Can one swap cellidor scales for Alox?

Mr. Whippy · **on:** February 23, 2009, 08:13:14 PM

I'm thinking of trying my hand at modding a SAK. I want to make a ice climbing specific tool, and I'd like to go to Alox to make the whole thing slimmer.

Other than new pins and Alox scale source, can it be easily done?

Benner · **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:15:10 PM

Alox SAK's are longer than 91mm so I believe it's not as simple as just swapping the scales over.

DaveK · **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:23:27 PM

I suppose it depends what you mean by "alox scales". If you're after the Vic standard ones then what Ben says it right, but there's nothing to stop you making some celidor type scales in aluminium!

Might be a bit more than you fancied for your first mod though!!

Anyhow, would aluminium be ideal for icy conditions?

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:27:48 PM

If the tool were flat enough, it would go into waterproof pants pocket, but it's gotta be thin. 3 layer Alox or 2 layer cellidor sorta thickness.

Leatherman123 · **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:29:25 PM

What if you modded a 91MM to have the tools you want and just put skateboarding grip tape on the handles? It won't be ultra thin, but you will have a good grip!

DaveK · **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:30:53 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on February 23, 2009, 08:27:48 PM

If the tool were flat enough, it would go into waterproof pants pocket, but it's gotta be thin. 3 layer Alox or 2 layer cellidor sorta thickness.

I'm with you. So your thinking was that if you could save a bit of thickness with the scales, you could afford an extra layer - is that right?

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:41:19 PM

Yup. One tool for all needs, stored in a pocket rather than having to take a pack off and digging for a larger tool.

DaveK · **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:47:57 PM

I think it might be a bit of a challenge that one, because the depth of any scales would have to be at least a little more than the bushings on the pins. That doesn't leave a great deal of room before you are at the depth of the regular celidor scales.

I'm wondering if you get away with peening the pins, without bushings, over some metal scales of some sort. I guess they would look like the liners only thicker!

Interesting idea - no clue if it's possible though.

max6166 · **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:58:34 PM

You can't really do a straight scale swap from cellidor to standard alox scales. Alox scales are missing a pin. What people generally do is accomodate tools from 91mm cellidor SAKs so that they function on an alox SAK.

Remember that alox scales are really just the outer liners - they are not separate scales like the cellidor. If you just pop the cellidor scales of a SAK, the outer liners you see there are comparable.

Perhaps you could replace the outer liners on cellidor SAK with custom alox liners and peen directly into the liners without bushings, like an alox SAK? I don't no if anyone has ever done that...

DaveK · **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2009, 09:05:16 PM

Quote from: max6166 on February 23, 2009, 08:58:34 PM

Perhaps you could replace the outer liners on cellidor SAK with custom alox liners and peen directly into the liners without bushings, like an alox SAK? I don't no if anyone has ever done that...

That's what I was trying to say.

(In about as confusing a way as possible I think)!

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2009, 09:06:42 PM

Quote from: max6166 on February 23, 2009, 08:58:34 PM

You can't really do a straight scale swap from cellidor to standard alox scales. Alox scales are missing a pin. What people generally do is accomodate tools from 91mm cellidor SAKs so that they function on an alox SAK.

Remember that alox scales are really just the outer liners - they are not separate scales like the cellidor. If you just pop the cellidor scales of a SAK, the outer liners you see there are comparable.

Perhaps you could replace the outer liners on cellidor SAK with custom alox liners and peen directly into the liners without bushings, like an alox SAK? I don't no if anyone has ever done that...

If that's doable, I have an idea for the outer liners. On Alox scales, are there no bushings? (ie just the pins peened over?)

DaveK · **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2009, 09:07:41 PM

I've only done one 58mm alox mod, and there were no bushings on that.

Benner · **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2009, 09:08:01 PM

On Alox you just peen to the alox scale. No bushing.

Gareth · **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:15:35 AM

There may be an easier answer, it depends on what tools you want in the SAK. All the tools from the 84mm Cellidor range will work with 84mm Alox scales. The problem is that the 84mm tool range is much more limited. $:-\$
it would however make for a very slim knife.

As others have said the standard 91mm Cellidor tools/backsprings don't easily fit to the 93mm alox stuff. You have to think of them as different knives.

So the big question is; what tools do you want?

AndyTiedye · **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2009, 03:39:44 AM

Someone needs to get 85mm Wenger tools to work in the 84mm Vics.
Scibeer was working on it a while ago.

I want a Cadet with the Wenger pliers.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2009, 05:20:11 AM

Are any of you familiar with the work of Mike Yoh? He puts thin veneers on his SAKs, just thick enough to be level with the bushings...leaving them exposed.

Mike Yoh

max6166 · **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2009, 05:58:06 AM

Quote from: SporK on February 24, 2009, 05:20:11 AM

Are any of you familiar with the work of Mike Yoh? He puts thin veneers on his SAKs, just thick enough to be level with the bushings...leaving them exposed.

Mike Yoh

That's a great solution. They look great and are ultra slim too!

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2009, 06:02:53 AM

My mosaic pin scales were influenced by his work...I have yet to try one of his style though.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2009, 05:07:50 PM

The tools I'm looking at are cybertool bit driver, file, small knife blade. Any extra space would be for saw and maybe pliers (far less critical).

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2009, 06:03:53 PM

The Cybertool layer is at least twice the thickness of a saw layer...adding to a metal file layer would already get you to your maximum knife thickness.

The small blade requires an opposing tool (large blade) on the backspring...you could ditch the small blade and have the large blade opposing a combo-tool.

I estimate that configuration with standard scales would get you close to the thickness of a 4-layer Huntsman

Gareth · **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2009, 06:25:40 PM

Yeah, that's sounding a fairly hefty tool as it is. SporKs solution sounds like a good plan to me. Main Blade/Combo tool, Cyber bit holder, metal file. If you want to do this and make it slimmer than SporK has suggested the you would have to do your own scales.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2009, 08:17:03 PM

If I go with a cybertool layer, a file layer and a knife layer (with combo tool), can I finish that with custom aluminum "outer" liners (analogous to Alox scales). I'm pretty sure I can use the old scales for outline and an inner liner to accurately drill holes.

I have a fiendishly clever plan for the scale material...

Gareth · **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2009, 12:56:47 AM

I don't see why not.

Neil · **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2009, 01:49:20 AM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on February 24, 2009, 08:17:03 PM

If I go with a cybertool layer, a file layer and a knife layer (with combo tool), can I finish that with custom aluminum "outer" liners (analogous to Alox scales). I'm pretty sure I can use the old scales for outline and an inner liner to accurately drill holes.

I have a fiendishly clever plan for the scale material...

Should work fine. One very slight word of caution, because the file layer is so thin you don't get much gap between the bit holder and blade nail nick. The upshot of that is it'll be a little tricky to open the blade with your thumb nail but should be OK with your index finger.

Neil

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2009, 03:17:28 AM

I built a Cyber-Compact once...not much savings in thickness over a Cybertool 27 and thicker than a Scientist.

You can see in the photo that the bit-holder layer requires double liners.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2009, 03:45:01 AM

Thanks Spork!

The pictures are hugely helpful. The way I plan to do the scales should trim down the thickness a bit. I think I'll end up slightly thinner than a Cybertool 27, but with a file instead of can and bottle openers.

May I ask,

Is there somewhere I can buy the combo tool? I have some donor SAKs coming, but the chances of a combo being in there is low.

I have all the rest of the tools. Just gotta get pins.

And shape my fiendishly clever scales (if they work

)

landwomble · **Reply #26 on:** March 03, 2009, 10:42:50 AM

Quote from: SporK on February 25, 2009, 03:17:28 AM

I built a Cyber-Compact once...not much savings in thickness over a Cybertool 27 and thicker than a Scientist.

You can see in the photo that the bit-holder layer requires double liners.

That's great, that is. So compared to the CT34 you lose the parcel hook, awl, small blade and scissors? If it did OHO that'd be my perfect SAK!
Any chance of a guide to how you did this?

Hello Lurker! Remove this ad and much more by logging in.

Can one swap cellidor scales for Alox?

Donations

Community Links