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Bending a LM tool

be Offline Rebelgium

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Bending a LM tool
on: February 06, 2018, 04:41:15 PM
Hi there,

I'm making a custom MT and for this project I need to bend a LM can opener tool.
I just want to bend it sideways, by about 10°, and the bend distributed over the entire length of the tool. A very easy bend.
Well, it should be very easy at least. If we we talking plain steel/copper/most metals

The other requirement is that the tool doesn't lose its hardness. This is crucial as I intend to sharpen one of the edges of this can opener, and ofcourse I'd like it to stay sharp as long as possible.

So in conclusion I need to
1 ) Determine exactly what type of steel a LM can opener is made from
2 ) Then I can look up the appropriate way to bend it. ( Heat? To what temperature? Bend when hot or once it has cooled down? Or bend when cold? Is work hardening g an issue? ... )
3 ) Look up how to re-harden the tool ( IF it had to be softened first to do the bend in the first place)


So far I'm still stuck on number 1.
There are many types of stainless steels, and each have different ways to bend and/or heat treat them...

Anybody with knowledge on any if these three points?
Anybody who has bent These/similar tools before?

Thanks


us Offline Lynn LeFey

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #1 on: February 06, 2018, 04:53:16 PM
Zachary Fowler discusses how he turned the can opener on his Victorinox Spirit into a spoon gouge. I've set the time stamp to where he discusses this particular mod. TLDR: Heat until cherry red, hit with hammer. You can't take Spirits apart, but you CAN take Leatherman tools apart. I'd recommend doing that if you intend to modify the can opener by heating it to glowing red.

What >I< would personally do is remove the can opener from the rest of the tool, heat, shape, then heat again, using a magnet to test to make sure that you're heating it until the magnetic attraction goes away, then quench in water/oil. This will make it HARD. Then put it in an oven at 450 for a few hours to temper. I don't know what steel it's made of, but that's pretty standard for any tool you want to have a cutting edge. Whether or not it will WORK...  :think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-sbpSBSORg&t=232s


00 Offline Mechanickal

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #2 on: February 06, 2018, 05:00:40 PM
Want to bend a tool?
Pablo O'Brien is the man to talk to here! 8)


us Offline SteveC

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #3 on: February 06, 2018, 06:56:26 PM
Leatherman uses 420HC on their blades , maybe something else for the can openers 440  :think:
« Last Edit: February 06, 2018, 08:25:12 PM by SteveC »


gb Offline Fuzzbucket

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #4 on: February 06, 2018, 07:03:02 PM
If you hit with a hammer, it'll just snap off. You'll have to heat it up with a torch first. Good luck!

Or like Mechy says, get Pablo to do it!


gb Offline Fuzzbucket

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #5 on: February 06, 2018, 07:05:03 PM
Leatherman uses 420HC on there blades , maybe something else for the can openers 440  :think:

I imagine it will be 420 for everything, I wouldn't think they would change stock for a can opener... or would they?  :D


tr Offline ddogu

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #6 on: February 06, 2018, 08:10:54 PM
If you hit with a hammer, it'll just snap off. You'll have to heat it up with a torch first. Good luck!

Or like Mechy says, get Pablo to do it!

Doesn't heating steel make it "un-steel"? AFAIK heating up a hardened and processed steel makes interferes with the molecular structure and softens it. :think:


gb Offline Fuzzbucket

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #7 on: February 06, 2018, 08:34:32 PM
If you hit with a hammer, it'll just snap off. You'll have to heat it up with a torch first. Good luck!

Or like Mechy says, get Pablo to do it!

Doesn't heating steel make it "un-steel"? AFAIK heating up a hardened and processed steel makes interferes with the molecular structure and softens it. :think:

Yeah I imagine it will, but there is no other way that I can think of. If indeed leatherman do heat treat components like can-openers etc...?  :think:
« Last Edit: February 06, 2018, 08:40:10 PM by Fuzzbucket »


us Offline Lynn LeFey

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #8 on: February 06, 2018, 08:44:07 PM
Whatever metal/tempering Leatherman uses, the metal tends to snap, not bend. I've seen a lot more broken implements than severely bent ones on Leatherman tools. So, yes, heating would be crucial.


gb Offline Fuzzbucket

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #9 on: February 06, 2018, 08:53:35 PM
Whatever metal/tempering Leatherman uses, the metal tends to snap, not bend. I've seen a lot more broken implements than severely bent ones on Leatherman tools. So, yes, heating would be crucial.

It's a horribly distinctive sound when they ping off too... (gulp)...


us Offline Lynn LeFey

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #10 on: February 06, 2018, 09:16:39 PM
It's a horribly distinctive sound when they ping off too... (gulp)...

I broke the file on a Wingman TWICE, and the phillips on a Micra. I know the 'ping' all too well. :D


us Offline Kampfer

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #11 on: February 07, 2018, 12:33:00 AM
Everything is 420, Blades are 420HC
EDC: Black Talon, Black Cat, Spirit, LD02


nz Offline zoidberg

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #12 on: February 07, 2018, 10:37:07 AM
Hi there,

I'm making a custom MT and for this project I need to bend a LM can opener tool.
I just want to bend it sideways, by about 10°, and the bend distributed over the entire length of the tool. A very easy bend.

Which size/type LM can opener, Wingman, Wave, Surge, OHT, other?
Bend to which side, left or right?


be Offline Rebelgium

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #13 on: February 07, 2018, 11:08:17 AM
Hi there,

I'm making a custom MT and for this project I need to bend a LM can opener tool.
I just want to bend it sideways, by about 10°, and the bend distributed over the entire length of the tool. A very easy bend.

Which size/type LM can opener, Wingman, Wave, Surge, OHT, other?
Bend to which side, left or right?

Wave size. I'll bend it to the left (looking from the top of the tool)


be Offline Rebelgium

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #14 on: February 07, 2018, 11:12:02 AM
It's a horribly distinctive sound when they ping off too... (gulp)...

I broke the file on a Wingman TWICE, and the phillips on a Micra. I know the 'ping' all too well. :D

My speculation: A file will be hardened, but not tempered. Leaving it very hard (as a file should be) but brittle.
I think a canopener will be tempered. That is, if it is hardened at all. So a canopener *should* be less brittle


nz Offline zoidberg

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #15 on: February 07, 2018, 11:12:25 AM
Hi there,

I'm making a custom MT and for this project I need to bend a LM can opener tool.
I just want to bend it sideways, by about 10°, and the bend distributed over the entire length of the tool. A very easy bend.

Which size/type LM can opener, Wingman, Wave, Surge, OHT, other?
Bend to which side, left or right?

Wave size. I'll bend it to the left (looking from the top of the tool)

Okay, no promises but if I can find a couple spares and some free time at work next week I'll do some testing.


be Offline Rebelgium

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #16 on: February 07, 2018, 01:02:21 PM
Hi there,

I'm making a custom MT and for this project I need to bend a LM can opener tool.
I just want to bend it sideways, by about 10°, and the bend distributed over the entire length of the tool. A very easy bend.

Which size/type LM can opener, Wingman, Wave, Surge, OHT, other?
Bend to which side, left or right?

Wave size. I'll bend it to the left (looking from the top of the tool)

Okay, no promises but if I can find a couple spares and some free time at work next week I'll do some testing.

That would be great! Very interested in the results.
I'd do some testing too but I have no spares, it's a one shot deal.

I've done some measurements and I need to make a correction: I'd bend the last 18mm by 20° to the left side. By the last 18mm I mean the tip of the tool, the hinge needs to stay straight.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2018, 01:11:44 PM by Rebelgium »


gb Offline Fuzzbucket

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #17 on: February 07, 2018, 01:05:50 PM
Hi there,

I'm making a custom MT and for this project I need to bend a LM can opener tool.
I just want to bend it sideways, by about 10°, and the bend distributed over the entire length of the tool. A very easy bend.

Which size/type LM can opener, Wingman, Wave, Surge, OHT, other?
Bend to which side, left or right?

Wave size. I'll bend it to the left (looking from the top of the tool)

Okay, no promises but if I can find a couple spares and some free time at work next week I'll do some testing.

That would be great! Very interested in the results.
I'd do some testing too but I have no spares, it's a one shot deal.



 :D


wales Offline hiraethus

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #18 on: February 07, 2018, 02:08:35 PM
Give it a go with the one you have - if it snaps I'll send you a replacement.


us Offline ironraven

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #19 on: February 07, 2018, 10:29:43 PM
Maybe a sketch is in order so we can get some idea of how far you're trying to bend it. And what you're trying to fit it into.
"Even if it is only the handful of people I meet on the street, or in my home, I can still protect them with this one sword" Kenshin Himura

Necessity is the mother of invention. If you're not ready, it's "a mother". If you are, it's "mom".

"I love democracy" Sheev Palpatine, upon his election to Chancellor.


be Offline Rebelgium

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #20 on: February 08, 2018, 10:55:21 AM
Maybe a sketch is in order so we can get some idea of how far you're trying to bend it. And what you're trying to fit it into.
IMG_20180208_104903.jpg
* IMG_20180208_104903.jpg (Filesize: 105.69 KB)


00 Offline Mechanickal

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #21 on: February 08, 2018, 12:35:48 PM
Btw, off topic...
Re"belgium"?
There are others??! :ahhh :ahhh


be Offline Top-Gear-24

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #22 on: February 08, 2018, 01:38:24 PM
Btw, off topic...
Re"belgium"?
There are others??! :ahhh :ahhh

There are more of us out there than you'd think, but most of us are "the quite type" ...  :pok:

Show content


 ;)


gb Offline Fuzzbucket

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #23 on: February 08, 2018, 01:41:31 PM
Btw, off topic...
Re"belgium"?
There are others??! :ahhh :ahhh

There are more of us out there than you'd think, but most of us are "the quite type" ...  :pok:

Show content


 ;)

Brilliant!  :rofl:


00 Offline Mechanickal

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #24 on: February 08, 2018, 04:27:42 PM
Btw, off topic...
Re"belgium"?
There are others??! :ahhh :ahhh

There are more of us out there than you'd think, but most of us are "the quite type" ...  :pok:

Show content


 ;)
Quite?
I don't think your spelling was quite right there! :pok:

And if you want me to stop posting, all you've got to do is ask :think:


be Offline Top-Gear-24

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #25 on: February 08, 2018, 08:21:06 PM
Btw, off topic...
Re"belgium"?
There are others??! :ahhh :ahhh

There are more of us out there than you'd think, but most of us are "the quite type" ...  :pok:

Show content


 ;)
Quite?
I don't think your spelling was quite right there! :pok:

And if you want me to stop posting, all you've got to do is ask :think:

So, your best defence is pointing out a typo ...  :think:

Cause that's what it was, a typo ...  Since I only made that mistake once, if it was a spelling problem I would've made the same mistake more than once ...  :whistle:

Show content
Usualy with LCD watches, when the battery is so far gone that the light doesn't work, the writing usualy goes nearly invisible during the time of the lighting.


...
I know a guy who's willing to let his MINT mechanical SAK go for 150 including the Victorinox sign hovering above it (attached at the back of the SAK with see through plastic) which is usualy missing.
...

...
Usualy I try not to charge anything for people who were in real need (like the older woman who can't do it herself) but they always want to give me something.
...

...
But usualy because I regret what I typed...
...

Show content

These could be typos ...

Carrying the Spirit again.
Usual carry in the weekends.
Naturaly in my Skinth :D

... Mine is actualy navy blue, but for the Skinth it's a great colour.
Fits with lots of other colours and doesn't make me look like a mall ninja :D



No need to stop posting, I was just messing with you mate  ;).

Oh, and have you noticed ... ?

Show content






00 Offline Mechanickal

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #26 on: February 08, 2018, 08:31:05 PM
Why do people never point that out to me?
I can't evolve forwards if everyone is like "I'm to polite to say anything about his foul spelling" :facepalm:


be Offline Top-Gear-24

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #27 on: February 08, 2018, 08:40:05 PM
Why do people never point that out to me?
I can't evolve forwards if everyone is like "I'm to polite to say anything about his foul spelling" :facepalm:

There are no grammar n*zis here mate, as long as we get what's being said, it's all right  ;).


us Offline SteveC

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #28 on: February 08, 2018, 08:48:50 PM
Why do people never point that out to me?
I can't evolve forwards if everyone is like "I'm to polite to say anything about his foul spelling" :facepalm:

There are no grammar n*zis here mate, as long as we get what's being said, it's all right  ;).

Quiet right old boy !   :D


us Offline Lynn LeFey

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Re: Bending a LM tool
Reply #29 on: February 08, 2018, 09:20:01 PM
Why do people never point that out to me?
I can't evolve forwards if everyone is like "I'm to polite to say anything about his foul spelling" :facepalm:

You've seen MY posts... right? And I'm at least in theory a native English speaker. (In fact, I am actually a native 'redneck midwesterner' speaker. I just try to hide it)


 

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