My first SAK mod attempt.

[Benner]

Yeah mine isn't quite as nice as that one! 

[Neil]

I have been using Mr. Lucky...a 4oz hammer whose face I rounded and polished. Recently I purchased a smaller 2oz hammer for Alox mod work because the face us narrower.

I've tried the 2oz once and though it takes a few more strikes I like the narrower face as forces me to concentrate the blows more precisely.

Any tips for those of us fed up with modding coloured alox?  I've tried taping off the area surrounding the pins but as hard as I try I always seem to mark the anodising   We're not talking dings here, on silver alox you can't tell but that wussy type II coloured stuff makes me want to cry 

Neil

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I don't really have a solution to that yet.

I bought some nail sets with the intention of using a Dremel stone to shape the ends into a wide shallow cup. That would keep the hammer away from the Alox scales.

You'd probably need a third hand to keep things steady though.

[Neil]

Bother, bother, blast.  I've tried a similar technique but it didn't work too well for me.  Perhaps its just a practise thing though 

I really want a rivet spinner!

Neil

[donvito]

Looks good. What tools and techniques do our moders recommend to newbies?

[Neil]

You can get away with just a small hammer, a nail and a file.  Other tools such as a drill, snips, punches are a very useful bonus.

Here's some SporKified links to get you started...

SAK Autopsy
Canadian Explorer Mod

and here's the setup Scibeer was using.  He probably has a huge factory and a thousand trained monkeys assisting him now though

SAK Assembly Jig

Neil

[Benner]

So what shall I call it?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

So what shall I call it?

A miricle

[Benner]

So what shall I call it?

A miricle

Ha ha ha. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

So what shall I call it?

A miricle

Ha ha ha. 

Ok smart arse, how about Miricle Golfer then

[Gareth]

It's very like one I did that I called the Woodcrafter. I have a phillips on the back not a corkscrew and no keyring. Two other names I liked were; Woodworker and Woodcutter.  I think either would work on your knife.

[Gareth]

So what shall I call it?

A miricle

LOL, sorry Ben but that did make me smile.

[Benner]

It's very like one I did that I called the Woodcrafter. I have a phillips on the back not a corkscrew and no keyring. Two other names I liked were; Woodworker and Woodcutter.  I think either would work on your knife.

Thank you Gareth fo the sensible sugestions.  

I was thinking about calling it the "Woody"  

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I still think Miracle Golfer sounds better

[Gareth]

It's very like one I did that I called the Woodcrafter. I have a phillips on the back not a corkscrew and no keyring. Two other names I liked were; Woodworker and Woodcutter.  I think either would work on your knife.

Thank you Gareth fo the sensible sugestions.  

I was thinking about calling it the "Woody"  

I would go with the Woody.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

It's very like one I did that I called the Woodcrafter. I have a phillips on the back not a corkscrew and no keyring. Two other names I liked were; Woodworker and Woodcutter.  I think either would work on your knife.

Thank you Gareth fo the sensible sugestions.  

I was thinking about calling it the "Woody"  

I would go with the Woody.

Then you could ask everyone if they'd like to see it...

[donvito]

You can get away with just a small hammer, a nail and a file.  Other tools such as a drill, snips, punches are a very useful bonus.

Here's some SporKified links to get you started...

SAK Autopsy
Canadian Explorer Mod

and here's the setup Scibeer was using.  He probably has a huge factory and a thousand trained monkeys assisting him now though

SAK Assembly Jig

Neil

Thx for the reply and the links, some I've seen before others are new to me. One of my friends has a used beat up sak that he don't care bout, I might be dissecting soon.

[WhichDawg]

nice work Ben
especially since it's your first! really good
so I take it you got new pins that you peened?

it seems knowing what is a good back-spring and a poor one seems to be important!
or the wear on the tool, something to learn huh.

great tips and pics guys, you make it look easy.

[Benner]

nice work Ben
especially since it's your first! really good
so I take it you got new pins that you peened?

it seems knowing what is a good back-spring and a poor one seems to be important!
or the wear on the tool, something to learn huh.

great tips and pics guys, you make it look easy.

No, I used the original pins again.

Although it is far from a perfect result, it is still functional and I have learnt a lot for my next attempt. 

[WhichDawg]

ohh it has less layer(s)!

[Benner]

ohh it has less layer(s)!

Yes.

This is me, you should know it would have been relatively simple! 

[WhichDawg]

ahh but thicker or thinner you still have to peen and you did a pretty decent job!
I wonder why they don't use threaded pins with nuts (and some lock-tite) or why
modders don't

couldn't the holes in the scales be modded to fit over a nut?

[Benner]

ahh but thicker or thinner you still have to peen and you did a pretty decent job!
I wonder why they don't use threaded pins with nuts (and some lock-tite) or why
modders don't

couldn't the holes in the scales be modded to fit over a nut?

Would have to be a really small nut. 

[WhichDawg]

no comment!

[DaveK]

no comment!

Haha.

It is a good idea though.

I now have all the bits assembled to do the mod for my dad's christmas present, and as I'm making the scales from solid wood anyway, I did consider using a different fastening method, but I do think that part of the challenge of modding is to try and be faithful to the "proper" way.

So, peen and be damned 

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

Exactly, why bother if you're not going to take the time to do it properly.

Using screws and nuts would be cheesy and wouldn't allow you to use factory scales. Plus the pivots would be resting on a threaded rod, not a solid joint. It may seem to work well when freshly assembled but it probably won't last in the long run.

The process is extremely simple and basic...it only takes practice, just like learning to sharpen well.

[WhichDawg]

it doesn't have to be threaded all the way, just the tip. also you may find the mod layers and tools
don't fit your needs (after some trial and use) so it would be much easier to change.

who is to say what is "Proper?" to each their own I say. I'm not against peening and the skill it
takes to do it/learn it, I just wonder about alternative fastening methods.

[donvito]

What size are the pins if need be for ordering some? Thx. 

[DaveK]

I just wonder about alternative fastening methods.

And thank God that we do, eh?

I might well try that when I get some time. I suppose threading would be difficult, as the distance between the threaded area is going to vary from knife to knife?

Or would you use pins that are threaded along their total length?

[DaveK]

What size are the pins if need be for ordering some? Thx. 

Depends on the SAK size, alox are different to the regular SAKs etc donvito.

Have a look here : http://rotokid.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse&category_id=cb238147c7b208797cfb6ef2549c12c3&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=1