how to add a notch before the edge?

[rogerxd45]

ok so on my zero tolerance 0801 ive been having issues with sharpening it.

at the part of the edge closest to the handle the edge just gets thicker. it goes from a thin edge to the full blade thickness in less than a cm. I dont know what its called but some knives have a little have circle notch right behind the edge, that way the edge is thin for the entire length up until the notch without having a section that gets thicker. without the notch ive been having issues sharpening that part of the blade. my zt 0770CF-M390 has the notch im talking about and i find its much easier to properly sharpen that part of the blade.

how would i go about having a notch put in? is it something i can do myself?
ive really good with tools and working on stuff but im not sure how to go about doing this without messing up the heat treat on the blade.

also is there a name for that notch?

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Usually referred to as a 'sharpening choil' or 'sharpening notch'. Might search on those terms for more info. I think some have added them using a file (maybe a diamond file, depending on the steel and how wear-resistant it is); that would be slower, but no risk of damaging the temper. Some have added a shallow notch with just the corner of a medium (brown) Spyderco Sharpmaker rod, used like a file in-hand. Again, somewhat slow, but it looks like it could get it done.

Edit:
This thread linked below sort of touches on how a few have done it:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1172526-How-do-you-cut-a-sharpening-notch

There are a few videos on YouTube as well; if searching the web for "how to add a sharpening notch?", a few of those will be found.


David

 

[killgar]

Wrap a piece of sandpaper around something the same diameter that you want the notch to be (wooden dowel, metal rod, etc) and use that like a file. It will take some time, but it's cheaper than a diamond file and it won't affect the heat-treat. I would probably use a paper around the 400 grit range.

If you use a round diamond file, you'll want a fine or extra fine one.

Wrap the blade(edge) with masking tape so you won't ruin your edge if you slip with whatever you use to make the notch.

 

[n7titan]

If you use hand tools you shouldn't need to worry about ruining the temper.
Past that the sky's the limit. You could even ditch the round files for a triangular file as some knives had for sharpening choils.