Can a nail nick be put on a finished knife?

[sceva]

can a nail nick be added to a finished knife so that it looks good and correct? I have a Canal Street ring opener that is my current EDC knife and it would be nice to have a small, unobtrusive, nail nick. While it opens ok with the ring I would like to have the option of opening (the blade only, not the nail file) wiet a nick also. I wonder if Canal Street could do this for me?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

It can be done with a milling machine and a carbide mill.

 

[kvaughn]

CAREFULLY with a Dremel tool?

 

[James_Terrio]

CAREFULLY with a Dremel tool?

I wouldn't try that on a knife I liked very much. I use a Dremel almost daily and still wouldn't trust myself to do that job on a hardened/finished blade...WAY too easy to goof it up. MAYBE if you had the knife and Dremel firmly braced... nah forget it, I think Bill is right, a mill/carbide bit would be the proper tool. Call a local machine shop or knifemaker and ask for a quote.

 

[richard j]

a small diamond wheel mounted in a mill might work better. a carbide end mill would need to be very small diameter to leave a square edge for it to work right without slipping. if you cant find someone to do the job i have access to a mill and a diamond wheel that would be about the right size and thickness.

 

[skybone]

seperating disc in a Dremel would be fairly easy ,just hold both knife and tool steady

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Skybone-try it before you recommend it! It's not as easy as you think.

 

[rpttrsn]

Do as Bill or Richard advised. It would be the best way to go, unless you don't care about an OOP's "*#>:'`&%? " on your knife. It can happen that fast.

 

[skybone]

Skybone-try it before you recommend it! It's not as easy as you think.

I know how easy it is! I don't use a cheap Dremel, but with a quality flex-shaft mach. and a seperating disc ,I could teach you that there is more than one way to "think"! Consider who you might be addressing, before you assume that person is as incapable as you may be! We're talking about a fingernail groove , not rocket science!

 

[skybone]

can a nail nick be added to a finished knife so that it looks good and correct? I have a Canal Street ring opener that is my current EDC knife and it would be nice to have a small, unobtrusive, nail nick. While it opens ok with the ring I would like to have the option of opening (the blade only, not the nail file) wiet a nick also. I wonder if Canal Street could do this for me?

By the way, any collector value (as I understand this is a new knife $115.00) this knife may develop, will be reduced, if you alter it! Even if you use mills or any other precision tools the end result is the same.

 

[sceva]

Thanks for all of the input. While I am aware that the collector's value would be lowered this is my EDC knife not a drawer queen. ( even though it is one of the burnt stag 2006 Blade Forums knives) I do protect it with one of AG Russel's nice pouches though.
I don't believe that I will attempt this myself as, if it's done, I want it to look good and not like a hack job. Still waiting to receive an answer from Canal Street ( I e-mailed once before with a question and never did receive a response - maybe they don't like communicating with customers) If I decide to go ahead I may contact Richard or Bill but I will probably leave well enough alone.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Skydog
I'm quite sure I'm just a rank amateur compared to you. Where can I get one of those fancy "flex shaft" machines? And can you explain how to use it? And just whom MIGHT I be addressing?

 

[richard j]

i have a flex shaft for my dremel tool and diamond wheels the size of a quarter. i would much rather have it done on a mill than trust holding the flex shaft and blade steady. even if i had the blade clamped in a vise it would be hard to cut the notch to an even depth and make it look good.

 

[Kiah]

Skydog
I'm quite sure I'm just a rank amateur compared to you. Where can I get one of those fancy "flex shaft" machines? And can you explain how to use it? And just whom MIGHT I be addressing?

That cracked me up.

Um skybone, you might wanna consider who you're addressing.

 

[skybone]

Skydog
I'm quite sure I'm just a rank amateur compared to you. Where can I get one of those fancy "flex shaft" machines? And can you explain how to use it? And just whom MIGHT I be addressing?

OH NO! MR BILL!!!! It's not as easy as turning knobs and pushing buttons on a mill, but someone with a little dexterity can indeed use a flex-shaft to perform this task. I've been using one for 30 yrs. so maybe thats why it seems so simple to me. You can find one here.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I'll have to see if I can develop some dexterity.
Thanks for the tips. :jerkit:

 

[flashlife]

I recommend doing it the way the Egyptians did, using a copper chisel and a stone mallet...after all, it worked for the pyramids...

 

[richard j]

good reply bill, you gave me a good laugh this morning :thumbup: . skybone, kiahs gave you some good advise. bill is good at what he does.

 

[Cougar Allen]

Consider who you might be addressing, before you assume that person is as incapable as you may be!

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Consider who you might be addressing, before you assume that person is as incapable as you may be! We're talking about a fingernail groove , not rocket science!

Destined to become a classic! We're talking about one of the most interesting and informative members of Bladeforums, not a new guy with an inflated sense of self-importance.