Spydie Hole sharp edges

[Hopweaver]

What's the best way to soften the edges on the Spydie Hole? The edges on my new PPT S90V Sprint are a little sharp and dig into my thumb. I'm looking for the preferred way to smooth them out a bit.

[mjdragonfly]

A small diamond file is what I use and I also install sharpening choils with the file or you could use the corner of a honing stone that would work just about as well.

[Liquid Cobra]

I take sandpaper, roll it into a cone shape and then just turn it inside the hole on one side and then again on the other. Don’t use anything too corse.

[gdwtvb]

I had a similar problem with the Chaparral. 1500 grit automotive sandpaper was all that was needed. Five minutes was about all it took. To look at it you can't see any difference, but it made all the difference in the world to the way the knife felt.

Grizz

[sal]

Be careful not to make them too smooth. The sharp edges re needed for purchase to keep the thumb from slipping out of the hole.

sal

[MichaelScott]

Be careful not to make them too smooth. The sharp edges re needed for purchase to keep the thumb from slipping out of the hole.

sal

I second that. I like an acute edge for just that reason.

[knivesandbooks]

Toughen up those fingers. Just kidding, but I've always felt that my sharpest spydie holes feel smoother after awhile. First thought is that my fingers are smoothing them but I think my fingers just get tougher.

[jacala]

Hand chamfer them with a countersink bit.
IOW, hold the bit in your hand and chamfer the holes a little at a time
until they are what you like.

[Sharp Guy]

Be careful not to make them too smooth. The sharp edges re needed for purchase to keep the thumb from slipping out of the hole.

sal

I like 'em sharp! I have one knife that I bought second hand that was a little too smooth. I didn't like my thumb slipping out. So I resharpened with a little sandpaper and it's much better now.

[toocool006]

I'm curious why there is such a variation in smoothness of holes across different models. If the intention is for a sharp edge to help give the thumb purchase, wouldn't all spyder holes come as sharp as the ones on my sage and chaparral? Of course it could just be my copies, but for example my ukpk and urban are considerably smoother, and my techno appears to be purposely very smoothed and chamfered. Perhaps different models just require different degrees of purchase for Sal's optimal deployment, or there are different tooling abilities and preferences between factories?

[vivi]

Be careful not to make them too smooth. The sharp edges re needed for purchase to keep the thumb from slipping out of the hole.

sal

I'll second this. In over 200 Spydercos I've had at one point, only one needed this treatment. I spent about two minutes with some 1000 grit sandpaper rolled into a tube and it was perfect.

It's a lot easier to smooth one out a bit more than it is to sharpen one.

[Hopweaver]

Be careful not to make them too smooth. The sharp edges re needed for purchase to keep the thumb from slipping out of the hole.

sal

Thanks Sal. I will be careful and channel my inner "Less is more" mantra. Or I might wait until Blade Show to see what you think about the edges before I try something unnecessary.

[Surfingringo]

Be careful not to make them too smooth. The sharp edges re needed for purchase to keep the thumb from slipping out of the hole.

sal

Thanks Sal. I will be careful and channel my inner "Less is more" mantra. Or I might wait until Blade Show to see what you think about the edges before I try something unnecessary.

Hey Hopweaver, i too agree with Sal's recommendation to show restraint. If the edges are very sharp it could be the result of a tiny burr and there's no harm in removing that yourself. But yeah, stick with that less is more mantra. Easier to take steel off than it is to put it back on. I would recommend a very light grit paper like 600 rolled around a small pencil or metal rod and just give a couple of light passes around the rim on each side. Because you are only contacting the corner of metal around the rim of the hole it will take very little contact to have an effect. Make a couple of passes and stick it in your pocket and carry it a week. If after a week you still feel it needs to be smoother then go at it again. Just my idea. :)

[The Deacon]

I'm curious why there is such a variation in smoothness of holes across different models. If the intention is for a sharp edge to help give the thumb purchase, wouldn't all spyder holes come as sharp as the ones on my sage and chaparral? Of course it could just be my copies, but for example my ukpk and urban are considerably smoother, and my techno appears to be purposely very smoothed and chamfered. Perhaps different models just require different degrees of purchase for Sal's optimal deployment, or there are different tooling abilities and preferences between factories?

I suspect it's mostly a result of how the hole is cut (laser, waterjet, etc.) and how the blade is finished afterward. Pretty sure either the person doing the finishing, or the age/condition of the wheel being used to polish the blade can also be factors as there are several models I have quite a few of, all in the same steel, and the "crispness" of the edge of their Spyderholes varies.

[Evil D]

Be careful not to make them too smooth. The sharp edges re needed for purchase to keep the thumb from slipping out of the hole.

sal

Yep. I actually do the opposite and deliberately sharpen mine when they aren't crisp enough for my liking. I find it's especially helpful when wearing gloves and I've never cut my bare thumb.

[koenigsegg]

I use the end of the UF sharpmaker rod

[gundamaniac]

I just use a bare Allen wrench with nothing wrapped wrapped around it's shaft, insert it through the Spydie hole at an angle, and give it a few passes around the rim on each side just to break any burr that might need there.

[JaseRicco]

My recently purchased Delica 4’s had vary sharp Spydie holes, didn’t like it at all.