Single-wing Wingman

[rdub934]

Awesome work, Dr. Zoidberg!

[babola]

Easy, file down the drivers to match the pliers pivot then you are good to go. Leave the handle the way it is.

Yup, done that on mine too. Works well but the tools don't really click as the bottom ones as the top handle stop is different in shape and config to the bottom which was made to click. So it's kind of quasy-click, it clicks but not really...if you get my grip :-)

I'm happy with it as is, it works as expected, it's the original and still the one with the highest tool load

[babola]

So... I've been playing with this mod and...

I am pretty solidly convinced that modifying the drivers to fit into the 'front' where the plier heads was without removing the plier retention spring is better than removing the plier retention spring.

Certainly not FASTER, but better.

Losing all retention on the drivers really limits their usefulness, IMO.

Otherwise... I think this makes a handy little package. It's about the same size (minus protruding bolts and pocket clip) as the Vic Farmer, and packs in about as much useful function. I assume that the Sidekick's saw, with some major work, could be made into an inside folding tool. You might have to lose one of the file/can opener/ serrated blade slots to make it fit, though.

I was actually quite opposite...I tried it with the pliers retention spring and while it worked it caused much more friction than necessary. It really doesn't add anything to the functionality and operation of the top tools. If you remove the clip, use correct combo of washers and spacers (you need to play with this to find the best fit, it took me about 2 hours until I found the best fit, but then again I used scissors as well) and grind the base of the drivers so they quasy-click on opening and closing, you'll be good.

 

[zoidberg]

Are you happy now, zoidberg?

(Image removed from quote.)

I get my Sidekick back into working condition and I go and do THIS to it.
 

Eh, what did I do? 

[zoidberg]

Awesome work, Dr. Zoidberg!

Thanks mate. 

[pingu]

Kampfer,  what did you have to do to get them all to click ?

I'm still thinking about picking one up to mess with.

Easy, file down the drivers to match the pliers pivot then you are good to go. Leave the handle the way it is.

How firm is the driver open retention at the wrong end with the slot filed down compared with the stock open retention at the correct end?

Hoping to get my Wingman  tomorrow then I do my version.

[pingu]

 
If I'd read through all the posts I'd have seen my question has already been quasi-answered.

[zoidberg]

If I'd read through all the posts I'd have seen my question has already been quasi-answered.

It depends how much you file down. On the one I did it is quite a bit firmer that the stock end. Also I cut in a deep backstop so they open a little past the straight line of the handle to reduce the chance of them closing up onto your hand.

[pingu]

If I'd read through all the posts I'd have seen my question has already been quasi-answered.

It depends how much you file down. On the one I did it is quite a bit firmer than the stock end....

  Now that has given me a dilemma but an option I didn't think I had...

[zoidberg]

Just adding a couple comments.

I think scissors make this tool awesome. I didn't have any spare and that was a downer. However, if you leave the plier spring in and rework the tools, I'm not sure there is enough there to do that with the scissors. It is possible that to have scissors you have to remove the plier spring. Or put them down the other end, someone else can try that.

The second is an issue of tension. I reworked the tools so they opened easily about a quarter open, then a little firmer to half open. This was to allow easy access to the tools below. What I failed to note before I did this was that the spring no longer held them shut. Because they share a fastener with the knife what happens is if you tighten it to keep the tools in the knife is hard to open, if you loosen it so the knife opens easily then the tools are loose. Learn from my mistake maybe.

Sadly my OCD prevents me from ever being able to enjoy these tools in both stock and hacked form. Mostly because of the handle shape. I liked the plier head, the flat and phillips drivers, the package opener etc. I can see why others might like them but they're not for me.

I can't believe some of you have made multiples now.

[babola]

Never had you for an OCD type, mate...quite surprised, actually 

[zoidberg]

Never had you for an OCD type, mate...quite surprised, actually 

I think most people have it to some level.

[Kampfer]

Kampfer,  what did you have to do to get them all to click ?

I'm still thinking about picking one up to mess with.

Easy, file down the drivers to match the pliers pivot then you are good to go. Leave the handle the way it is.

How firm is the driver open retention at the wrong end with the slot filed down compared with the stock open retention at the correct end?

Hoping to get my Wingman  tomorrow then I do my version.

Same tension as the pliers head. 

[Cupboard]

given that the drivers are likely to have a side load put on them and therefore need good retention but the things like the can opener will only ever be used force against the backstop, why not swap the ends round? Put the drivers where the tools normally go, and the other tools at the plier end.

Does anyone know how hard the file is compared to a "normal" Leatherman screwdriver? I'm thinking of attacking it to give it a usable, slender shank.

[pingu]

What I failed to note before I did this was that the spring no longer held them shut.

Well that reminds me of my first ever attempted hack - trying to make a Gerber Evo non-locking  .   A complete fail but its not impossible the Gerber PE will make a reappearance in my Wi-man

Thanks for the great heads-up.

[pingu]

given that the drivers are likely to have a side load put on them and therefore need good retention but the things like the can opener will only ever be used force against the backstop, why not swap the ends round? Put the drivers where the tools normally go, and the other tools at the plier end.

Does anyone know how hard the file is compared to a "normal" Leatherman screwdriver? I'm thinking of attacking it to give it a usable, slender shank.

I was thinking the same about the can opener but doesn't lifting a possibly "stuck" tool require a degree of retention?

Funny you should ask about the "file" hardness.  Was also thinking about that, I have a plan too, and had just done a test grind with a diamond burr.  Not obviously harder or unworkable though maybe that is because it is thinner.

[zoidberg]

What I failed to note before I did this was that the spring no longer held them shut.

Well that reminds me of my first ever attempted hack - trying to make a Gerber Evo non-locking  .   A complete fail but its not impossible the Gerber PE will make a reappearance in my Wi-man

Thanks for the great heads-up.

No problem mate.    Better others don't make the same mistake.

[zoidberg]

given that the drivers are likely to have a side load put on them and therefore need good retention but the things like the can opener will only ever be used force against the backstop, why not swap the ends round? Put the drivers where the tools normally go, and the other tools at the plier end.

Does anyone know how hard the file is compared to a "normal" Leatherman screwdriver? I'm thinking of attacking it to give it a usable, slender shank.

I was thinking the same about the can opener but doesn't lifting a possibly "stuck" tool require a degree of retention?

Funny you should ask about the "file" hardness.  Was also thinking about that, I have a plan too, and had just done a test grind with a diamond burr.  Not obviously harder or unworkable though maybe that is because it is thinner.

You two might want to see this. 

[AimlessWanderer]

I can see why others might like them but they're not for me.

Yeah, I'm with you on this one mate  Both in stock form, and as this mod, I really can't connect with it. It's like the whole is worse than the sum of it's parts. Each individual feature is not too bad, but collectively I don't like them at all. I bought a Wingman for the scissors, and the rest of it is just sat in a box destined to never be utilised unless I decide to add some of the parts to a PST or something (I have been tempted to repurpose the package opener).

As a pliers tool, the handles have pointy bits so you have to hold it the correct way round, but even then the handles are too splayed for comfort. As a knife based tool, the blade locks and the drivers don't - which is completely the reverse of what I'd want.

But yes ... I can see why it might appeal more to others who may have different priorities and preferences

[pingu]

given that the drivers are likely to have a side load put on them and therefore need good retention but the things like the can opener will only ever be used force against the backstop, why not swap the ends round? Put the drivers where the tools normally go, and the other tools at the plier end.

Does anyone know how hard the file is compared to a "normal" Leatherman screwdriver? I'm thinking of attacking it to give it a usable, slender shank.

I was thinking the same about the can opener but doesn't lifting a possibly "stuck" tool require a degree of retention?

Funny you should ask about the "file" hardness.  Was also thinking about that, I have a plan too, and had just done a test grind with a diamond burr.  Not obviously harder or unworkable though maybe that is because it is thinner.

You two might want to see this. 

How can I ever reveal what mod I have just done to my Wingman "file" .   Not that I would have ever used it for prying but I do have in mind some gentle "driving".

Fortunately this very moment a cheap knock-off keychain multifunction tool has arrived for serious paint tin opening.

[Lynn LeFey]

given that the drivers are likely to have a side load put on them and therefore need good retention but the things like the can opener will only ever be used force against the backstop, why not swap the ends round? Put the drivers where the tools normally go, and the other tools at the plier end.

This was the same thing I was thinking, and changed my tool up last night.



Those with keen eyes might note that I had to take off the tip of the small serrated blade. Otherwise, it would close far enough that the tip could pass through the hole in the bottom of the handle, and I really didn't feel like owning a tool that let me stab myself. Also, I've put the Wingman's semi serrated blade on this, because I wanted the Sidekick's blade on my Wingman.

Does anyone know how hard the file is compared to a "normal" Leatherman screwdriver? I'm thinking of attacking it to give it a usable, slender shank.

I think zoidberg's link covers my recent experience. It IS hardened, but I don't know how much.

With this tool swap, I don't have much concern about no retention on the file/small driver or the (remains of) the small serrated blade. And honestly, I've tested can openers before with almost zero retention. It just slows the process down. Unlike with screw drivers where you can bust your knuckles if they collapse on you. This setup is much more to my liking.

[Cupboard]

It was your experience that had me thinking. You want the shaft to be tough and the tip to be hard otherwise that happens.

I think once I've sorted my insurance out, finished tidying my house, got some wrapping paper, picked up some boots for my mum... I might have a fiddle and see

As a pliers tool, the handles have pointy bits so you have to hold it the correct way round, but even then the handles are too splayed for comfort. As a knife based tool, the blade locks and the drivers don't - which is completely the reverse of what I'd want.

I hadn't realised how played they are, but comparing them to my Rebar it's a huge difference! 

And I agree about the drivers too.

I think it should be possible to reduce the splay slightly by grinding down a bit of the plier head backstop 

[Lynn LeFey]

I think it should be possible to reduce the splay slightly by grinding down a bit of the plier head backstop 

Exactly this.

I am confused by people's willingness to take these things completely apart to frankenstein them, sometimes at significant effort, but being unwilling to take one apart to make adjustments to the tool in mostly-stock configuration.

Also, I've tested before the force the drivers will take, and I have to intentionally TRY to get them to collapse when they have the spring retention. So, I've never felt locking was any kind of necessity.

[AimlessWanderer]

I think it should be possible to reduce the splay slightly by grinding down a bit of the plier head backstop 

Exactly this.

I am confused by people's willingness to take these things completely apart to frankenstein them, sometimes at significant effort, but being unwilling to take one apart to make adjustments to the tool in mostly-stock configuration.

Also, I've tested before the force the drivers will take, and I have to intentionally TRY to get them to collapse when they have the spring retention. So, I've never felt locking was any kind of necessity.

It seems to me, that if you're going to go to the trouble of taking a tool apart, you might as well give it the full treatment to get it tailored to your needs, rather than just coax it from bloody awful to vaguely passable 

As to the drivers .... never tried them to be perfectly honest. I don't like the handles anyway for the reasons mentioned above, so unless I think they'd be worth transferring to another tool to improve that instead, they'll just be slung in the junk box with contempt   

[zoidberg]

I think it should be possible to reduce the splay slightly by grinding down a bit of the plier head backstop 

Exactly this.

I am confused by people's willingness to take these things completely apart to frankenstein them, sometimes at significant effort, but being unwilling to take one apart to make adjustments to the tool in mostly-stock configuration.

Also, I've tested before the force the drivers will take, and I have to intentionally TRY to get them to collapse when they have the spring retention. So, I've never felt locking was any kind of necessity.

The ends of the handles are pointy, that is a game killer for me.
It is a design flaw and should have been picked up in testing.

Quite a few people did make adjustments to the tool.
Those who frankensteined do so to most tools anyway.
This was suppose to be a fun hack with discarded parts.

A driver will collapse on you when you don't want it to.
Screw starts to cam out, push down a little bit harder you'll get it and bam your nuckles are history.

[AimlessWanderer]

I'm getting very worried .... me and the lobster seem to have started agreeing on things ... 

[zoidberg]

I'm getting very worried .... me and the lobster seem to have started agreeing on things ... 

Something is wrong with me.

I'm even carrying a Gerber these days. 

Quick, someone please send me a MUT!! 

[PTRSAK]

Something is wrong with me.

I'm even carrying a Gerber these days. 

Quick, someone please send me a MUT!! 

Oh... a MUT  with just ONE t...  sorry my bad

[BIG-TARGET]

It would be kind of funny if Leatherman sees this and decides to make a production run.

They had their chance, but wasted it on the Rev. 

(Image removed from quote.)

Has anyone use the REV yet?

[Lynn LeFey]

As far as I know, it's not available on the market yet. If it weren't for an accidental leak, I don't think we'd even know what it looks like yet.