Modular Tool Challenge in February

[ReamerPunch]

Well, they finally did it. We have tools with modular load-outs. 
So how about a challenge just for those?
It's a longer list than I originally thought, if we count at least 1 removable implement, so knives as well.

Show content

-GOAT
-Roxon Flex
-Roxon Phantom
-Roxon Phantasy
-Roxon S501U
-Roxon S502U
-Havalon Evolve
-Leatherman Leap
-Leatherman Surge
-Leatherman ST300 EOD
-Gerber MP600 Pro Scout
-Gerber MP600 DET
-Gerber MP800
-Gerber MP650
-Gerber Vital
-Coleman ProLock 
-Victorinox RescueTool
-Bibury Something or Other
-Coast Shift
-Havalon Piranta etc
-True Utility Swift Edge
-CRKT Homefront
-Windeler tools

Rules:
-Carry a modular tool for 30 days.
-Each day post a photo of it.
-You can carry different tools.
-Swapping implements is encouraged.
-If you are unsure whether a tool qualifies, just ask.



Participants:

1. ReamerPunch
2. Farmer X
3. KING_GORILLA
4.

[BPRoberts]

I have one or two on that list, and a couple more are on my wishlist. I'm not locked into anything next month, so I'd be down.

I think the American Service Knives would awlso qualify, and I've seen a few floating around the boards. Gary's got a cool modular scoutish thing he's shown off once or twice. MP800 has the same coupler as the Pro Scout. MP650 with the modular plier heads... I assume we're not counting anything with just a bit driver.

[ReamerPunch]

If someone joins with the Gerber MP650 I'll lose my mind!
Yeah, those old school sak-alike things with interchangeable tools definitely qualify.

Which ASK knives have interchangeable or removable tools? I googled them and I only see sak-alikes.

I didn't even think of bits, but I don't think they should qualify.

[Antti Lammi]

Roxon s802
BIBURY 31 in 1
Leatherman Garage Batch #003 (Knife change only)
ROCKTOL Multitool Pliers, 29-in-1
Windeler Tool

if i correctly remeber there isnt Vic or Wenger tools with changeable tools except Rescue Tool, other have have removable bits and adapters like CyberTools (and alikes), WengerGrip, PocketGrip, few other Wengers and Delemont series has bitdrivers

[BPRoberts]

AFAIK (too rich for my blood) all the ASK tools can drop into any other ASK. They're Torx and post instead of pins.

[SurgeUk]

I could be up for this as I have 4 of those listed (I never use the GOAT)

However, I will awlmost certainly be abroad for work throughout some of November so it might be "difficult"

I planned to do Movember as well but for operational reasons I may need to be clean shaven 

[Farmer X]

I'm possibly interested, but the PST challenge will awlso be running in November, and justification of a PST purchase would probably be a little easier.

[ReamerPunch]

Roxon is releasing the pocket knife on November! 30th.
Which means it'll be available in Amazon Au in February or so.
Maxlvledc uploaded a preview of it, but I can't copy the link. It looks really good.
And the package opener and t-shank holder are being released too.

Would a different month work for more people? But the Utility blade challenge is in December and I'm definitely joining.

[BPRoberts]

I saw the Roxon folder and had similar thoughts. Pushing it back might make it easier to get more people to hop on anyway.

[ReamerPunch]

I cannot see any 2025 Challenges thread.
How about January or February?

[Antti Lammi]

February sounds good.

For rules i would leave out bit drivers cause it feels bit cheating to use only bits on challenge.
Offcourse there should be exception on like on Surge/ST300 EOD cause those have blade exchanger.
Tool should have one removable tool like saw exchanger then bits would be acceptable.

How about modded tools, like Centerdrive with exchanger from MP800/MP600.

Only Tools Matters

[Farmer X]

February is currently good for me. And if I recall correctly, the SOG that BPRoberts won as part of the anniversary festivities has a degree of modularity. (I think I correctly identified the lucky winner, but I can't for the life of me remember the model of SOG.)

[BPRoberts]

It's a Powerlock. To my knowledge, it's no more or less modular than any other SOG. You take an allen key and undo the screws, pop tools out and in, etc. If we're calling that modular I'd say we'd have to include the original Multipliers (don't tempt me with a good time!) since it's a very similar system. The big difference is that SOG sells the individual tools.

It's a weird line, since if you only include tools that're "officially" modular for more than one or two components (is swapping a single t-shank or blade really modular?) you might as well make it a Roxon Flex challenge, since it's about the only thing accessible to most people. OTOH, there's a lot of multitools that aren't that hard to swap between. Most Gerbers will come apart with a pair of pliers at most, and the tools are largely compatible across models. LM requires slightly more specialized hardware, but still doable.

[ReamerPunch]

Let's say February then.

I wanted to include more than just the Flex and GOAT. But if a tool requires actual disassembly to swap out tools, then it's not really modular. And yes, a simple bit driver would not count. I'd hardly call the Center-Drive a modular tool. The Wave has two bit drivers, but again, that is not what we think of as a modular tool. One might argue that it is a bit of a stretch to call modular the Surge with its t-shank holder or the Havalon Evolve. But if we refuse those, we are only left with the Flex, GOAT, and those cool oldies from this thread:
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=49824.msg835704#msg835704

[SurgeUk]

I could do Feb' assuming things in middle east calm down  (or at least awl the Brits leave  )

I think the hardest part is deciding what "modular" actually means  Good luck with that 

[BPRoberts]

Those old school tool kits look fun, and there's a ton on the bay for less than the price of a Flex or most of the other tools on the list. I'm sure it wouldn't be the most practical carry for the month, but they don't call it a challenge 'cause it's easy.

[Cypren]

Worth noting that the Flex and Flex Companion are not the only modular tools Roxon makes: the S802, S501U and S502U also have replaceable blades with a wide variety of options ranging from a hair comb to a utility knife.

[BPRoberts]

S501U with the comb might be fun. Call it the Barbershop or something.

[Cypren]

Between the scalpel attachments for the Flex and the utility knife blade for the Phantom-compatible tools, I'm already expecting to use Roxon tools almost exclusively for the December utility knife challenge.

[Farmer X]

Still giving this some thought. A SOG challenge might be cool, too...I'll check to see if one has ever been created.

[BPRoberts]

I ran some errands today, so I had some time to think in the car. I did my best to come up with a set of criteria not to explicitly qualify or disqualify any tools, but to make things sensible and consistent. Here's what counts as a modular tool in my mind:

Rule 0: A modular multi-tool must have tools that can be removed and replaced with other tools.

That's kind of obvious, but also means just about anything is modular if you try hard enough. Hence the other rules.

Rule 1- (Dis)Assembly: Tools must be able to be replaced using common tools and without damage or permanent modification of the main body or individual tools.

Screwdrivers, pliers, etc. are okay. Specialized wrenches are not. Cutting, welding, etc. is not okay. Any tool removed must be able to be replaced via the same process. If you can "maybe" remove a tool intact, but have a good chance of damaging it, it doesn't count.

Rule 2- Parts: Replacement tools must be readily available through retail channels.

If you can buy it from the manufacturer's website, Amazon, etc. it's fine. If you have to order a broken model off Ebay to strip for parts or some bespoke tool of Etsy, no good. Older tools may be granted an exception if parts were available when the tool was on the market. Parts DO NOT have to be first party, just widely available.

Rule 3- Functionality: Replacement tools must be substantially different than the tool they replace.

Just swapping out one bit for another, replacing wire cutters, etc. isn't sufficient. The new tool has to do something different than the old tool.

I think that's fair, rational, and keeps things in the spirit of the challenge. How that would effect our current list:

Good to go:

GOAT- Fully modular with a variety of implements and no tools required.

Roxon Flex-Fully modular with a variety of implements and no tools required.

All Roxon models with blade swap- Can swap the blade for a saw, comb, and other options without tools.

All SOG Power___- Require only a simple hex bit driver and a variety of implements can be ordered direct from SOG.

Coleman Prolock- Similar to the SOG. Exemption for age.

Utica (and other) "took kit knives"- Variety of tools can swap in w/ no additional tools. Exemption for age.

Havalons w/ Piranta system- Can swap knife for saw.

Out:
Anything that's just a replacable blade (Coast Shift, True Utility, CRKT Homefront, Gerber Vital, etc.)- No actual change of functionality (Rule 3) means this is really just a big utility knife. Maybe you can bring it in December? If there's a saw blade or something like the Havalons, I'd swing the other way on these.

Some Gerbers (U-shank holder)- Just swapping out one saw for another isn't IMO enough of a change.

Leatherman Leap- Just taking off a blade doesn't add/change a function, only remove.

Grey Area:

Anything with a T-shank (Surge, ST300 EOD and clones)- Technically, Leatherman's file means you can do a saw for file swap here. That feels like a bit of a stretch, but it checks the boxes.

Anything w/ the LM bit driver- Can take a carbide glass breaker, which is technically a different tool than a screwdriver. Same logic/feelings as the T-shank.

Gerber MP650- Cutter head is technically a different tool than a pliers, etc.

Victorinox w/ Corkscrew- Can do a Fireant starter or a screwdriver.

Old style Victorinox Pens- Can swap w/ a toothpick.

And the one that I need to do some more research on: Gerber MP w/ SOG drop in. Mr. Pinchy MPs only need an allen key, and some of the newer models just need a pair of pliers. SOG tools have the same pivot, but I'm not sure how many can fit without cutting, trimming, etc. If you could order a SOG awl or whatever, open up an MP, and slot it in for the lanyard ring or something without damaging the MP or having to grind the SOG tool, I'd say it should count. I don't feel like taking my tools apart to figure that out today...

Obviously RP's challenge so he gets to decide, but I wanted to put in my 2c. (2c for ~700 words is a real bargain.)

[Farmer X]

Seems at least reasonable to me. However, I'd think SAKs are a very gray area. FireAnts and such things don't require disassembly; just pop 'em in. It would be sort of like increasing your computer's storage space with a new hard drive versus just clicking in an SD card.

[Cypren]

Just my opinion, but I'd suggest just ruling out everything in the "gray area" by fiat rather than trying to split hairs on the technical definition. The point of a challenge is supposed to be to use tools we wouldn't ordinarily use day to day, right? But most of us probably carry a SAK and/or a Leatherman with a bit driver or T-shank as our daily carry, and if you allow the tweezers/toothpick/pen/corkscrew slots and the bit driver to count as "modular", it's not much of a challenge.

Also note that restricting modular parts to only first-party parts solves the SAK issue without tabooing specific tools.

[BPRoberts]

I'm inclined to agree w/ dropping the gray area ones. (I think RP just wants an excuse to carry his Bibury Surge, he's been trying for like three challenges.)

[ReamerPunch]

That set of rules makes a lot of sense.
Still, I don't think it makes sense to count toothpicks and fire-ants and things like that. A Huntsman is hardly a modular tool. But the MP650 would count, even though it is one tool that changes. I'd still count the Roxon Phantasy and Coast Shift. Even though there is only one tool that is swappable, that's the selling point, modularity. The CRKT Homefront should not count. There are no extra blades or other tools to put in there.

I'll go through the list and rules again and revise what I think should count. I moved two days ago so I'm still dealing with all that.

[ReamerPunch]

I'm inclined to agree w/ dropping the gray area ones. (I think RP just wants an excuse to carry his Bibury Surge, he's been trying for like three challenges.)

I don't have a Bibury Surge. The only Wave/Surge clone I have is the Multiforce. I suggested the Attack of the Clones Challenge because I was thinking of getting the Rocktool one. But then I got the Flex so I came up with the Modular Rool Challenge.

[Grand_Banana]

So this challenge might run in February?  If I end up getting a Flex and/or Companion I will join.  Those are are the only ones from the suggested models I’m interested to buy.  I do like BPRs rules for the challenge. Well thought out.

[King_Gorilla]

 

Difficult to express my excitement for February. 

 

clarification question:  If we have more than one modular multi tool on the list, is there any problem with us switching up every now and then? (so long as we are rockin A modular multi tool on each day of the month)

[ReamerPunch]

February sounds OK. Still plenty of time for people to think it over.

I don't think we have to worry about rules too much. I doubt we'll see anyone joining with a Coast Shift or Havalon Evolve. We can just decide then and there if a suggested tool qualifies.

[BPRoberts]

Day 23

Cutting some cardboard for a temporary sheath. Slowly coming around on half serrations, maybe.