Zip Tie Wave?

Z

znapschatz

Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
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Once in a while I come across mention of "waving" a Spyderco blade hole with a zip tie. How is that done, please, with what size tie, and how effective is this rig? I would like to experiment before investing in the Emerson version, if possible.
 
You take a zip tie and put it on the blade through the hole. Pull it as tight as you can, with the plastic lock thingy on the back part of the blade so it sticks out. Clip the excess strapping off as close to the lock as you can, and maybe use an emory board to smooth down the sharp corners where you cut if you need to. That's it. Use it like you would a wave. Don't use this on knives that have a sharpened back edge, unless you like only being able to count to 7 or 8 on your fingers. Ask me how I know that. (Cough, cough, sharpened the back of a mantis Kerambit and sliced several fingers, cough...)

-Mb
 
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I'd also recommend a drop of super-glue (doesn't make it any harder to remove, just clip it off) to keep it tight (when we mean, tight, it shouldn't be able to budge at all).

that said, it would be better in the long run to just get a waved folder (or wave one yourself) ;).
 
The_Monkeyboy said:
You take a zip tie and put it on the blade through the hole. Pull it as tight as you can, with the plastic lock thingy on the back part of the blade so it sticks out. Clip the excess strapping off as close to the lock as you can, and maybe use an emory board to smooth down the sharp corners where you cut if you need to. That's it. Use it like you would a wave. Don't use this on knives that have a sharpened back edge, unless you like only being able to count to 7 or 8 on your fingers. Ask me how I know that. (Cough, cough, sharpened the back of a mantis Kerambit and sliced several fingers, cough...)

-Mb
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The only dealings I ever had with zip ties was cutting them off stuff.
Don't they come in different sizes? Are you referring to the most common size, or a larger one?

senoBDEC said:
I'd also recommend a drop of super-glue (doesn't make it any harder to remove, just clip it off) to keep it tight (when we mean, tight, it shouldn't be able to budge at all).

that said, it would be better in the long run to just get a waved folder (or wave one yourself) ;).
Click to expand...

Probably right, but in the short run, I want to play around with the idea to see if it has enough appeal for me to get more serious.
Thanx for the help.
 
I just used one that happened to be lying around. The knobbie thing at the end was probably less than 1/4 inch square. Try out a couple of sizes and see what works best for you. My favorite kind of knife to put this on is a Kerambit. You just hook your finger in the loop, and pull it out. Even the S&W ones work well with this trick.

-Mb
 
If you want to try a wave and aren't ready to take the plunge w/ an Emerson, Spyderco has 3 models that feature the wave, the Delica, Endura (have both, love 'em) and rescue. Give one of them a try, very economical.

As far as using zip ties go, it is a seat of the pants jury rig, there's no "right" zip tie to use. Get a couple packs in different sizes, try them with various lengths cut off and see what works.
 
rowdy27 said:
It sure makes a knife ugly-looking though!
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Oh please. How would you be able to tell on the S&W? It's already butt-ugly to start with, and has that stupid "urban camoflage" paint job. It does, however, make a dandy utility knife for opening things. And digging holes, and prying things, and any of the other tasks that you would never do with a knife you liked. Ugly knives have their place too. This just makes them that much easier to open when you have a hand full.

-Mb
 
I have my endura with a poor man's wave (ziptie) for about a year now. It works great but not 100% of the time. I think a true wave would have higher opening ratios. It is just fine for my needs though.
 
if people are spending money on something they usually would like a say in how it looks. people can desire form AND function, can they not?
 
There is no reason they can't get both. But taking a $12 knife and putting a ziptie on it is kinda like putting baseball cards in your bike's spokes. It makes it slightly cooler, but it doesn't turn it into a motorcycle. I try to avoid carrying a knife that I am not willing to damage/use. I have about 11-12 Dawsons, a Lynn Dawson, a Cook tanto, and about 5-6 more that I will likely never use. One of the Dawson hunting knives may actually get used someday, but I just can't bring myself to use the others. So my EDC is a scallion, and my hunting knives are things like Green River knives. Or the S&W or Mantis Kerambits for opening things and cutting cardboard boxes. They are decent enough knives. Some are actually quite good. But they won't ever be as nice as some of the higher end knives out there. If I spend money on a really expensive knife, it is more for the artistic value than for it being functional.

-Mb
 
Sure to each his own. That is what makes the knife world go round. :D

I am very pragmatic myself and find function attractive.
 
psy-ops said:
Who carries a knife for beauty? I mean who cares?
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i do.

there are plenty of functional knives which are also "pretty".

really, imho there are very few "ugly" knives.

and by pretty i dont mean ivory/gold/jewels/etc, i mean a good llooking knife like a emerson custom CQC6 or '13, or a BM rukus, spyderco ti ATR, all good looking knives.
 
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