G'day all! Would explain some history on this project, if you read these previous mod threads; http://edcforums.com/threads/the-improviser-1-0-surge-mod.99169/ http://edcforums.com/threads/the-swift-iia-tool-v1-0-wave-rebuild.100037/ So, here she is currently(scroll down for current version, June '13), AND see next page for Update to Surge scissors!(Aug. 12th 2013) Victorinox SAK scissors Re-ground Surge serrated blade. Dual Surge blade exchangers. Plus straight driver, awl, can opener. Scraper/chisel like edge ground in the end of the file. Combination Leatherman bit driver/full profile 1/4" hex bit driver. Rebar head. Swapped to Surge pivots because of thicker tools. Victorinox tweezers slot The only thing on here from a Wave is the handle frames themselves, and the bit driver, both of which are heavily modded themselves... Didn't make the scissors lock open, wasn't needed since in use you press them toward open, and hold them there. I did move the pivot up so they could be cut to fit the liner and lock if ever needed. Contoured the bottom edges so it slips over the lock right now, so ya don't have to press it half open/half closed. And, the cool part IMO, and honestly so simple I'm surprised I never thought of it before; cut/filled the sides out of the bit driver to clear the sides of 1/4" hex bit. Driver is still solid and strong. The spring and friction hold the bit tight, but easy to change. There is a slight chance of the sides spreading under high torque, but I serriously doubt ever having to use enough torque to do it. And, keeping the spring intact, it still holds the LM flat bits/extension perfectly. Gonna clean up my cuts in the handle frames and send off for red Cerakote soon. Mar.7th 2013; EDIT to add; Figured for consistency sake, should post to this thread the vic tweezers mod I added (since I just linked this thread in like 3 other places... ) 5/31/13 update; Victorinox SAK scissors Knife removed- space filled with stock Wave wood saw. Dual Surge blade exchangers-- one with Surge file, one with Bosch metal saw. Plus straight driver, awl, can opener. Scraper edge ground in the end of the file. Combination Leatherman bit driver/full profile 1/4" hex bit driver. Rebar pliers head. Swapped to Surge pivots because of thicker tools. Victorinox tweezers slot NOW The only thing on here from a Wave is the saw, then the handle frames themselves, and the bit driver, both of which are heavily modded themselves. G.
Nope, its a serrated blade from my black oxide Surge. Re-profiled from wharncliffe to trailing point, and re-beveled/edged the front half, taking about 1/2" of length off in the process. Also had to take about 1/16" off all around the tang/pivot area so it would open and close/clear the frame. lots of careful grinding and water dunking to preserve the heat treat. With a wingman blade I'd have had to enlarge the pivot size, and move it a bit toward the tip to ensure the lock surface to be in the right place, fitting both at one... Doable, but woulda been too precission/tegeous to be worth it. With this blade, the pivot size was right already, and actually the lock surface needed ground back, so it was simple as filling it back to fit the lock, no hole movement needed. More work overall to do this blade, but a lot harder to screw up! G.
Honestly not much, a fine grit bench grinder for rough profiling the blade, belt sander/knife grinder for finishing and sharpening. Everything else on these mods is a carbide carving bur in a flex shaft Dremel like tool, and some fine diamond files for fine fitting. Oh ya, almost forgot, I did use the 14" bandsaw with a diamond grit blade to cut the sides out of the bit holder... coulda done it with the dremel, but this was faster. I Do have a lot of more complicated/sufisticated ways of doing this stuff, but I find a simpler tool and a fine feather touch, slow and careful, a lot easier and quicker in the long run. I have almost a full machine shop, and I do have a full fledged wood shop... I inhereited my Dads life long collection of tools and shop that I grew up in when he passed away last year. He was a carpenter/fine wood worker for a living for 50+ years, then got into machine work/tool making/gunsmithing as a hoby after he retired... Add to that what held over from when I made knives professionally for a few years, plus my own wood working; you name it and I probably have it. G.
It looks like you really made your self a work horse of a tool. Good going! How does the blades fit in the exchangers, aren't they too long for the shorter wave's body? Can you close the tools with the blades installed?
Thank You! Yes they were too long, I used a water cooled mini diamond wheel to cut them off shorter and re-nothched the ends for opening. Did the same to a couple metal cutting Bosch t-shank saw blades too, and actually I carry the metal saw blade in the tool, and the wood saw in my bit kit. It obviously shortens the working stroke on the saws, but with care in use it doesn't really change how thick of material can be cut. G.
Just realized I didn't update this with the last changes a few weeks ago... The CE blade didn't last past my getting a nice CE folder, and then I swapped it for the stock wood saw, so I could then have the file, and the metal saw in the BEs at the same time. G.
Not this build, I did post the first version mentioned, the Swift tool, and the Surge I built before it. But I never got around to posting this build over there.
