy to help.

[lowtech]

...and, if i may add, clean your workshop floor before dropping any bushings.

I swiped a pile of metal shavings and oily dirt onto the dirt shovel, took a bright lamb,had a seat and picked through teh mess in search of 2 bushings i dropped.

Should use a broom more often, i guess.

[jrp316]

I'm kicking around a few different ideas in my mind; in particular, I'm going down the route of substituting a mag glass for the LED light (a la Explorer). For that, I'd have an Explorer as the base knife and a Mechanic to donate the pliers (eliminating the hook/scissors). Even though I'm not a fan, eliminate the openers layer and swap the small blade for a combo tool (Yeomechanic?).

Either way, I'd better get down to brass tacks (or in this case, pins). Is Rotokid still the man to get the pin stock from these days?

On another note, I tried my hand at knife disassembly with an old Tinker yesterday. The pin drilling went decently, but it was under more tension than I gave it credit for. As soon as the last pin head popped, the knife popped up off the bench even with tape holding it together (painter's tape, must use duct tape next time)...and I lost two bushings/pins as a result. So that one's put down as a lesson learned, but you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, eh?   

[MARIOS7319]

Interesting idea, take photos when you start.
And as for the floor, lowtech is right.
I had a hard time to find some tiny screws, when i was repairing a watch.

[Syph007]

Either way, I'd better get down to brass tacks (or in this case, pins). Is Rotokid still the man to get the pin stock from these days?

He does still have pin stock last I talked to him, but has been slow to ship/respond lately.  I think he's busy.  I would recommend buying K&S engineering brass rod stock.  Amazon and ebay both have it.

I bought from ebay last time with no problem, but mostly because Amazon.com wont ship to Canada. 

2.5 mm brass rod
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390524273848?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Noone makes the 2.2 mm that you need for the center pin, but it's such a small different from 2.5, I just put a small piece in a drill and hold sandpaper on it and keep test fitting it through a liner until it goes through.  Its not for the main end tools so honestly it really doesn't even have to be that super accurate.  So my recommendation is just to buy 2.5mm brass stock.

Cheers,
Robert