How hard is it take apart and reassemble a SAK?

[RedRamage]

Howdy all...

For a bit of time I've been tinkering with the idea of customizing a SAK for myself. I actually had one custom made many years ago and EDC'd it for a long time. I'm carrying a stock one now, but it's starting to get tired... some of the tools are starting to show wear, it's super dirty, and I'm just thinking about potentially replacing it.

However none of the existing models really fit my exact desire/needs so... as I said I'm thinking about going custom. I do NOT have extensive skills or experience in this area, but I'm also not opposed to some tinkering or trial and error, so I'm just curious: Anyone take apart and reassemble a SAK? How hard is it? Is this something an amateur has a legit shot of performing or am I stupid for considering this and should just leave it to the professionals?

[IMR4198]

   You yourself are the best judge of your skill level and available tools.  I would suggest that you might find rewarding the reconditioning of the one you already own.  Definitely give it a good clean and a little oil.  Touch up the tools and see how you do at polishing the scales.  It is easy to find the methods to do all of that.  Maybe do a scale change if the ones you have are beyond help.  The effort will be rewarded. 
Best wishes.  G
 

[magentus]

Howdy!

As long as you're careful and feel relatively confident with basic tools modding is within anyone's reach.

You didn't mention whether you want to mod a celidor (plastic) scaled SAK or an alox (metal) one. Celidor is easier because the scales hide all sorts of tomfoolery, whereas alox shows your efforts for all to see 

I'd recommend perusing the SAK mods threads before you decide whether to proceed yourself or not - there's all sorts of great info on there.

 
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,43303.0.html

Also, don't hesitate to ask questions - we're a friendly and helpful bunch and will gladly offer any help or experience (and there's a wealth of that) to help you on your way.

Feel free to pm me with any questions - I've done quite a few mods myself and was helped in turn by the fine members here. 

[Myron]

I'm with Magentus and recommend you mod your own.  There's plenty of helpful threads with pictures over on the modding sub-forum.  Anyone can do this with basic tools. 

I would recommend starting with a 93 mm Alox SAK.  They're easier to work on and you can always screw it together and avoid the business of peening your pins, which is much more art than science. 

Good luck.

[RedRamage]

Any recommendations on where to get the brass pins and/or the collars? I've found a few places that sell the brass rods, but not the collars.

[magentus]

Any recommendations on where to get the brass pins and/or the collars? I've found a few places that sell the brass rods, but not the collars.

Aliexpress sells brass collars

[RedRamage]

Aliexpress sells brass collars

It seems the 91mm sets are sold out everywhere! Esty, Ebay, Aliexpress... I can find lots of sets for 58mm, some 84mm, 111mm... but no 91mm!

Well, I'm probably going to do some testing on some older 91mm before I take about any "real" ones... that'll give me some practice and if I do it right I can harvest collars from those.

[Huntsman]

Yep - I am with the others - Do it yourself - It's great fun and not too hard -
Although you have to be careful - And I gotta say it took me forever
But you can get exactly what you want - And feel very proud of yourself afterwards.

As Mags said lots of how to guides in the mods section 
Hopefully you can harverst the bushings from the donor knife??
I got the brass rods from a model/crafting shop - You know - The ones that sell model trains and Airfix kits (do they still exist) etc etc - But metal suppliers may also sell them - But may not do retail quantities.

BTW - What is your planned toolset?   

[RedRamage]

Hopefully you can harverst the bushings from the donor knife??

I hope so... but I also discovered that I might have another option. Based on this post the 91 uses 2.5 for the outer and 2.25 for the one of the inner pins (the other inner doesn't have a collar). In the end I'm hoping to make two knives. That means I need:

8 x 2.5 collars
4 x 2.25 collars

Now, According to the same post 84mm knives use 2.2 for all pins. So if I get one set of collars for an 84mm, that will cover two knives plus some spares if I make a mistake. Likewise according to this post the 111mm with a slider lock uses 2.5mm for all the pins. So if I order two sets of those I'll end up with 12 collars, again more than enough for two knives.

I'm first gonna try my hand as drilling out an older knife and see if I can save the collars... if so then I don't have to buy. But if not I have options.

BTW - What is your planned toolset?   

Still deciding that. But my working plan right now, as I said, is two knives, and I'm going to EDC both if this works out. Right now I carry a big knife so two medium won't be an issue and I like the concept of having two different tool sets that will compliment each either. For example right now I know that one of the two will have the bit driver and a magnifying lens. The other will have the pliers. Being able to have a screwdriver and a pliers in different tools just makes sense, ya know?

The other other thing I have "confirmed" in my head so far is that one will have a blade and the other a serrated blade.

[RedRamage]

Okay, so I've ordered my new brass rods, and I've got my first draft of tool sets for the two knives. I've also decided I'm going to do one in Red Scales because, that's traditional. The other will be in Blue scales. So:

Red:
Lg Blade - Sm Blade - Corkscrew
Metal Saw[ - - Chisel
Scissors - - Hook
Fish Scaller &Wood Saw - -
Pliers - -

Blue:
Lg Serrated Blade - ? ? - Corkscrew
Magnifying lens - Phillips Screw Driver -
Bit Driver - Bit Holder -
Large SD/Bottle Opener - Small SD/Can Openner - Reamer

I have to do some final measurements when I have some time with my calipers instead of just eyeballing it, but I think this should produce pretty similar thick SAKs. If I need to pad one out a little larger I might look at adding a layer... we'll see.

My one unknown right now is what to pair with my serrated blade. I know I can but the combo tool or another small blade, but I'd like like to reduce redundancy if possible. Ideally I'd like to put the watchmaker took here as that's a bit solid tool for prying things open. I know that this will fit in with the big blade, but I don't know if it will in with the corkscrew as a back tool.

[Huntsman]

The watch case opener is usually on an 84mm model - Not sure if pin sizes are the same - And of course it doe feature on the XX 91mm models
But I would think you would not have a problem with the CS - And you can always do a bit of filing if necessary
But nice and unusual choice of tool!

You'll have to name your models of course - My suggestions .....
The Closed SwissChamp and the Cyber Explorer

Why the 'closed' SwissChamp?    .... No openers of course!      

[RedRamage]

The watch case opener is usually on an 84mm model - Not sure if pin sizes are the same - And of course it doe feature on the XX 91mm models

My main donor knife is going to actually be a custom 91 SAK I had someone else make for me MANY years ago (like probably 20+ years ago). It has a serrated blade and the watch opener, but not with the corkscrew on the back so I'll be okay on the pin size. I can't honestly remember if the guy who made it modded an 84mm or if he or I got ahold of 91mm watch opener.

The donor I stopped EDCing quite a while back because it started getting dirty, worn and I damaged a few of the tools. Still it'll make a worth donor because it has virtually everything I'll need.

But nice and unusual choice of tool!

The goal here (I think I already stated it but because I love to hear myself talk... er, I mean type) is to have the two compliment each other. There are times when it would have been so handy to have the pliers to hold a nut in one hand while screwing it with the other. Or using the Mag Glass while trying to grab something small with the pliers or cut it with the scissors.

You'll have to name your models of course - My suggestions .....
The Closed SwissChamp and the Cyber Explorer - Why the 'closed' SwissChamp?    .... No openers of course!      

Oh geez... I hadn't thought about that yet. My old custom knife's name sort of fell into my lap. I had it made right around the time that the first duo core CPUs were coming out and it was a cybertool with two main knives. So, it was the Cybertool Core Duo.

Hmm... I actually really like CyberExplorer as it does combine a lot of features of both the Cyber.
Not wild about the Closed SwissChamp. Maybe... OutdoorMechanic? I think it also combines a lot of tools from the Outdoorsman (original and 'new') as well as the Mechanic. The Mechanic also has sentimental value for me as it was my first ever EDC.