Upgrade an older Swiss Army Knife Memory Stick to 2GB

In this instructable I will show the steps needed to remove the existing USB Flash Memory PCB from a Victorinox Securelock "Swiss Army Knife" Memory Stick and replace it with a larger capacity USB memory stick PCB (Here I use a Lexar 2GB Firefly that runs about $25)

Background:
I never carried a pocket knife in my entire life until I got the "geek's version" as a Christmas present 3 years ago from a friend. It is a 512MB Victorinox Securelock USB Memory Stick Pocketknife. Since I received it, it is in my pocket everyday and has become indispensable. As time has passed, I have outgrown the 512MB and now I also carry a 2GB stick. To lighten my pocket load I have been thinking about upgrading the Samsung Flash chip on the PCB, but alas the OTi2168 controller chip can only support chips up to 4 gigbits (512MB). I tabled the idea for a while until I was recently given a Lexar 2GB Firefly. Curiosity got the best of me and I popped open the case. The rest, as they say, is an instructable. (or something like that)

Step 1: Tools needed

Tools you will need

Comments

[CALPOLY]

Great Instructable!!!

I just upgraded my 64MB memory stick by replacing it with the following.

Kingston’s DataTraveler® SE9 USB Flash drive.   ~ $12.99 at FRYS.COM

Kingston SE9 16GB USB
  Mfr: Kingston    Model: DTSE9H/16GBZ 
  FRYS.com #7280443    UPC: 740617198270 

This memory can be pushed into the old housing as is without having to do anything with it.

I followed this instructable to remove the old memory, carefully removed the two locking tabs with a razor, and then pushed this memory stick into the old housing.  This Kingston memory stick's dimensions are the
same dimensions of a USB connector and fits very snuggly into the old memory housing.  Carefully push in, but not all the way in, leaving enough of the memory stick sticking out to plug into USB receptacles.
(use the connector of another USB flash drive to measure how much connector should be sticking out.)

Note:  Memory stick should be pushed in to housing just enough so that it folds closed completely into knife.

Note:  If you push memory stick in too far, use pliers with electrical tape wrapped around the jaws for protection, to carefully grip the memory stick on the thin edges and gentle wriggle out the memory stick and try again.

[monkeys98]

THIS IS FREAKING AWESOME!
I SAW ONE OF THOSE KNIVES ON ANOTHER SITE AND I WAS THINKING HOW LITTLE SPACE WAS ON IT THIS FIXES THAT PROBLEM

[tswales]

Anyone tried another brand? Lexar 2GB Firefly is not available here in Holland and the supplier banded one I opened is too big.

[drhoff]

 this is great! I thought about doing this a while ago, but couldn't find a cheap drive small enough. you have done all the hard work for me! thanks!

[neumanngregor]

If i may add somthing to this great instructable, after you do the fileing work with the PCB and the fileing of the connector clean the PCB and connector from any dust resulting from work to avoid a shortcircuit and burn the drive or if you are REALLY unlucky you can burn the usb port of the comp. too ....

[sarubin]

Great instructable. Well written with clear instructions. I upgraded to a 4 Gb Lexar/Firefly. Although the components on the USB drive are a bit different than the picture of the 2 Gb in the instructable, the size/instructions are the same. If you con't have an Exacto knife to pry the cases open/apart, you may CAREFULLY use two, inexpensive, single edge razor blades. There is risk of injury. The risk of cutting yourself if the blade slips, or the risk of blade fracturing and a piece flying off is increased if you use these razor blades. WEAR PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR. I bear no responsibility for this advice.

[beauwalker23]

how did you do that sticker!!!?? Oh yeahh...where do you get these knifes??

[awawawaw]

I made the sticker with a Brady thermal transfer printer. The knives can be bought at various places. You can find them a lot on eBay but if you want a factory new one, just go to Victorinox Swiss Army Knife.
Swiss Army SwissFlash

[iKill]

you should punch that hole in the old once and connect it to the swiss army knife ;)

[Derin]

interesting ides

[ultrauber]

great instructable, well written. ++++++++++++++++1 keep em coming

[!Andrew_Modder!]

i hate how you never get exactly the right ammount of space. like that one was 2gb but actually was 1.86?? and like a 160gb hdd is actually 149gb... :-(... ya random, but just wanted to say lol

[xtank5]

The cause of that is formatting and in the hard drive's case it also has the OS pre-installed so that is what takes up the rest of the space not used in formatting.

[commandergc]

Actually it's because HD and flash makers count 1 Megabyte as 1000 kilobytes and 1 gigabyte as 1000 megabytes. when in fact a gigabyte is 1024 megabytes. I don't know why they do that but thats why (a long with the filesystem & formatting) you loose that last bit of space.

[!Andrew_Modder!]

ahh true that, same with pc ram a gig is 1024, and ya lol

[!Andrew_Modder!]

ya. still lol

[bhunter736]

Excellent presentation. I didnt know these came in a knife. I used to fly a lot and quit carrying a pocket knife after 9/11. I may start carrying one again and this is great to know, both that the knife is out there and that It is upgradeable via instructables! : ) - Thanks.

[instructaman]

Nicely done. Good pictures too. You should make a cool case for the old USB drive now! I really like the LEGO USB drives some people have been making.

[CameronSS]

+1 just for the amazing macro pictures! Another +1 for a cool idea! Another +1 for great documentation! Another +1 for that cool label! Oh, wait, I can only give you one +1. CURSE YOU, INSTRUCTABLES ADMINISTRATORS!!!

Now to actually get a USB swiss army knife...They're a bit pricey, since a $120 1GB knife is simply a $25 drive in a $5-$10 knife. Maybe I'll make my own, and make an Instructable, and win a Leatherman to replace it...

[xsmurf]

Damn right! We need real karma! I don't want to flag comments, I want to praise them... doesn't the little box says exactly that? "Be nice policy" So yeah Instructables, please please please allow us to be even nicer ! And yes, excellent macros! (which seems rare here ;o) great doc, good little hack. Big Up :)

[awawawaw]

You can still get the older smaller size ones off eBay fairly cheap. A 256MB went for 9.99 a short time ago.

[awawawaw]

Thanks for the feedback. Macro photography is a hobby of mine, so I have a little advantage there. When I looked into replacing the knife with a 2GB, I couldn't believe they were so much. (as I mention, I got the 512MB one as a present 3 years ago)

[chuckr44]

Wouldn't it be cool if someone sold raw USB drives and you could make your own case?

[awawawaw]

In my opinion all USB drives are ready for a custom case. Almost all USB thumb drives come in a case that can be easily opened so there isn't much holding up your creativity.

[GorillazMiko]

There is a typo.. Step 7Remove tbas from knife case. Great instructable!

[awawawaw]

Thanks! I fixed the typo.

[zieak]

Step seven has a little typo in the title... Thank you for this great instructable. I have a 1 gig Swissbit so look forward to replacing it with a 25 gig drive in the next few years. I actually had one of the 2gb fireflies in my hand when i went to this project. They were on sale for $19 or something at Fred Meyer in May of this year. Thank you again - great project, great photos, and great write up.

[!Andrew_Modder!]

ah, at first i was like wtf? why are you going threw steps to put a memory stick in a diffrent case? now i see what you did, and its great. Except i dont got one of thos swiss army usb knifes :-P

[andrew101]

this is cool nice job