Leatherman style CS annoyance

[ajchien]

Ok,

I've got some serious new tool OCD going on and need some opinions.

I recently got a LM style CS. It's a small keychain tool with scissors, knife, screwdriver, file, tweezers, and a bottle opener. Fairly similar to the victorinox classic SD, but a little bigger, heavier and the trade of a toothpick for a bottle opener.

Overall the tool is great. The scissors are a big time upgrade from the victorinox. However, I have one major gripe: the thumb nick on the knife is in a terrible spot and makes it impossible to open the knife.

On the pic I added, there are 2 "decorative" holes next to the thumb nick. One is size 51, the other 56 using drill sizes to probe.

I thinking I could:
1) be annoyed at this tool and just not use it
2) add a lanyard and a small washer to help open the knife (current setup)
3) buy either a #1, M2, or #2 tap and put threads in the bigger hole and put in a screw to use as a thumb stud. But i have to buy a $10 tap for a $15 dollar tool :/
4) upsize the hole for a #4 screw to go in there because I already have a 4-40 tap.

Any opinions?

 

[DK87]

I love my LM Juice S2, I use it every day at school or at home. I would like to upgrade to the XE6 though. My knife was a pain to get open when i first got it but after awhile it worked in nice. I also helped it by soaking it in WD-40.

 

[neophyte]

SOG uses a slot cut thru the blade as a nail notch. Drilling a row of holes which could be cleaned up with a small file, or Dremel, or sandpaper might be an option.

 

[Bigplum]

Your warranty will be toast if you mod it, but if you don't mod it you won't use it.
So drill away , perhaps you could borrow a smaller tap though ?

How about fitting a small peg with a dab of superglue , that could reversed if needed for a claim

 

[owenst7]

Your warranty will be toast if you mod it, but if you don't mod it you won't use it.
So drill away , perhaps you could borrow a smaller tap though ?

How about fitting a small peg with a dab of superglue , that could reversed if needed for a claim

Are you sure about honoring the warranty? I've sent 3 in for warranty in the past. few years and they just send me new ones. They weren't modified other than my initials, but they were very obviously abused (read as using the pliers and blades as a pry bar). Always had them send the replacements postmarked the day the received mine too.

Maybe try sending them a thorough email with some pictures and ask their stance on warranty for that situation. My dealings with them, along with interviews I've seen of the founder, gave me the impression that they might even thank you for the idea and ask to use it.

 

[mmack66]

Your warranty will be toast if you mod it, but if you don't mod it you won't use it.
So drill away , perhaps you could borrow a smaller tap though ?

How about fitting a small peg with a dab of superglue , that could reversed if needed for a claim

If I understand the OP correctly, it isn't a Leatherman tool, and it only cost the OP $15, so I doubt he is worried about any potential warranty issues.

 

[Filson]

I would mod it for my personal use as I felt was needed. To speak to the point - you bought it for a reason, right? Is it fulfilling that reason to the degree in which you thought it would? Negative. Make it better, make it right.

Now I wouldn't go spend $10 bucks just to fix a $15 dollar tool (I would just tell you to go buy a Leatherman Wave). But I would think about adding a tiny but stout keyring through the larger of the two holes, and add a very short length (maybe 1 to 1 1/2") of 550 cord in a snake knot, that would add both assistance with opening the blade, as well as having a little extra cordage on hand.

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[IndyGarage]

I have a couple of those and they are pretty handy - especially for the scissors. I haven't had too much trouble getting the blade open with the thumbnail notch, but it's not the best design I've seen.

If the blade is a bit sticky, you can spray some WD40 into the joint and it will free up some. I do that with all my leatherman tools as they come out of the factory pretty tight.

I would not try to modify the blade. The Style CS has a weak spot on the blade at the first one of those holes. I have one sitting in my drawer with the blade snapped off, as well as a similarly snapped Freestyle.

My go to leatherman is the Juice S-2 (same as DK 87) which is getting pretty old, but still keeps on ticking. I wish they would update that tool with the same features and form factor.

 

[Bigplum]

Superglue a small ball bearing onto one of the holes , probably fall off after a while , then it's out with the superglue again

 

[ajchien]

Hey thanks for all the ideas.

Here's what I came up with for now.

I took a small #2 brass screw, and filed both the length of the screw down to the knife blade width. I also filed down the threads of the screw so that I could press fit the screw into the larger hole. I added a small dab of jewelry E6000 adhesive to it.

It's just enough grip that I can open the knife one handed. And if I ever need warranty for any reason, I can break the adhesive loose with a screwdriver and press out the screw.

I guess I'll see how long it lasts. Maybe a while since the forces on the screw are perpendicular to the movement.