Multitool.org Forum
Tool Talk => The Mod Squad => Topic started by: J-sews on March 07, 2007, 03:17:55 AM
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STOP!
If you are not already seated, I'd advise you to sit down before reading any further. I wouldn't want anyone to pass out and fall down from the shock of what I'm about to say.......
I FINALLY GOT AROUND TO PUTTING A POCKET CLIP ON THAT VIC SPIRIT!!
No kidding! (I first started talking about and planning this project over two months ago........sheesh!) Anyhow, here's how the whole thing went:
After first buying a couple of pocket clips from KnifeKits.com, I went through a bit of head scratching and pondering, trying to figure out how to best proceed. Modifying the shape of the clip to fit the Spirit was easy, but how to best attach it? I was reluctant to drill and tap holes through the sides of the handles, because of the cutouts and notches in the plier-head bracket below. Due to the arrangement of the holes already in the pocket clips, there was no good location on the Spirit that would not result in a tapped hole being "half in and half out" of an edge in the plier-head bracket underneath.
So I finally gave up on the idea of using one of the KnifeKits pocket clips, and instead decided to commit an act of blasphemy and use a Leatherman Charge clip on my Victorinox! :o
Below is what I started with, a brand new Spirit and an extra Charge/Wave/Surge clip:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip1.jpg)
First I carefully machined off the head of the plier pivot rivet until it was perfectly flush. Then a #4-40 hole was drilled and tapped right down the center of the rivet. (Don't try this with a hand drill, you'll never keep the drill bit going straight and square. Put the Spirit in a good drill press vise with padding and make sure it is sitting exactly level. Drill the hole with a drill press or milling machine at low RPM's.)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip2.jpg)
Here's what it looked like at this point. The hole is about 5/16" or 8mm deep.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip3.jpg)
Then it was time to modify the Leatherman pocket clip. The two pictures below show the clip "before" and "after." Grinding off the excess wrap-around metal, then contouring and rounding the end are the obvious things to do. However, the real key to this whole project was to leave a small lip of the original metal hanging down.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip4.jpg)
The real bane of mounting a pocket clip is to somehow keep the darn thing from moving and pivoting. On many knives I see, this is accomplished by using two or oftentimes three mounting screws. Not an option here. So I left the little "hook" of metal hanging down, then positioned the mounting hole so that the hook of metal is clamped tightly against the top edge of the Spirit.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip5.jpg)
The last step was to obtain a nice stainless button head Torx screw, which I bought from KnifeKits. It was a bit dull, so I polished the head of it up to match the finish of the pocket clip and the Spirit.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip6.jpg)
Then I put a drop of Locktite on the screw and tightened 'er up. Here's what she looks like:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip7.jpg)
Another angle.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip8.jpg)
And yet another. (I'm soooooo proud.)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/spiritclip9.jpg)
~Bob
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Bob, my first born is on his way to you for one of those.....
Or he would be if I had a first born!
Gorgeous work! With your talents, you could run a machine shop or something! :laugh:
Def
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Hardy har-har!
(Thanks!)
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I want one too. What will it take?
Tom
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Great work Bob, I want one too.
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I raise Def offer and throw in a grandchild. ;) Very good work I am impressed. :D
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Thanks for the feedback gentlemen! (And hopefully the next project I do won't also take two months!)
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I want one too. What will it take?.......
What will it take? It will take a WHOLE LOT of sucking up to Def, that's what!
I'm donating the Spirit (brand new, only taken out of the clam pack to have the clip added) to Multitool.org, with the suggestion to Def that he offer it up as the next free contest giveaway.
(of course, knowing Def, he might just decide to keep it for himself......) ;)
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I wasn't sitting down when I read this. Someone, please call a medic for me. I'm cold, so very cold.
NICE JOB J-sews!!!!! No kidding, that would be just the ticket for the Spirits. I know that would be a sweet addition to mine as well.
mike
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I win, I win!
Oh wait, that was premature...
Ok, the first one to acurately guess the number I am thinking of wins... ready? Set? Go!
21
ALL RIGHT! I win! That was it exactly! :P
Def
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AH-HA! It wasn't 21 it was 19 ... I WIN! ;)
mike
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So seriously, Bob, would you do another for a price?
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The other obvious question is:
Can the rivets on SwissTools be swapped out to screws on all 4 corners?
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Tom,
I'd better hold off answering your first question until I check with MTOrg management on a couple of things.
Regarding your second question though, yes, the rivets could be replaced with screws on all four corners! (You read my mind.) Just think of the possibilities that will open up! I'm already thinking ahead about reviving another long overdue project of mine....... 8)
Link: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,215.0.html
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There you go.
Just do it.
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Bob I've been wanting to do this mod since you posted this. I think I finally gotten enough courage to do it. I have all the stuff and would like to know if you have any tips for doing it. Also how well as the clip held up over time and use.
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Bob I've been wanting to do this mod since you posted this. I think I finally gotten enough courage to do it. I have all the stuff and would like to know if you have any tips for doing it. Also how well as the clip held up over time and use.
I'll be looking forward to the end results of this one :)
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:oops: Saw it in the multitool picture thread ::)
Looking good though mate :multi:
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Hey Prime, sorry I didn't get a reply back to you before you dove into this project! So did yours come out okay? The picture looks good. A fellow over at Bladeforums who tried the mod recently was off a bit on his hole location in the pocket clip, so now it's a bit wiggly. Hope yours came out better. Mine is still snug, although I haven't been carrying it as much recently as I'm striking up an aquaintence with my Zilla-Tool.
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Everything went good. I thought that the hard part would be grinding off the rivet head and drilling the hole in the Spirit. That stuff was easy. It was drilling the hole in the LM clip that was the hard part. I remember reading about the guys problem on BF so I wanted to make sure I made the hole in the right spot so the clip would fit right and not have any movement to it. But man drilling a hole in that clip was pain. I went through two bits and allot of swear words to get through. Then when I put the clip on I left the bend a little to long. So I had to grind some of it off. Other than that I had no problems. It was easier than I thought. Thanks Bob.
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That's a beautiful mod. Man, I wish I was talented. If it can be fixed with duck tape I'm good, other than that, not so much. :think:
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That is a great mod. Hopefully I can do one like that soon.
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That looks absolutely perfect on there!
Hope you don't mind a little flattery in the form of copying !!
I really want that clip on my Spirit.
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You need some better pics? It's a beauty! :D
Def
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I love the one I did on my Spirit.
(http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee58/primeLM/Picture2561Small.jpg?t=1204782075)
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Think i could put one of these on the swisstool ?? :multi:
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Think i could put one of these on the swisstool ?? :multi:
I can't think of any reason why not. :)
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Just be prepared to trip over your waistband! :P
Def
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that is amazing.
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Just be prepared to trip over your waistband! :P
Def
At the moment i carry my swisstool on my belt and i dont find it that heavy.
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I finally put the clip on and plain edged and sheeps footed the blade.
Thanks for the pictures Bob! This mod makes the spirit 100X times better for me since I wouldn't carry it without the clip.
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I finally put the clip on and plain edged and sheeps footed the blade.
Thanks for the pictures Bob! This mod makes the spirit 100X times better for me since I wouldn't carry it without the clip.
Cool! How'd it go for you Bill? Any difficulties?
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Besides destroying the first clip completely? Nope, went off without a hitch....... :D
I drilled the first hole just low enough to allow a little wobble. I couldn't have that so I decided I's gonna fix 'er good.
2 vices, 2 hammers, channel locks, vice grips, a MAPPgas torch and lots of swearing all played their part in what followed.
It was a slaughter. Well, more of a Comedy of Errors perhaps.
Its amazing how tough it is to bend 1/16 of an inch of hardened stainless over 90 degrees.
So the first clip went into the scrap metal pile and my edc charge is floating around the bottom of my pocket now.
BUT!!! My Spirit is pimped and I'm loving it.
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Looking good there mate :)
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I wish more manufacturers would put clips on multi-tools. My 3 favorite multi-tools of all time are my Spirit with a clip(thanks again J-sews), my Leatherman Sideclip which my ex-wife took and my Leatherman Kick that I had with a clip. Although it was pretty bulky for no more tools than it had on it.
I'm sure there's a lot of people out there like me who don't like a bunch of crap hanging on their belt. When I'm in shorts most of the time I don't even have a belt on.
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Seems like such a clear and obvious advantage to clip the Spirit.....makes me wonder why Victorinox doesn't offer this option themselves?
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I want one too. What will it take?.......
What will it take? It will take a WHOLE LOT of sucking up to Def, that's what!
I'm donating the Spirit (brand new, only taken out of the clam pack to have the clip added) to Multitool.org, with the suggestion to Def that he offer it up as the next free contest giveaway.
(of course, knowing Def, he might just decide to keep it for himself......) ;)
My question is where did this Spirit get to?? ::)
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Danged if I know....
(http://www.sosakonline.com/images/stories/September_08/PockIts/Pockits03.JPG)
:angel:
Def
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All right - ordering the parts in the AM and looking forward to this mod.
Thanx for all the tips and advice.
LINK FOR LM pocket clip (http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-934850-Quick-Release-Pocket-Lanyard/dp/B0002H49DA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1221720968&sr=8-1)
email sent to KnifeKits to get the part # for the s/s Torx screw to attach the pocket clip.
Wait, wait, wait, wait ..... guess they are not there at 2AM in the morning................. dah
Anyone else interested in doing this mod wait a day or two and I will order the parts in a group purchase to have on hand when and if you decide to do this mod.
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Anyone else interested in doing this mod wait a day or two and I will order the parts in a group purchase to have on hand when and if you decide to do this mod.
Awesome. I'm in!
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Anyone else interested in doing this mod I will order the parts in a group purchase to have on hand when and if you decide to do this mod.
First order for clips is in, waiting on the screws before we can start.
ALL the pocket clips I ordered have been spoken for, I have no more.
(http://www.gulftel.com/gnoza/images/spiritmod1-9small.jpg)
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Please let me know if I can advise in any way. Good luck with the mods gentlemen! :)
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I don't want advice! I want you to make me one! :P
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Here is the Swiss Spirit I put a LM pocket clip on.
(http://www.gulftel.com/gnoza/images/spiritclip.jpg)
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Nice work! :)
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I think I'll just try one of those universal gun clips. :D
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These are some excellent mods. They look factory :salute:
Neil
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Yay! Nice work Andrew! Are you happy with the results?
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Thanks for the great walkthrough! :cheers:
I can't wait to try it. Now I just need to get myself a Spirit... :ahhh
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Looks great. The Spirit is awesome with a pocket clip.
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Sweet!
I may have to try this!
Hmmm anybody know any tricks to improve the Spirits scissors?
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Some guys here have trimmed off the protruding bit of the scissors sprint to allow it to open wider, if that's what you're asking about.
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That's nice work guys :tu: I really like the idea of a clip, but not sure about modding the serrations as I quite like them now. Well done :)
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Wow... :tu: fantastic result & great pictures... But I don't dare to try it out myself.. :-\
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That's nice work guys :tu: I really like the idea of a clip, but not sure about modding the serrations as I quite like them now. Well done :)
When i carry a second knife in addition to the Spirit i don't mind the serrations.
But when its carried by itself i really miss the classic spearpoint.
I modded the shape of the blade on my "My First Victorinox Plus" without any problems.
(http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w275/tholiver/pocket%20knives/myfirstplusmodsmall.jpg)
It was originally a blunt pointed butter knife shaped blade, (figured i try a non SAK looking blade pattern, lol).
I made the panels thin as possible and wanted the tops of the pins visible. Its just a hair thicker than my Vic Alox Lumberjacks.
Anybody here do any extreme Spirit mods?
I'm think of trying the clip mod, spearpoint mod, scissor mod.
come to think of it my buddy has a small sandblaster, maybe i'll use it to add a bit of texture to the "arms" of the spirit, as i sometimes find it very slippery.
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What a great idea - now I really need a Spirit!
Liking that first vic mod too, looks nice with the pins showing :tu:
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That wood scaled lumberjack (if I can call it that) is great. Superb blade shape you got. :salute:
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Thanks guys!
I think the "my first Victorinox" series are a great bargain really. Mod the blade and you have a neat lean little knife!
And you get a neck lanyard and chain lanyard packaged with it as well.
Great platform for an 84mm mod as well.
I recently fluked into an 84mm climber (with scissors) on ebay so then i bought another "my First Vic plus" to use to combine together and make a 84mm Huntsman.
That will be my first really serious SAK mod.
Still waiting for both knives to get here though,lol.
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Thanks guys!
I think the "my first Victorinox" series are a great bargain really. Mod the blade and you have a neat lean little knife!
And you get a neck lanyard and chain lanyard packaged with it as well.
Great platform for an 84mm mod as well.
I recently fluked into an 84mm climber (with scissors) on ebay so then i bought another "my First Vic plus" to use to combine together and make a 84mm Huntsman.
That will be my first really serious SAK mod.
Still waiting for both knives to get here though,lol.
The Huntsman sounds cool 8). The most I've done was a 3 layer Alumnus (Climber with file instead of the small blade). I'm not sure just how much bulk you are saving in a 4 layer 84mm over the 91mm version however, as it still ends up quite wide. Post pics and opinions as soon as it's done though. :tu:
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Thanks guys!
I think the "my first Victorinox" series are a great bargain really. Mod the blade and you have a neat lean little knife!
And you get a neck lanyard and chain lanyard packaged with it as well.
Great platform for an 84mm mod as well.
I recently fluked into an 84mm climber (with scissors) on ebay so then i bought another "my First Vic plus" to use to combine together and make a 84mm Huntsman.
That will be my first really serious SAK mod.
Still waiting for both knives to get here though,lol.
The Huntsman sounds cool 8). The most I've done was a 3 layer Alumnus (Climber with file instead of the small blade). I'm not sure just how much bulk you are saving in a 4 layer 84mm over the 91mm version however, as it still ends up quite wide. Post pics and opinions as soon as it's done though. :tu:
+1 on that. Sounds interesting :think:
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(http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w275/tholiver/pocket%20knives/myfirstplusmodsmall.jpg)
Really nicely done. :salute: I've seen quite a few whittling knives (mainly by spork, who else ;) ) with the blade modified like that. Me I don't mind the butter knife, need something to spread my Philadelphia with :P
Make sure to post up pics of your little Huntsman mod :tu:
Neil
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Anyone know what happened to the pics?
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Anyone know what happened to the pics?
Welcome to the boards mate. :cheers:
Firefox has an extension called Photobucket Embedded Image Fix, install and you'll see the pics.
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Here is the extension for chrome for the fix
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/photobucket-embedded-imag/ogipgokcopooepeipngiikdkpmcpkaon?utm_source=chrome-app-launcher-info-dialog
Firefox fix
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/photobucket-fixer/?src=api
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Here is the extension for chrome for the fix
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/photobucket-embedded-imag/ogipgokcopooepeipngiikdkpmcpkaon?utm_source=chrome-app-launcher-info-dialog
Firefox fix
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/photobucket-fixer/?src=api
So.Much.Win.
Thank you for sharing this :cheers:
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For those who might still be following this not too recently really active thread, please be notified of a
status update on this Spirit (https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,78904.msg1797546.html#msg1797546).
(https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=78904.0;attach=404013)
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:like: