Modding alox minichamp into alox rambler

[gustophersmob]

So, yesterday I got a used alox minichamp in the mail. My first impressions were that it was a neat tool, but way too many unnecessary tools. Since it was used, and the blades were a little wonky, I figured it wasn't worth trying to resell it, so I decided to convert it I to a rambler instead.

One problem was that I wanted the normal SD tipped file, and a blade that hadn't needed to be sharpened a bunch to fix. So, I decided to take apart an old alox classic with bunged up scissors and combine the tools from both.

So here are some pics of the classic disassembly

[gustophersmob]

Minichamp disassembly

[gustophersmob]

After lots of swearing and parts flying, I finally got it stacked. By far the worst part.

A Pic prior to and then during peening.

For the pins, I just reused the minichamp pins. I shortened them slightly on a bench grinder and ground a small point to help go through all the parts.

[gustophersmob]

And completed.

If you look closely, you can see I flipped the location of the main blade and file compared to a factory rambler. I use the nail file and scissors most often, so they are the ones I wanted to pivot away from the keychain attachment.

My peening isn't the prettiest, but it works. Good walk and talk, no blade play on any tool. I'm happy!

[Don Pablo]

  Good mod!
Ramblers are great.

[hiraethus]

Nice mod!  Rambler is definitely my favourite.

[gustophersmob]

Good mod!
Ramblers are great.

Nice mod!  Rambler is definitely my favourite.

Thanks!

So far, I definitely like it more than the minichamp just based on size, and I'm sure I'll end up liking it more than the classic once I get some miles on the combo tool.

I do wish I had left the pins just a smidge longer so that the "heads" on the back would be a bit bigger.  I think it'll hold solid as-is, but it bugs my OCD a bit that the heads on the front scale are bigger than the back.

I'm thinking about trying to turn the leftover parts into some kind of bladeless tool, which would mean I need to order some brass rod.  If I do, I just might take this apart and redo the pins.  Probably not, as its such a small thing, but we'll see.

[gustophersmob]

Good mod!
Ramblers are great.

Nice mod!  Rambler is definitely my favourite.

Thanks!

So far, I definitely like it more than the minichamp just based on size, and I'm sure I'll end up liking it more than the classic once I get some miles on the combo tool.

I do wish I had left the pins just a smidge longer so that the "heads" on the back would be a bit bigger.  I think it'll hold solid as-is, but it bugs my OCD a bit that the heads on the front scale are bigger than the back.

I'm thinking about trying to turn the leftover parts into some kind of bladeless tool, which would mean I need to order some brass rod.  If I do, I just might take this apart and redo the pins.  Probably not, as its such a small thing, but we'll see.

Does anyone know if 1/16" rod will work on the 58mm frame without being sanded down? I can find that locally.

Or should I just order some 1.5mm rod online?

[hiraethus]

It's a while since I did it, but I'm sure I used 1/16" (or maybe 1.6 mm) rod when I did a couple of 58mm mods.

[gustophersmob]

It's a while since I did it, but I'm sure I used 1/16" (or maybe 1.6 mm) rod when I did a couple of 58mm mods.

Thanks.  It's cheap enough, I'll probably get the 1/16" rod locally and try.

[hiraethus]

No-one ever reads the stickies ... including me.
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,43303.0.html --> https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,43271.0.html

[gustophersmob]

No-one ever reads the stickies ... including me.
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,43303.0.html --> https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,43271.0.html

Thanks. I had actually looked at several old threads, but there are others that also said it was 1.5mm. I just assumed 1.5mm was likely to be it, since they tend to use metric sized diameters for the other frames.

It does look like that 1/16" worked without sanding for him, so I'll give it a go

[SteveC]

Badge awarded   

[gustophersmob]

Badge awarded   

Thanks!

[gustophersmob]

OK, so I picked up some 1/16" brass rod and it definitely works. So tonight, I set about using the leftovers from last night's mod to make a bladeless classic size tool.

I really wanted to use scissors, the nail file and the ruler with SD tip. The problem was that the nail nick for the file and ruler are on the same side, and I e would cover the other. But, the only other bladeless tool left was the coke spoon, and I really don't need that

Not willing to give up on the plan so easily, I decided to make another nail nick on the our side of the ruler. That ended up working pretty well.

[gustophersmob]

From there it was back to assembly fun. Man those springs are a bugger!

Once together, i trimmed the pins with a fine and files until they were just under 1mm proud of the scales, then got to work peening.

[gustophersmob]

It turned out pretty decent. Again, the peening won't win any awards, but it doesn't look too bad. It's so little odd, the scissors and ruler have great walk and talk, but the file is a little stiff to open, however it snaps closed just fine. The ruler shares the same pivot and is fine, so who knows 

All in all, it was good Modding practice and I ended up with a usable tool in the end 

[Don Pablo]

 
Maybe the snap will get better with use?

[Wspeed]

Excellent work gustophersmob 

[gustophersmob]

Maybe the snap will get better with use?

Hopefully, though its certainly fine right now.

Doing these mods, I've gained some more appreciation for using pins (vs torx) and the precision Victorinox needs to maintain to basically get every knife working correctly first time very time.

[gustophersmob]

Excellent work gustophersmob 

Thanks! 

[gustophersmob]

One more update. My OCD got the better of me and I pulled the rambler apart and redid it with new brass pin stock. This way the rivits ended up more evenly sized on each side. Still not perfect, but it's my best peening yet.

At this point, I think I'm done with Modding this one

[zoidberg]

   

[Wspeed]

+1

[Don Pablo]

Neat! 

[gustophersmob]

+1

Neat! 

   

Thanks, gents

[FolderBeholder]

Very nice mod.  I want to make an Alox Vagabond with parts from a MiniChamp, but haven't mustered up the nerve yet.

[gustophersmob]

It’s been a bit over a year now, so I figured I’d give an update on how the mod is holding up.

So far there has been no loosening off the tools and everything is working great! I notice that the heads of the rivits have become more smooth over time, the peening marks becoming less obvious. Makes me wonder if Vic uses something a bit harder than brass in their pins, as I’ve never noticed it on a factory knife.

[magentus]

Beautiful! And happy just over 1st anniversary 

[gustophersmob]

Thanks, mags!