Question about 91mm SAK Brass pins.

[DaveK]

I'm gonna build me a knife. A Swiss Army Knife. Probably quite a big one, depending on what donor knives I can source.

I have no real practical use for a knife that hopefully will be so heavy that if EDC'd in the pocket may pull my trousers down, but I want to know if I can make a decent fist of it

So, I have obtained a handful of 91mm SAKs which all have defects (broken blade tip etc), and therefore have enough components to have my first go.

Following various tips I've picked up from SOSAK and posts on this forum, I have an idea about how I will approach it - but I am having some trouble sourcing the brass I need for pins. As the knife I'm making will be bigger than the donor knives - I can't reuse them!

So, I wonder if anyone could tell me what I actually need to look for.

My cheap micrometer seems to think that I will need lengths of 2.5mm and 2.15mm brass rods. Google has lead me to a few sites selling brass rods - but these do not seem to be "standard" sizes.

Any help or advice you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated - in return (if it works - lol) I'll be sure to post up some pictures of the finished result so you can all have a good laugh

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

You can get the brass rod's here... http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse&category_id=cb238147c7b208797cfb6ef2549c12c3&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=1

Sounds like a very cool project mate , I can't wait to see the result's. So how many layer's will this giant be then

[Benner]

Tom Meeker (Rotokid) stocks the pins.  His shop is over on SOSAK.

[Benner]

You can get the brass rod's here... http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse&category_id=cb238147c7b208797cfb6ef2549c12c3&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=1

Sounds like a very cool project mate , I can't wait to see the result's. So how many layer's will this giant be then

What he said. 

[DaveK]

You can get the brass rod's here... http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse&category_id=cb238147c7b208797cfb6ef2549c12c3&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=1

Sounds like a very cool project mate , I can't wait to see the result's. So how many layer's will this giant be then

Wow you guys are quick! I'm off to place an order shortly - thanks!

Layers? Well that really depends on what donor knives I can pick up and at what price. I don't really want to chop up good knives, only ones that might get binned.

But basically I'm going for as many layers as I can

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

You can get the brass rod's here... http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse&category_id=cb238147c7b208797cfb6ef2549c12c3&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=1

Sounds like a very cool project mate , I can't wait to see the result's. So how many layer's will this giant be then

Wow you guys are quick! I'm off to place an order shortly - thanks!

Layers? Well that really depends on what donor knives I can pick up and at what price. I don't really want to chop up good knives, only ones that might get binned.

But basically I'm going for as many layers as I can

Yeah our women tell us we're really quick too

Well Tim (felinevet) does a really good line on cheap, servicable sak's too http://felinevet.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

And being that there father and son, you could probably combine the two orders and save on shipping

[DaveK]

And being that there father and son, you could probably combine the two orders and save on shipping

Aaah didn't realise that. I've dropped them a line outlining what I'm after so let's see what they come back with!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

There both member's here and Tim's also one of the banner advertisers too. (just to complete your education )

[J-sews]

Plus I'm sure Bill (Scibeer) will be along shortly if you've got any other questions.

This sounds like it will be a fun project

[DaveK]

This sounds like it will be a fun project

Well I certainly hope so.

[WhichDawg]

sounds like a great project DaveK! I can't wait to hear/see the end result
chisel awl, pointy awl, several types of blades, couple files, scissors,...sorry I'm dreamin

[scibeer]

Kitchen sink SAK, sounds good.

To should have everything you need.

If you want to make a big SAK, the most important thing is to make the pins fixed somehow so you can add the layers easily.   I use corian pieces about 8x8" or so.

Use a liner to drill tight fitting holes into the corian (or wood/micarta, whatever) in the appropriate sizes (2.5mm and 2.25mm or 0.098in and 0.085in) to match the pattern on the liner. 

Make the holes about 7-10mm deep to have plenty of pin as an anchor.

Then start layering the tools on.   You'll have to strech the spring a little with a pair of pliers as you add the last tool to each layer.    Drilling the hole pattern about 1/2" away from the edge of your SAK assembling platform will allow you to use the edge of the platform to put on one side of the pliers and the other on the spring so you can squeeze and compress the spring which will allow you to seat the tool against the spring.    Since the pins are fixed, everything should stay put.

I hope that all made sense. 

Good luck and post any questions as you go.

[scibeer]

I put up a new thread called "SAK Assembler" to illustrate this more clearly.    Hope it is of some help.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5063.0.html

[DaveK]

Kitchen sink SAK, sounds good.

To should have everything you need.

If you want to make a big SAK, the most important thing is to make the pins fixed somehow so you can add the layers easily.   I use corian pieces about 8x8" or so.

Use a liner to drill tight fitting holes into the corian (or wood/micarta, whatever) in the appropriate sizes (2.5mm and 2.25mm or 0.098in and 0.085in) to match the pattern on the liner. 

Make the holes about 7-10mm deep to have plenty of pin as an anchor.

Then start layering the tools on.   You'll have to strech the spring a little with a pair of pliers as you add the last tool to each layer.    Drilling the hole pattern about 1/2" away from the edge of your SAK assembling platform will allow you to use the edge of the platform to put on one side of the pliers and the other on the spring so you can squeeze and compress the spring which will allow you to seat the tool against the spring.    Since the pins are fixed, everything should stay put.

I hope that all made sense. 

Good luck and post any questions as you go.

That's it then. From this day forth the project shall be called KSSAK - lol.

That's great advice scibeer - I had it in mind to use a block of wood, but I can see the sense in using something more solid - I shall go and have a root round and see what I've got.

Just need the boys from SOSAK to reply to my mails for the pins now - and it's a go.