Kid Friendly Wingman... the Short Round!

[Lynn LeFey]

I know I've told this story elsewhere, but for posterity, when someone comes across this in the future, I wanted to reiterate.

I have friends with a 10 year old son. A few years back, I gave him a really cheap Coast multitool. He apparently loves it, and has been safe and responsible with it. However, their household has two younger children. So, while I wanted to get him something a little more solid, I didn't want to endanger the kids doing it. So, I thought I'd try removing the blade from a Wingman.

As it turns out, I had some old cheapo Husky multitools, and took one apart to get the file, which looked like a good, and safe, replacement for the blade.

This mod was right up my (totally noobie) alley. Remove screw with #10 Torx, remove blade, replace with file, replace screw. Seriously. It took me longer to take the pictures than to do the mod.

I named this the 'Short Round' after the mostly-loathed kid sidekick from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Best part? When it's safe, putting the blade back is just as easy as replacing it.

I know the file doesn't have the divot for the dent that holds the blade closed, so there may be some fatigue on the blade lock, but I think I'm fine with that.

[Ombudsman]

I like it !   And the name too

[hiljentaa]

Good call on the file. That kid is going to be STOKED!

[nuphoria]

Brilliant bit of kit

[Taxi Dad]

great work on the tool
and on recruiting the next generation for MT.o , we need new blood, and ones that are already open to a bit of 'modding' as well ! well done Lynn

[Sparky415]

That worked well Lynn 

[kirk13]

 

Nice one Lynn,very impressed!

[stealth007s]

Very nice Lynn Sounds like a simple yet effective mod that can be switched when needed. Did you leave the package opener in place?

[baja820]

Looks good man! 

How long before he gives his little bro/sis a hair cut with the scissors... ..

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Short Round... great name!

[Zed]

Nice work lynn  both my youngest have cheap bladeless mt's or uk legal lol 

[Gareth]

Very cool Lynn.

[Landrew]

Just for the record, if anyone had disabled something for safety reasons when I was a kid, my first priority would have been to try to enable it somehow... 

[Lynn LeFey]

Thanks, all! 

Did you leave the package opener in place?

Yes. This is not a completely edgeless object. There are still potential hazards; the package opener, the can opener tip, and the v-cutter notch on the can opener, but those all have limited potential. I suppose the scissors could be used in a bad way. But the one-hand open semi-serrated blade on the Wingman had serious damage potential. My intent was to limit hazards, though, not bubble-wrap the world, so I think it should be fine. I think the usefulness versus danger on the package opener means it should stay. It's also a sort of stepping stone, to see if the boy will be responsible with sharp (but limited danger) tools. And, honestly, I expect him to cut himself on it at some point. That's kind of the required learning process all of us go through. I'd be shocked if anyone on these boards hadn't shaved a knuckle off or jabbed themselves at SOME point.

Landrew, I was probably the same way. But this boy's dad will be keeping the blade, probably locked in a gun safe, and it requires a Torx bit to replace. I had to go buy the bit for it, and I have tons of bits laying about. So not likely he'd have access to one.

Sort of unrelated... did you guys know that the package opener on the Wingman will cut 500 paracord in one swipe? That's a bit impressive.

[stealth007s]

That package opener is my favorite LM tool I would like to put one in my S2 or Charge

BTW I intended no harm with my comment about leaving the package opener in the Wingman. I was just curious if you removed it or not and if you did remove it, how difficult it was to do so.




Sent from Endor using Schlapatok

[Lynn LeFey]

BTW I intended no harm with my comment about leaving the package opener in the Wingman. I was just curious if you removed it or not and if you did remove it, how difficult it was to do so.

No problem. Hope my response didn't come across as too curt. I was just trying to go over my thinking of leaving the tool in.

And yeah... the package opener is a surprisingly useful tool.

[Taxi Dad]

all tools should come with a package opener 
all kids should learn about knives/tools early on, you've done the lad a service, if only more people taught responsiblity to children. as you said earlier we have ALL cut ourselves at some point, you just hope and pray it's not too bad when it happens. learning how to handle ANY TOOL is important it doesn't just happen, and teaching is the key.
I'll bet your friends boy grows up to be much safer because of your guidance   

[derekmac]

My son's five, and already has some of my knives picked out that he wants!  I have a small orange locking Buck knife that he loves and keeps telling me it's going to be his, and he keeps eyeing my Swiss Tool.

I had an old crappy MT that I filed the blade and saw so it was dull and wouldn't cut him, but he did manage to nick himself closing one of the small bladed flat heads. I told him in a few more years I'd get him a good multi tool, and he can't wait!! 

[Lynn LeFey]

Awesome. 

My first thought on this was the Juice line. Good size for small hands, but as Metro pointed out to me, their pinned construction makes them less mod-friendly.

[stealth007s]

all tools should come with a package opener 
all kids should learn about knives/tools early on, you've done the lad a service, if only more people taught responsiblity to children. as you said earlier we have ALL cut ourselves at some point, you just hope and pray it's not too bad when it happens. learning how to handle ANY TOOL is important it doesn't just happen, and teaching is the key.
I'll bet your friends boy grows up to be much safer because of your guidance

That is a dying art IMO

[colt 1911]

Nice job !!

[Lynn LeFey]

And I have word back from the boy's parents. I have parental clearance to present the Wingman to him, most likely tomorrow night.

[derekmac]

And I have word back from the boy's parents. I have parental clearance to present the Wingman to him, most likely tomorrow night.

Nice!  I'm sure he'll love it 

[Taxi Dad]

And I have word back from the boy's parents. I have parental clearance to present the Wingman to him, most likely tomorrow night.

AND ?
we need an update Lynn !!!! and pics of the lads smiley face would be good 

[Landrew]

And I have word back from the boy's parents. I have parental clearance to present the Wingman to him, most likely tomorrow night.

AND ?
we need an update Lynn !!!! and pics of the lads smiley face would be good 

Maybe not a good idea, privacy issues.

[Taxi Dad]

some people really crack me up 

[Lynn LeFey]

Yeah, sorry, no pics.

I thought I was going to get these to the boy on Friday. That was delayed until Saturday. I checked with the his dad again to make sure he knew what this thing was (where all the potential hazards were). That being done, we brought the boy over and did the run-through... no taking it to school, no pinching your siblings with the pliers, on and on. The whole time he has this look like 'yeah, yeah, just shut up and give me the big cool shiny thing!'

I explained to him that if he showed responsibility with it, and didn't manage to lose it, that some day, the blade would be reinstalled, but it would likely be YEARS in the future.

Once he got it, he said 'It's so heavy!'. And off he went, to sit in front of cartoons, and begin his life of habitually opening and closing tools, just for the clicking sound they made.

[Taxi Dad]

get him a 'Zippo' next ! clicks AND fire all boys love fire 
thanks for the update Lynn
(and the Zippo thing was another joke Landrew  )

[Sparky415]

Yeah, sorry, no pics.

I thought I was going to get these to the boy on Friday. That was delayed until Saturday. I checked with the his dad again to make sure he knew what this thing was (where all the potential hazards were). That being done, we brought the boy over and did the run-through... no taking it to school, no pinching your siblings with the pliers, on and on. The whole time he has this look like 'yeah, yeah, just shut up and give me the big cool shiny thing!' I explained to him that if he showed responsibility with it, and didn't manage to lose it, that some day, the blade would be reinstalled, but it would likely be YEARS in the future.

Once he got it, he said 'It's so heavy!'. And off he went, to sit in front of cartoons, and begin his life of habitually opening and closing tools, just for the clicking sound they made.

 

I'm just the same 

[enki_ck]

Well done Lynn, recruit them young.



And nice job on finding the suitable replacement tool and cool name for it.