Home-made wave advice please

[talonturbo]

Fist of all, I hope people don't think I'm trying to rip anyone off. But I've seen a few pics in the past of dremeled waves into Spydies. Don't get me wrong, I'll probably buy a factory waved Endura soon, but would like to wave my Native 3 and Matriarch as well (I mostly use tip down but might as well have my tip ups waved).

My question is this: for those of you who have done this, could you please post a pic and some comments on how well it works or strength concerns?

I've seen a waved Native with a small cutout ahead of the hole, there's the factory Endura with the large cutout in front of the hole, and I've seen a Matriarch where the hole became the wave.

I'm just trying to decide if I should cut ahead of the hole or into it and the (wave) performance vs strength trade-offs.

I will post this on both forums as I'm not sure where the pics we're seen.

Thanks.

 

[daverave999]

Fist of all, I hope people don't think I'm trying to rip anyone off.

As long as you're not doing it to sell them you should be fine!

I've seen a few pics in the past of dremeled waves into Spydies. Don't get me wrong, I'll probably buy a factory waved Endura soon, but would like to wave my Native 3 and Matriarch as well (I mostly use tip down but might as well have my tip ups waved).

I'm not sure how well a Native 3 would work, as it doesn't have the hole inside a hump. Might be worth trying the cable tie trick first with that one?

My question is this: for those of you who have done this, could you please post a pic and some comments on how well it works or strength concerns?

I did this with a dremel-clone and a 1" fibreglass cutting wheel. Cut for a few seconds, then dip in cold water so as not to destroy the temper. I cut at 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock wrt the hole, then took the angle back from the spine to give it more room to catch. Tidied it all up as much as I could. Cosmetically, it looks horrendous, but it is all smooth (sanding wheel) so it won't cut up your clothes too badly.

It works VERY well most of the time, but it does depend on the pocket shape and material in my experience. Jeans are much better than say suit trousers. I have noticed no problems strength-wise. Despite its disgusting looks, it's probably my favourite knife. I suppose that's because I made it mine though

One point that has been brought up is the stresses upon the mechanism that such forceful opening could cause. I have experienced no loss of security in lock-up or any noticeable change in the way it feels to open, etc. without using the wave feature. YMMV

With a hook this big unless you are thinking about it it will always catch the pocket, but not necessarily open it fully. There is a certain technique to doing it every time. There is also the 'how do I get it out my pocket without it waving?' issue. I find (viewing from the top), twisting clockwise before removal from the pocket will draw as if it isn't waved. Twisting the other way even in loose pockets makes it catch much better.

Considering this was the first time I had used a dremel I think it came out well. My only advice is take is slowly and keep it cool. Maybe a cable tie to hold it closed when dremelling isn't such a bad idea either

I've seen a waved Native with a small cutout ahead of the hole, there's the factory Endura with the large cutout in front of the hole, and I've seen a Matriarch where the hole became the wave.

I'm just trying to decide if I should cut ahead of the hole or into it and the (wave) performance vs strength trade-offs.

I will post this on both forums as I'm not sure where the pics we're seen.

Thanks.

Both will work, it just depends on whether you want it to wave every time, or only occasionally when needed. Also, the smaller cutout can be made bigger but not vice versa

Show us when you're done!

It works very well as a bottle opener too...

 

[talonturbo]

Thanks for the info. I've also found and been directed to countless posts on the matter. Spyderco managed to make a rather large wave without sacrificing the hole. I know I need a wave of a decent size, but am still trying to figure out which position for it (in the hole or ahead of it) will work better, and if it's worth losing the functionality and strength of the hole in order to achieve a wave that might work *slightly* better.

 

[4 s ter]

talonturbo

You don't need a REALLY big wave. Check out the size of the wave on Emerson knives and you'll find that a relatively small wave will work too.

David

 

[SIFU1A]

imho ya should just try a wire tie, that way if ya dont like it ya can remove it, most dremel waved spydies i have seen have been a little funky looking, they work fine though. a matriarch would work good for this.

 

[Lost Jaguar]

Ditto exactly what daverave999 has posted. I have done a Delica and an Endura. I admit that SIFU1A is completely correct; mine are a little homely, but they work perfectly. Pretty is as pretty does.

 

[Surly]

You don't need a REALLY big wave. Check out the size of the wave on Emerson knives and you'll find that a relatively small wave will work too.

I've found just the opposite. The bigger the wave, the more consistently the knife will open. Notice that Emerson also has made their models with a bigger wave.

 

[nico]

I made a wave much smaller on my Matriarch, and that functions perfectly.

 

[Myamoto Musashi]

could anyone post a pic on this wire tie, way of waving? I am curious how it is attached and which way it points and how much it sticks out. A description if no pics can be mustered up.

 

[underaged!]

I've found just the opposite. The bigger the wave, the more consistently the knife will open. Notice that Emerson also has made their models with a bigger wave.

I think you need to pay more attention the knife's position in your pocket. I notice it works better if you have it a bit more "crotchward" <---my word people!!!

Musashi, I don't know how well you'll be able to see it, but

I just put the tie on and slide it back as much as it'll go.

 

[STR]

With the Spyderco "Hump" the way it is there really isn't a better designed knife blade for this 'wave' mod to be done to it. I'd see no reason to open the hole and I have to wonder how much stress the blade can take after taking that full circle away. It may be a non issue but then again it could weaken the blade significantly on smaller blades like the CJ and the Delica, and especially the Salt 1s due to the larger 14mm holes they have.

I'd just keep the blade cool, take your sweet time and put a 'reverse gut hook' notch right in front of the hole much like the one done by Spyderco for the Endura. In fact if you have the printer set up to do it print off an actual size pic of that knife and trace the pattern onto the knife you intend to modify.

 

[Myamoto Musashi]

I think you need to pay more attention the knife's position in your pocket. I notice it works better if you have it a bit more "crotchward" <---my word people!!!

Musashi, I don't know how well you'll be able to see it, but

I just put the tie on and slide it back as much as it'll go.

I love the background in the pic, You better do your assignments!

 

[Surly]

I think you need to pay more attention the knife's position in your pocket

Perhaps. Or, I can make the "wave" large, and then the position in the pocket becomes unimportant.

Which is good for me, because I find that having the knife closer to my crotch is uncomfortable when I sit down. YMMV. It also facilitates my draw, as my hands are more often near my hips.