Deepening Nail Nick

traumkommode

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Any suggestions for how to do this without a Dremel? Might not be a viable option, but figured I'd ask. I have a small knife with a pen secondary blade and the nick on that one is just shallow enough that it makes what should be a perfect 5 pull act like an 8 or 9 sometimes. It's a Case, tru-sharp so the steel isn't super hard.

Thanks!
 
Just off the top of my head, but perhaps a dremel with a very small engraving attachment. Or a thin cutting wheel.

That, and a really steady hand.
 
Thanks killgar. Looking for non-Dremel options first, as I don't have a Dremel, and buying one at about $40 isn't really cost effective for this $60 knife. I guess worst comes to worst and there's nothing else that makes sense to try, I can track down a Dremel through my circle of friends and just buy an engraving tip.
 
I used a Dremel cutting disc in a battery drill,worked a treat.

I am a little disappointed and very embarrassed to report that I tried this, and ended up ruining the nick, thereby ruining the blade. Fortunately, it was only the secondary blade, so I just lopped it off and now I have a single blade knife.
 
I'd put the drill motor or dremel in a vise and take the blade to the wheel.
 
I'm reviving this thread because I have a similar inquiry. The specimen is a 70's Case Whittler. Lovely knife in all aspects, except the pen secondary and even the primary have shallow nail nicks; my thumbnail easily slips out of the nick and I basically fall off the blade. I have a Dremel, but am open to hearing other options before busting out the heavy machinery :o Plus, it's a 40 year old knife and with my grace, within 10 seconds I could wipe out that lengthy history

Thanks in advance guys.

Robert
 
Dremels are not something an amateur should use on a knife-ever. For anything.
 
Dremels are not something an amateur should use on a knife-ever. For anything.

Depends what constitutes an amateur haha. I've owned it for several years and I honestly think I could pull it off...as a last resort.

Do you have any suggestions then?
 
I use Dremels and flexible shaft machines every day, and I would be uncomfortable doing it.
 
You could use a hand drill but it would be really rough going and slow. Too easy to slip and mess up the knife.

I put this entire nail nick in the Openel using a a Dremel cut off abrasive disc. I think I stacked two together but it has been quite a while so you may want to practice. I went straight down into the blade then went side ways with it and raised out of the blade as I went to get the bevel part of the nick. Works pretty darn well. It is better than it looks in this photo; I was happy with it. I would forget the engraving bit; the knife is probably as hard as the bit and you wil just ruin the bit.



I hope I can get away with this link since it isn't a knife. This is a pretty decent and in some ways improved version of the hand grinder. I have one of these and it works well but you may wind up adding collets or a different chuck to fit the tools you use in it. I did.
 
stuff_things,

I didn't realize this was a revived thread; didn't read but the first post from the past; didn't look at the date.

Go for it . . . but practice, practice, practice first.

Bill D.

Dremels are not something an amateur should use on a knife-ever. For anything.

No faith dude . . . some of us "have brain" and coordination. I'm a pro mechanic but an amateur knife grinder. It was pretty easy and I didn't even practice. Do as I say . . . not as I do. (my knife was worth all of $17 brand new so I figured I could just throw caution to the wind (((((it was a work knife)))).
 
I'm reviving this thread because I have a similar inquiry. The specimen is a 70's Case Whittler. Lovely knife in all aspects, except the pen secondary and even the primary have shallow nail nicks; my thumbnail easily slips out of the nick and I basically fall off the blade. I have a Dremel, but am open to hearing other options before busting out the heavy machinery :o Plus, it's a 40 year old knife and with my grace, within 10 seconds I could wipe out that lengthy history

Thanks in advance guys.

Robert
Hi,
A pointy rock ?
Sandpaper around a piece of wood?
Some loose grit in the groove and a "toothpick"?
A diamond needle file? Or something carbide dipped and pointy?

A straight edge helps you keep it straight
Its not a lot of material to remove by hand.
 
I feel that I'm supposed to give good advice.
Certainly, some people possess the skills to do something like this- but I don't know who they are.
Heck-there are people here who can't unscrew a screw, and there are some with amazing skills.
 
I feel that I'm supposed to give good advice.
Certainly, some people possess the skills to do something like this- but I don't know who they are.
Heck-there are people here who can't unscrew a screw, and there are some with amazing skills.


I have to agree with Bill on this. I guess it's no big deal on a cheap knife, but a person could take the dremel advise and very quickly ruin an expensive knife.
 
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