Converting a wave + flat screwdriver to a chisel/scraper - mod.

[Houlahound]

How would one go about putting a sharp chisel grind on the Leatherman wave + flat head screw driver. Something I need way more than the current pry-bar/flathead screwdriver.

What low tech tools and method required to do this??

Would also like to sharpen the Phillips eye glass driver to make it needle sharp.

Seems redundant have the standard tools mention above when you have a bit exchanger. My Wave will be almost perfect for me if I can pull this off.

 

[killgar]

I modded a few of the items in my Leatherman Squirt P4 into different tools.

If the steel is soft enough (I don't remember with my P4, long time ago) you can use standard files and hones.

If the steel is particularly hard, you'd need diamond files. I've purchased sets of inexpensive diamond files on Amazon. Used them quite a bit and have been very happy with them.

 

[Houlahound]

I modded a few of the items in my Leatherman Squirt P4 into different tools.

If the steel is soft enough (I don't remember with my P4, long time ago) you can use standard files and hones.

If the steel is particularly hard, you'd need diamond files. I've purchased sets of inexpensive diamond files on Amazon. Used them quite a bit and have been very happy with them.

What did you change??

 

[Drew Riley]

An assortment of fine grit wet/dry abrasive paper might also do it, though it'll take some elbow grease. You can lay the paper on something hard and flat like a piece of glass or tile. Some light oil, or windex will help keep the paper clean and cutting longer. Rough in your bevel with some 150 grit, then move up to 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, and so on. Each grit should remove the scratches from the previous grit until you get a nice polished edge.

 

[killgar]

What did you change??

I converted the "phillips" screwdriver into a narrower flat head driver, and I converted the awl into a mini screwdriver for my sunglass screws. But that was before I started carrying a Wiha bit/driver set, so now I have several driver options at my disposal.

I also removed the knife blade and file (cut them off). At the time I was on probation and wasn't allowed to carry anything with a knife blade (not even the little blade of a P4), and the file rusted from sweat when carried in my pocket. I never missed either of them because I never used them.

 

[Houlahound]

I converted the "phillips" screwdriver into a narrower flat head driver, and I converted the awl into a mini screwdriver for my sunglass screws. But that was before I started carrying a Wiha bit/driver set, so now I have several driver options at my disposal.

I also removed the knife blade and file (cut them off). At the time I was on probation and wasn't allowed to carry anything with a knife blade (not even the little blade of a P4), and the file rusted from sweat when carried in my pocket. I never missed either of them because I never used them.

Interesting, I am considering converting my Phillips to an awl.

 

[kwackster]

Many moons ago i used to do maintenance & repair in a Leatherman service center, and i did quite a few mods like these for customers, even built "Frankenstein" Leatherman models from parts.
Think Wave models with 154CM or S30V blades and/or a different set of internals.
Once i even had some 154CM blades professionally serrated in the Spyderco pattern so i could build a serrated 154CM blade together with a plain edge 154CM blade into a Wave or Charge model.

One relatively quick way to turn the flathead screwdriver into a chiselgrind is to use a standard benchgrinder with a waxed stone wheel (a piece of candle will do)
The wax will keep down the heat from grinding quite a bit, which will lessen the chance of overheating the steel and also allow you to hold the part with bare hands.
Still, keep a bucket of water nearby for dunking the part when necessary.

Using the steel guide on the grinder, grind intermittently (check often) until you're almost there (don't grind into a burr), and do the rest by hand on a stone (or on a Tormek machine like i did)
If you don't have access to a grinder you can also clamp the flathead on the edge of a workbench (a C-clamp or even a screw works well for this), and do the rough work with a cheap Chinese diamond file (put some WD40 oil on it's surface) and the refining steps on a finer diamond plate and/or stone.

 

[Houlahound]

Many moons ago i used to do maintenance & repair in a Leatherman service center, and i did quite a few mods like these for customers, even built "Frankenstein" Leatherman models from parts.
Think Wave models with 154CM or S30V blades and/or a different set of internals.
Once i even had some 154CM blades professionally serrated in the Spyderco pattern so i could build a serrated 154CM blade together with a plain edge 154CM blade into a Wave or Charge model.

One relatively quick way to turn the flathead screwdriver into a chiselgrind is to use a standard benchgrinder with a waxed stone wheel (a piece of candle will do)
The wax will keep down the heat from grinding quite a bit, which will lessen the chance of overheating the steel and also allow you to hold the part with bare hands.
Still, keep a bucket of water nearby for dunking the part when necessary.

Using the steel guide on the grinder, grind intermittently (check often) until you're almost there (don't grind into a burr), and do the rest by hand on a stone (or on a Tormek machine like i did)
If you don't have access to a grinder you can also clamp the flathead on the edge of a workbench (a C-clamp or even a screw works well for this), and do the rough work with a cheap Chinese diamond file (put some WD40 oil on it's surface) and the refining steps on a finer diamond plate and/or stone.