Musings and Questions on MP mods

[BPRoberts]

I'd like to get into modding, and the MP platform seems like one of the simplest and cheapest to start with. I think I'd like to use either the original Mr. Pinchy or MP400 as my base, since they're a bit smaller and easier to carry than the MP600.

400:
+ More easily available
+ Locks
+ No clumping
- Fewer tools
- No blunt nose
? How many "long" tools? I've seen some people say only two, but it looks like more should fit.

Pinchy:
+ Blunt nose available
+ Slightly larger
- No locks
- Clumpy
? Can you make a less clumpy Mr. Pinch if you swap in modern tools/washers?

Tools I Want:
Serrated Blade
PE Blade (Both the old drop point style)
File
Saw ("Permanent" not U-Shank)

Phillips
Can Opener
Bottle Opener/Driver
Large Flathead
Awl

I assume I'm stuck with the stubby Phillips, unless I want to drop one of the other long tools. I'd consider swapping to a single combo edge blade. Kind of a toss up, nicer blade or nicer driver.

Not really sure where to go from here, so hoping to get some info now and figure out next steps. Thanks, awl!

[Antti Lammi]

How wide is MP400 inside? MP600 is 1,4cm and it has 4 long tool

Only Tools Matters

[Antti Lammi]

How wide is MP400 inside? MP600 is 1,4cm and it has 4 long tool

Only Tools Matters

Meant to say it fits 4 long tools

Only Tools Matters

[BPRoberts]

To my measurements (I suck at analog calipers, I should really get a digital):

MP600: 1.35
MPinchy: 1.42
MP400: 1.23

Which is a point for Mr. Pinchy, I suppose. I'd probably try it anyway, but was hoping someone had some first hand insight.

[magentus]

My '400 mod has the saw from a Gerber Suspension in it and a file from the' 600.

I made an awl by filing down the fine slotted driver (SteveC made a lovely awl from the PE blade) and I filed the plier head from needle to blunt nose.

[BPRoberts]

I think yours is one of the ones I looked at while I was getting ideas.

[magentus]

Feel free to pm me if I can help at all 👍

[BPRoberts]

Has anyone modded an original Multi Pliers? I can see a bunch for 400 and 600s, but I've been mostly carrying the original, and I think that'd be my first choice

[Antti Lammi]

If i correctly looked that all Gerber MP serie uses same size pivot screw and locking mechanism on tools (samekind tools) . It means you can basicly add tools from any tool to another.

Only Tools Matters

[BPRoberts]

Decided to work on this some today. Got both the Diesel and Mr. Pinchy tools out of the handles. When I tried to slot the tools in, the Diesel tools are a little thicker around the pivot, but have a larger hole, meaning they won't fit cleanly (and might be loose once in). I could potentially Dremel them down to fit, but that feels fussy and I'm concerned I'll screw it up.

Decided to try to take an MP apart for other parts (since I assume they're more likely to fit) but the screws are really stubborn. I get maybe a quarter turn before my pliers slip. I know you can use a taken apart MP to wrench another MP, but what's the trick to getting that first wrench apart? Nothing in my socket set fit (I think it's like 7.5mm or 3/10, based on the ones that don't fit, although they're not the right shape anyway). Considered taking the Dremel to it to either give me better grip, or just hack one side off and pop the other, but would prefer to minimize damage/lost parts. Likewise, what's the best way to get the plier pivot apart? I don't think it'd hurt, but not necessary.  Any thoughts/tips appreciated.

[BPRoberts]

Got an awl from a Suspension NXT trimmed and in there for now. Calling it a night to spend some time with my wife. Will keep working on it tomorrow.

[BPRoberts]

It's done! After a lot more time and sweat than (and not even remotely following my original) plan!

So, the original plan was the transplant a saw from a Diesel (along with one or two smaller tools) into an original Multi-plier. I like the MPinchy since the pliers retract fully into the body for easy carry. If I'd used an MP400 as a base, I figured I'd have to do more work to grind down the pliers and/or channel for the same effect. In hindsight, this might've been more work, but I also think it's a cooler mod.

Unfortunately, the Diesel tools are a poor fit. They seemed to be a little thicker, have more of a base, and a little wider pivot. I probably couldn't gotten the saw in, but I looked at my other Gerbers and changed the plan. New goal: maximize the flexibility of the multiplier by including as many tools as possible. I had a spare MP400 and got a cheap Suspension NXT and tried again.

Short version: Removed can opener, bottle opener, lanyard ring, spacer washer. Added: can/bottle combo (Suspension), small flat (MP400), awl (cut down from Suspension), scraper/prybar (modded suspension large driver). This gives me 3 additional tools and increases the reach on the driver, for a pretty substantial upgrade.

Step by step:


1. Remove the button head screw from the MPinchy. These are 0.05 imperial hexes. The screw actually only threads into the small silver nut on the other side (at least on the v 4.1 that I have), meaning it only takes a few twists to come free.

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2. Pull  tools out "the back" (base of handles). Mpinchy uses a really cool design where all the tools ride on a pivot that comes in and out with them. Having taken apart 4 different Gerber tools in the last week, I think this is by far the best.

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3. Remove any tools you're not using. In this case, that's the can opener, lanyard ring, and big washer spacer from one handle, and the bottle opener from the other. There is a slim washer next to the Phillips on one side. DON'T LOSE IT!

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4. Now, take apart the other tools. The Suspension was awful to take apart. In theory, these are #8 torx cap and post screws. On mine, some were so loose I could finger loosen them, and some where impossible to unscrew and had to be cut.

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Out of pictures slots, so onto next post!

[BPRoberts]

5. Remove relevant tools from Suspension NXT. For this mod that was the can/bottleopener/medium driver, the large driver, and the awl. In hindsight, I might've been better off with a large driver from an MP400, but I didn't know I was going to be using one yet. (I did not take many pictures of Suspension disassembly, because it was a pain and I didn't feel like stopping to document it.)

6. Disassemble (much easier) the MP400. You can use another MP400 as a wrench, or a pair of pliers. I've heard some people can use a socket on them (I want to say 5/16th?) but I didn't have any luck. Pliers did fine. You want to work the slightly recessed (knife) side, not the one with the Gerber logo. These are also cap and post style.

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7. Remove needed tools. In this case, small driver (maybe large too if I was doing it again). Grab a spare washer as well.

8. Most post Pinchy Gerbers use the same "bumpy" base, which I assume interacts with the tabbed washers and locks to make them lock and not clump. These will fit into MPinchy, but rub a lot. File them down to be more rounded. I sharpied the outline of a Pinchy tool on the first one, but you basically just need to get to round and it's pretty safe to freehand. Praise Gerber's rattley tolerances!

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9. Cut down the large driver and awl to fit. I was a little over aggressive on the awl, but I'm going to run it for a bit. Worst comes to worst, almost any tool can become an awl! The small driver from the MP400 fits at a very slight angle, so I didn't grind it (trying to maintain that small driver angle sounds like a mistake waiting to happen). I'm not sure if the MP400 large driver is shorter than the Suspension's and could've fit.

10. Modify tools to new shapes. For the awl, you don't need to do much (again, I was over aggressive) but the nail nick may need to come up a little to give you "poking depth" for the scraper, put an angle mostly on the top so it can slide in.

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11. Now you're on the hardest part, getting everything to fit thickness wise so they're not too tight or loose. First thing, it is possible to overtighten the screws when you put everything back together. I recommend pulling back about a quarter turn from "tight".

For mine the side with only the one swap (remove bottle opener, add small driver) fit without any fuss. The other is too loose without a washer (can opener and blade will flop open) but too tight (very clumpy and hard to open) with the basic MP400 washer (even after I ground the nubs off) I ground the washer as thin as I could and it was passible but still a little tight. I hit the bases of the tools as well, and that got me enough for it to feel "right." Grinding the washer was probably the second most time/labor consuming part of the whole project (after the Suspension disassembly), since I had to keep grinding, rotating, checking, etc. over and over.

12. Clean everything. I do soapy water and then blow dry w/ one of those computer air compressor things.

13. Slide parts onto the pivot. My final order that fit fairly well was:

Handle 1- File, small driver, Phillips, washer, blade (file and blade both have tang stamps and nail nicks so you can't put them in "backwards"

Handle 2- Blade, awl, large driver,  washer, scraper, opener. Again, the blade has a tang stamp and nick, and the can opener wants the "curved" side in. This also keeps the scraper closer to the handle for better use.

On both sides, it helps to start with the tools very slightly open and line up the holes until you can see daylight. Push the screw in. If you can't get it about 80% of the way, start over before tightening (again, don't over tighten).

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14. Oil and otherwise maintain to your preference. I just do mineral oil.

Hopefully, this was interesting for everybody. We'll see how it holds up. I definitely made some mistakes (that awl!) and I'm sure a bunch of stuff could've gone smoother. Above everything, I think using the Mr. Pinchy wound up costing me more work getting tools to fit than it saved me messing with the pliers. Still, I'll be proud to have this guy in my pocket, and I think it'll be a solid upgrade on the base model for day to day work.

Thanks a lot to everyone who gave me advice, especially Antti and Customod.

Not sure how much more modding I'll do, but I got a decent piece and a cool experience out of this one time if nothing else.

[Antti Lammi]

awesome looking mod, these help lot if i gonna get MR.Pinchy to my collection and i wanna mod it.

[BPRoberts]

I used the small driver today! Awlso the bottle opener. Not thrilled with how it fits, kinda loose, but might just need to tighten the screw a little. If I thinned the washer too much after doing it so many times, I'm going to be annoyed.