Time to break a blade

[Smaug]

I was eyeing the bladeless version of the Gerber MP600 for an MT I could easily take along while traveling. I read the reviews; several complaints of the BO coming off on users' hands. That = poor execution to me.

Then I realized, I have this inexpensive MP400 already, which already has its pliers tip ground down to be kind of blunt and it is well broken in already. I should just dremel the blade off of that one, right? The MP400 is more travel-sized, and I've got lots of other MTs around too...

The problem is I'm having a hard time actually physically doing it. I just sharpened that blade the other day. (both parts of it) I kind of like it too, it seems like such a waste.

On the other hand, MP400s are $26 new now, and this one is not even CLOSE to new any more.

But still, all these years of taking care of my tools, and now I'm going to deliberately wreck one? It's hard!

Send me some courage, guys.

[magentus]

I was eyeing the bladeless version of the Gerber MP600 for an MT I could easily take along while traveling. I read the reviews; several complaints of the BO coming off on users' hands. That = poor execution to me.

Then I realized, I have this inexpensive MP400 already, which already has its pliers tip ground down to be kind of blunt and it is well broken in already. I should just dremel the blade off of that one, right? The MP400 is more travel-sized, and I've got lots of other MTs around too...

The problem is I'm having a hard time actually physically doing it. I just sharpened that blade the other day. (both parts of it) I kind of like it too, it seems like such a waste.

On the other hand, MP400s are $26 new now, and this one is not even CLOSE to new any more.

But still, all these years of taking care of my tools, and now I'm going to deliberately wreck one? It's hard!

Send me some courage, guys.

Courage Mon Brave! 

You can do it Smaug - gather that Dragon strength!

[Zed]

I was like this with taking a perfectly good sak apart for the phillips,but once i did it and took the other sak apart and added the phillips i was well chuffed and would do more  but if your not ready i get it 

[Toolslinger]

Why chop when you can swap?

You could just take the knife out and replace it with another tool. The ones on other 400/600 series Gerbers will fit with some rearranging and consideration for tool length.

or

You can take the knife out and put in a washer/spacer to fill the gap.

Either way, you get a knifeless tool and still have the option of the blade if you decide to swap it back in at some point.

[Zed]

Why chop when you can swap?

You could just take the knife out and replace it with another tool. The ones on other 400/600 series Gerbers will fit with some rearranging and consideration for tool length.

or

You can take the knife out and put in a washer/spacer to fill the gap.

Either way, you get a knifeless tool and still have the option of the blade if you decide to swap it back in at some point.

this is a better option  im thinking of doing this too my pst ll 

[Smaug]

I'm not sure the Gerbers are dis-assemble-able. I can't tell by looking at the fasteners. 

The washer would have to be just the right thickness, or the other tools will either become too tight or will be flopping about.

[Toolslinger]

I'm not sure the Gerbers are dis-assemble-able. I can't tell by looking at the fasteners. 

The washer would have to be just the right thickness, or the other tools will either become too tight or will be flopping about.

They are very easy to disassemble. I've done it many times .

Pair of vice grips and a lighter is all you need.

Just identify the pivot side that rotates (doesn't sit into the handle scale) and heat it with the lighter to loosen the loctite. Once that's done, use the vice grips (pad the jaws to avoid scratching) and remove the screw portion of the pivot.

Then you can slid out the pivot and all the pieces will come out.

With the tools out, you can use a pair of calipers to measure the thickness of the tool or just take the blade to a hardware store and match it to a washer.

Reassembling is straightforward as long as you align the tabs on the washers with the slot in the lock area. You may need to pull the lock tab back to allow them all to seat properly. I do that after all the tools are in and before I tighten the pivot back up.

[Etherealicer]

Youp, easy to disasemble... just make sure you rotate on the right side

[Gareth]

Have a look over in the Mod Squad forum, there are a few threads on taking apart MP400s and 600s.  For example: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,53786.msg928630.html#msg928630

[captain spaulding]

Agreed with the swap not the chop. Gerber are extremely easy to take apart and put back together. Only thing is to remember the washers have little tabs on them that must sit in a certain place into the handle. Its really easy to do though.

[Smaug]

...so Red loctite for reassembly?

[Smaug]

Hmm. Anyone got an MP450 file they'd sell me?

I feel like it isn't likely I'd find a washer of just the right thickness to keep the tension right.

[captain spaulding]

...so Red loctite for reassembly?

NO!

Use Blue 242.

[captain spaulding]

Hmm. Anyone got an MP450 file they'd sell me?

I feel like it isn't likely I'd find a washer of just the right thickness to keep the tension right.

If you had calipers you could measure it, but I am assuming you do not. 

[Toolslinger]

Hmm. Anyone got an MP450 file they'd sell me?

I feel like it isn't likely I'd find a washer of just the right thickness to keep the tension right.

You can always layer thinner ones to get the right thickness. Plus there is some leeway in the screw for tightening to get the tension right. Gerbers are built like AK's, a little sloppy on the tolerances, but rugged and reliable.

[AimlessWanderer]

...so Red loctite for reassembly?

No! Use some of your wife's nail varnish (or some of your own  ). This will make the thread "gummy" enough to not come undone inadvertently, but also allow you to freely take it apart again if you need to. If you buy a MP450 to steal the file from, you then have a spare set of drivers to swap in if you damage one 

[Toolslinger]

Or you can leave the loctite out. I've not had any problems with the pivots loosening on mine after modding them.

[SAKnight]

Or you can leave the loctite out. I've not had any problems with the pivots loosening on mine after modding them.

This times a thousand. There is no way for the tools on a Gerber to spin the pivot, this no way to loosen the screw through repeated tool opening/closing

[zoidberg]

Hmm. Anyone got an MP450 file they'd sell me?

I feel like it isn't likely I'd find a washer of just the right thickness to keep the tension right.

You can always layer thinner ones to get the right thickness. Plus there is some leeway in the screw for tightening to get the tension right. Gerbers are built like AK's, a little sloppy on the tolerances, but rugged and reliable.

Yes, tension is against the tools and not the handle so as long as the tools clear the pliers you should be good.

Or you can leave the loctite out. I've not had any problems with the pivots loosening on mine after modding them.

This times a thousand. There is no way for the tools on a Gerber to spin the pivot, this no way to loosen the screw through repeated tool opening/closing

I've done six of these, they all worked loose and required loctite, so probably one for YMMV.

[SAKnight]

Hmm. Anyone got an MP450 file they'd sell me?

I feel like it isn't likely I'd find a washer of just the right thickness to keep the tension right.

You can always layer thinner ones to get the right thickness. Plus there is some leeway in the screw for tightening to get the tension right. Gerbers are built like AK's, a little sloppy on the tolerances, but rugged and reliable.

Yes, tension is against the tools and not the handle so as long as the tools clear the pliers you should be good.

Or you can leave the loctite out. I've not had any problems with the pivots loosening on mine after modding them.

This times a thousand. There is no way for the tools on a Gerber to spin the pivot, this no way to loosen the screw through repeated tool opening/closing

I've done six of these, they all worked loose and required loctite, so probably one for YMMV.

I stand corrected. YMMV it is, I've done two and been okay, and a pinchy

[Marcellus]

Why chop when you can swap?

You could just take the knife out and replace it with another tool. The ones on other 400/600 series Gerbers will fit with some rearranging and consideration for tool length.

or

You can take the knife out and put in a washer/spacer to fill the gap.

Either way, you get a knifeless tool and still have the option of the blade if you decide to swap it back in at some point.

What he said. 
Takes a little patience, plus you will have a knife blade for another  great idea!

[SAKnight]

At the very least, someone may want the drop point blade to replace their wharncliffe, I know that's a love/hate shape. Maybe they'd trade for it?

[lowtech]

I´d like to add this:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,47743.0.html

For some additional pics of disassembled Gerber Tools. I´ll always take gerber tools and if I have what you need, I´ll gladly trade.
if you just need a washer, I can send it in an envelope.

And I can offer some broken blades ( basically, tool pivot area bits), so you don´t have to snap off yours...