Free P4 pocket-clip on Rebar?

[ReamerPunch]

Is there enough material to make a hole larger so that the clip would fit a Rebar?

[Syncop8r]

I too have wondered about the plausibility of retrofitting these to other Leathermans. 

[Poncho65]

Only way to find oit might be to do it

I don't have an extra clip laying around or else I might try to tap one and try it out

Maybe someone has one and is willing

[ReamerPunch]

No need to risk destroying one. Simply removing it from a Free and checking it against a Rebar screw. Or at least measuring the clip width?

[Poncho65]

I would think it would have to be attached to the side of the handle similar to the way it is with the Free series

When the Bond comes out we might get a better idea on how that would work since it does seem to have the holes already there for the Free clip

[Don Pablo]

I opened this thread because it said free and I misunderstood.

I wonder if the recessed design of the Rebar screws could cause problems.

[Olives666]

Fitted the new free (P2 & P4) pocket clip to a few different models.
Supertool, surge, wave to name a few. The P2/P4 pocket clip has a kick at the top to clear the pivot bolt so it can be fitted for deep carry as well on different models.
Just a case of drilling and tapping the handles for the clip screws.

[SteveC]

Nice !   

[Poncho65]

  Very cool

What are the sizes you have to drill and tap, if you don't mind me asking

Now they need to make them in BO and I will add them to a few tools

[ReamerPunch]

Fitted the new free (P2 & P4) pocket clip to a few different models.
Supertool, surge, wave to name a few. The P2/P4 pocket clip has a kick at the top to clear the pivot bolt so it can be fitted for deep carry as well on different models.
Just a case of drilling and tapping the handles for the clip screws.

 
Does the pivot screw not fit the pocket clip screw holes? If the screw fits, no drilling and tapping would be required.

[ReamerPunch]

Very cool

What are the sizes you have to drill and tap, if you don't mind me asking

Now they need to make them in BO and I will add them to a few tools

How deep do those little screws go in the Free P4? Is there enough meat on the Rebar or ST300 to actually drill and tap for them? I am quite surprised.

[Poncho65]

The fasteners are very short from what I can see on the T4 and P2 The Rebar handles seem to be a bit thinner though guess Olives can keep us updated on how the mod performs and how it lasts

[ReamerPunch]

Maybe we could find tiny nuts for those tiny screws?
For the Rebar, we could drill the two holes near the 3" mark, to have the nuts in front of the plain edge blade. There is some clearance for them and the blade and pliers would not touch them.

[Olives666]

Very cool

What are the sizes you have to drill and tap, if you don't mind me asking

Now they need to make them in BO and I will add them to a few tools

I ended up going with metric as it was easier for me to get the screws, taps, and bits for doing it.
Drilled the handle with a 1.5, then a 2.1mm carbide bit.
Tapped threads with a 2.5mm tap and have some 2.5mm stainless countersunk Allen head bolts- which I cut down in length.
2.5mm is the equivalent size to what Leatherman are using (3/32) and are a better fit and sit flusher as well.

[Olives666]

How deep do those little screws go in the Free P4? Is there enough meat on the Rebar or ST300 to actually drill and tap for them? I am quite surprised.

Plenty of thickness for drilling and tapping. Only needs a little as it’s hardened steel. The free handles are about the same thickness, if not less than say the 300 or surge.

[Olives666]

The fasteners are very short from what I can see on the T4 and P2 The Rebar handles seem to be a bit thinner though guess Olives can keep us updated on how the mod performs and how it lasts

I had to cut the screws I bought online down, as the shortest I could get was 6mm in length.
I just clamped the screw in a mini Chuck and used a dremel cutoff wheel to cut them down, then finished them off with a needle file and some fine wet and dry paper.
Bit of blue locktite when fitted and they’re solid!

[Olives666]

As you can see from the pics, it only needs a couple of threads in the handle for the screws.
The last picture is a pic of the Leatherman screws(3/32) on the right and the metric(2.5mm) screws that I modified on the left. Only about 2mm in length.

I did have to mod the screws head’s on the ones I bought as they were slightly larger in diameter, but just copied the size/profile of the Leatherman ones and tweaked them so they sit flush.

[Poncho65]

Very well done Thanks for the pics  and also thanks for the sizes and how you accomplished it

[Olives666]

Very well done Thanks for the pics  and also thanks for the sizes and how you accomplished it

Not a problem👍

[NetsNJ]

I love this mod and would like to try on my rebar.  Olives666, do you need any tools beyond a drill for this?

[pfrsantos]

Everytime I see a thread about this Leatherman, I think it's a giveaway.

 

[Dutch_Tooler]

Yup. One can also use the Wave clip.

[Poncho65]

 

[Juan el Boricua]

DT, could you tell us (me!), how you were able to adapt the Wave clip to the Rebar; is it still removable; did you add a washer or spacer between handle and tool?

[NetsNJ]

Yup. One can also use the Wave clip.

Please tell us what you did! 

[Dutch_Tooler]

Longer build story told here. The mod essentially consists of a special washer, and a thin plate serving as abutment and guide glued against the inside of the sidewall of the handle of my black Rebar. The Wave clip is indeed easily removable from the handle as it's held by the lock the same way as in the Wave. I've simply recreated the Wave's clip lodging space on the Rebar. However, using the Free clip is much easier (albeit not removable without undoing screws).

[Juan el Boricua]

Thank you, DT,   
 

[Dutch_Tooler]

You're welcome Juan 

@NetsNJ,
Back to the Free P series clip, this is what I wrote in another thread on the tools needed:

Well, all it takes is a stationary drill of some kind, a centre drill bit (I used a 1.5 mm), an HSS drill bit @ 1.8 mm, a tap set (said UNC 2-56) and handle and the kit. So what's stopping you?

Joking aside, it is not a very involved conversion. Once the stuff was available it took me all of 13 minutes.