The Hacked Leatherman Owners Club.

[Rich_SD]

Thanks Poncho 

I might try putting the other Wingman tools on that side and see how they work.  Before I try that, I'm going to see if any of my work friends has a 3D printer... I have a crazy idea.

[Poncho65]

Hope they do and we can see what you come up with

 

[zoidberg]

I might try putting the other Wingman tools on that side and see how they work.

I made a couple like that many years ago.
From memory I filed around the pivot area so it would sit in like the pliers did.
It's pretty easy to do.

[mox]

Not sure if this belongs here but anyway, WIP on a wingman as I found it to slippery and blinding bright in the sun. No real knowledge of what I am doing but seeing some reasonable results. I will see where  this mod leads me. Currently only looking at the carcass.

[DIAMOND]

Not sure if this belongs here but anyway, WIP on a wingman as I found it to slippery and blinding bright in the sun. No real knowledge of what I am doing but seeing some reasonable results. I will see where  this mod leads me. Currently only looking at the carcass.

What did you treat the stainless with? Looks nice, almost stone washed, but deeper in color.

[Poncho65]

Looks great  and this is a great place for that

You could also put it in the Mod Squad sub forum but this thread is great

Adam has black oxidized some things like this as well what exactly are you using? I think he was using a paste of some sort

[Adam5]

I used a mix of ferric acid and vinegar. I have also used stainless steel blackener, but the acid wash looks better IMO and is a little more durable. I'll see if I can upload a pic of my Sidekick knife that I dipped in the acid and then stone washed.

[Adam5]

I have been wanting to make a "Half Charge" like Poncho and many others, but I haven't yet come across a Charge that I am willing to disassemble.  Today while scavenging scissors from a Wingman, I decided to make a Half Wingman for fun.  Now that I have, I have a question for all of you Half Charge owners.  Do you just leave the spot that used to contain the pliers empty?  It seems like a huge area to just leave open.

Here's my Half Wingman.  It looks perfect from the side -

(Image removed from quote.)


Viewed from the bottom , not so much   

(Image removed from quote.)

You can add tools to the pliers end of the handle if you get a good fit against the backspring. It is a bit tougher to do with the Charge since the backspring is forked (part of the ramp mechanism to keep the knife blade from falling out while the pliers are deployed), but it is doable.

Here is my second Sidekick knife:

[Poncho65]

That looks so sweet, Adam

[mox]

What did you treat the stainless with? Looks nice, almost stone washed, but deeper in color.

I did a light ferric chloride etch and then a very short stone wash.

I don't know the concentration of the ferric chloride solution that I obtained so I decided to use two-thirds water and one-third ferric chloride. 10 min etch and then into a home made stone tumbler attached to my cordless drill for 2 min.

[Adam5]

Looks good to me, mox 

[DIAMOND]

I appreciate the info on blackening stainless. 

A bit driver was going to be my recommendation, but you beat me to it, Adam5. Yours looks great!

[knifecoop]

I recently purchased a Free P4 from the big online auction site. I like the Free P4, its free swinging opening and easy access to tools is very nice. However I was missing the bit holder, so I recently got one of ZapWizard's flat bit holders and am very impressed. The install only tool a few minutes, it fit well and now it offers alternatives such as a 1/4" bit cutout and also 2 1/8" bit options including one that is accessible in the end when the bit holder is closed. This is a nice option for a Free P4.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[Barry Rowland]

Great job!  I'm surprised, given the variety of screw and bolt heads, that but holders aren't more common from the factory. 

[Adam5]

I appreciate the info on blackening stainless. 

A bit driver was going to be my recommendation, but you beat me to it, Adam5. Yours looks great!

Thank you, DIAMOND 

[Poncho65]

Great job!  I'm surprised, given the variety of screw and bolt heads, that but holders aren't more common from the factory. 

  and I hope we see more factory ones in the future still it us nice to be able to put one in if you want to

[Barry Rowland]

  completely Poncho!  I admire anyone that mods...I haven't worked up the courage yet, although that MP600 seems like a good one to start with 

[Poncho65]

The MP600 isn't bad to mod but the Rebar and similar tools are easier for me I don't really panic anymore with a Wave or a Charge now either

First time with any new platform is a bit scary though Still you need to give it a try

[Adam5]

I remember my first attempt at modding. I was trying to change out the blade on a Multiforce. The new blade would not fit and I couldn't get the Multiforce back together. 
It sat disassembled in a sandwich baggie for a month before I tried again.

[Rich_SD]

At what point is a Curl no longer a Curl?

- I upgraded the blade to 154CM (from a Charge)
- I replaced the small scissors with a small bit driver (very useful for small electronic/IT equipment)
- I replaced the pliers with a Rebar for the replicable wire cutters
- This weekend, I replaced the file with Wingman scissors.  Yeah, this is a very surprising change, especially since I love Leatherman's diamond file and how little I use multitool scissors.  While I use my Charge's diamond file frequently (my weekend carry), I realized that I never need the diamond file on my Curl (my weekday carry).  I always liked the Wingman's scissors more than the Wave's scissors anyway, so maybe I'll start using them more. 
- Now I just need to replace that stupid can opener with something that I would actually use.  Maybe then this will be a real Ship of Theseus paradox 

[Poncho65]

Great to see that you got the mod almost to your liking

I forget how much has to be ground on the Wingman Sidekick tool to fit but either a package opener or the small serrated blade might be something good to replace the can opener also you can sharpen the end of the can opener to make it a package opener

[Rich_SD]

Thanks Poncho 

All great ideas     Ideally, the tool I need the most would be a pry tool, but I can't think of anything that would be within my capabilities to do.

[Poncho65]

Put another large flat driver in then you wouldn't be afraid to break it as much if you had 2

[Poncho65]

[Rich_SD]

Nice pic, Poncho     

[Poncho65]

Thanks Rich

[ed_is_dead]

I'm not expecting this to catch on



This is my work beater and gets used a lot. I reprofiled it short lamb/sheep's foot style due to "sheeple" issues. Irish knife law is very restrictive and alot of times boils down to the cops judgement call. Having the least offensive looking blade possible might be a mitigating factor.
Other issue is the blade won't stick me in the palm again and it's a dead simple shape to sharpen.

[SteveC]

I  it !      practical mod   

[Barry Rowland]

  

[Adam5]

Nice compromise between local laws and your needs