Modifying a Swiss Army Knife for the Ideal Pocket Carving Tool

The Swiss Army knife is an iconic tool if ever there was one. It's a great little pocket knife for all kinds of different situations--but how good is it for carving? And can it be made better? Well, that's what I attempted to do today.
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The knife in this video is the Swiss Army Tinker. If you want to buy one for yourself, here's a handy link for you: amzn.to/3rIHX28
And for a bit more detail on using a Swiss Army knife as a whittling/carving tool, read my full article here: woodcrafterscorner.com/can-yo...
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Chapters:
0:00​​ Introduction
0:58 Quick knife stats
2:40 Whittling test
4:19 Starting the blade modification
4:46 Removing the key ring
5:38 Grinding the blade
6:16 Sharpening
7:08 Final result
7:58 Second carving test
9:02 Conclusion
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Note that the links above may be affiliate links, meaning that if you use the link to purchase, I may earn a commission. This does not impact the amount you pay whatsoever.

Пікірлер: 50

  • @rickryan4815
    @rickryan481525 күн бұрын

    Two thumbs up!! Thanks for this video. Highly informative and yet concise. I've been carrying a Swiss Army Knife for a while, but just started wood carving. I think I will make this modification.

  • @shawnpepin7890
    @shawnpepin78903 жыл бұрын

    i ground a concave egde on the bottle opener/large flat head tool and it makes a perfect little spoon gouge..i was extreamly satisfied

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    3 жыл бұрын

    Oh that's a great idea. The Swiss Army knife just keeps on giving

  • @tomevans4402

    @tomevans4402

    2 жыл бұрын

    Good idea, carry one all the time and never thought to do that, thanks

  • @charlesmckinney
    @charlesmckinney7 ай бұрын

    This is mostly an update to an earlier post. I've had a Tinker for years and did the same mod years ago. Be lost without it when it comes to building the air frames for my flying model rockets. Mostly carry a Huntsman now days. My late wife carried a Fisherman on her keychain for years. I finally found another woman that can stand me and she uses a Fieldmaster. Hard to believe that such a lovely lady is sooooo good with a knife. Hmmmm.... I gotta remember that.

  • @Downhaven
    @Downhaven2 жыл бұрын

    Great walkthrough on the modifications, thanks!

  • @Watcherrye
    @Watcherrye2 жыл бұрын

    Victorinox does not make a Wood Carving knife that has two carving blades, a saw, and a large roughing blade. Blades that have 58 or better Rockwell hardness or 440 or better stainless steel. Just three slots (not sure what they are called) handles. that are rounded for comfort, with locking blades. Folded no more than 3 1/2 inches long. If all the carvers out there will unite and keep bugging Vicky about it, I am sure they will listen.

  • @jaisonflores1789
    @jaisonflores1789 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much I have been trying for a while to look for a pocket knife for whittling because I got adhd and I do not want to dedicate my life to it but I am going to start doing it whenever I feel like it so this helps 😊

  • @davidmorin7939
    @davidmorin79392 жыл бұрын

    Now you've done it..the S.A.K.'s are excellent woodworking tools (imo) and you sir, brought me up to the next level...with gratitude...

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    2 жыл бұрын

    Ha! Glad to hear it. They are pretty great

  • @micahwest5347
    @micahwest53472 жыл бұрын

    Nice looking blade mod. I like the fact that you selected a model without the corkscrew so as not to create an irritating hot spot after prolonged use. But might I suggest the hiker model (almost same knife as tinker but with a wood saw) would be the ideal knife for this mod for those wanting a dedicated wood carver.

  • @Genesis-dj7kw
    @Genesis-dj7kw2 жыл бұрын

    I initially wanted to get into woodworking, yet I am limited to my relatively small room in my parent's flat and have no backyard or anything. So.. because of dust, and the following health concerns, I decided ill step into something related to wood, yet less.. dusty. Whittling and Wood Carving came up, and this video was a great way to make me save a few bucks on trying it out. As someone else mentioned in the comments, I will also transform the bottle opener/screwdriver into a spoon gouge and ill turn the can opener of mine into a simple small chisel. wish me luck :D

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    2 жыл бұрын

    Best of luck!

  • @SillyMonkeys
    @SillyMonkeys8 ай бұрын

    great video, thank you.

  • @sarahsaxton7265
    @sarahsaxton72653 жыл бұрын

    This is really interesting!

  • @tomevans4402
    @tomevans44022 жыл бұрын

    Great video

  • @standswithfish
    @standswithfish Жыл бұрын

    Did the same to my Camper. Like the camper due to the saw.

  • @vtxdaryl
    @vtxdaryl8 ай бұрын

    Wow, great job. I might be able to do that to mine.

  • @johnstrayhorn5820
    @johnstrayhorn5820 Жыл бұрын

    I trued it and had great results. No complaints from me

  • @GONZOFAM7
    @GONZOFAM73 жыл бұрын

    Nice work.

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @robbowman5857
    @robbowman5857 Жыл бұрын

    I have done the same to a Recruit and a Hiker. The Hiker fills my hand better but there isn't much difference in the blade sizes despite one being 84mm and the other 91mm model

  • @beck3469
    @beck34693 жыл бұрын

    Love the tinker I use the alox harvester but I reshape the pruner blade in to your small blade. Best edc/whittler I carry

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's a cool idea. I haven't tried that myself, but I might have to now!

  • @seanblaha6484

    @seanblaha6484

    3 жыл бұрын

    Whoa. No way would I do that to my harvester pruning blade. I'm quite fond of how useful that hawkbill is. I could maybe see modding the cap lifter into a whittling blade though. Although, as beefy as they are on the alox think I'd rather turn that into a nice chisel.

  • @beck3469

    @beck3469

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@seanblaha6484 loved the pruner blade to but whittling with it will bend the tip and hit the cap lifter when closing and not whittling friendly for me so all depend on what you use it for it’s good for me and that’s all that matters

  • @MrLordMonkey
    @MrLordMonkey Жыл бұрын

    As someone else said, I feel the Alox Harvester (also known at the Pioneer Harvester or the Swiss Army 7) is the best woodworking model for sure. No tools on the reverse make it super comfortable to hold and the alox scales are much less slippery than the plastic ones. The saw & reamer eat through wood and the large blade is strong enough to flatten freshly split pieces. Just need to reprofile the small pruner blade in a similar way to the video above. They used to make an Alox Pruner ("Swiss Army 2") with just the large and pruning blades, but seems to have been discontinued.

  • @jaisonflores1789

    @jaisonflores1789

    Жыл бұрын

    And now I know of a great blade with all the stuff I want on it

  • @Frantxis
    @Frantxis3 ай бұрын

    Muy buena modificación, yo hago tallas de madera en mi canal con victorinox y creo que esa modificación me vendrá muy bien , un saludo desde el canal "Sólo tallas y algunas cosillas más"

  • @random_julian
    @random_julian Жыл бұрын

    I have a word, nothing without saw....So i choose Camper because it is slim and it have saw and for small branches it is a very usefull item.

  • @gokhanersan8561
    @gokhanersan85612 жыл бұрын

    One wishes that Victorinox sees this video and updates their mini knife exactly like this.

  • @seanblaha6484
    @seanblaha64843 жыл бұрын

    Pretty certain the hiker is actually a slightly slimmer 3-layer, as it has a saw instead of the scissors. Rather a saw than scissors on a dedicated whittler I should think.

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's a fair point. I might have to get my hands on a Hiker!

  • @moritakaishida7963
    @moritakaishida79635 ай бұрын

    Finnally, one of these tutorials withought an overpriced grinding wheel

  • @pyrojwz8299
    @pyrojwz82993 жыл бұрын

    How tf you only have 2 subs

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    3 жыл бұрын

    I hope to have three by the end of the year!

  • @Heliumcraft
    @Heliumcraft Жыл бұрын

    This knife have small handle, not comfortable to whittling with for most hand size. Also blade have no locking mechanism, it tends to close on its own when whittling or stropping, which can cut your hands sometimes. I would recommend modify other pocket knife with larger handle with some kind of locking mechanism.

  • @amyadams1337
    @amyadams1337 Жыл бұрын

    I have an old Swiss Army Knife. Time to repurpose it. I really like my Flexcut Detail knife.

  • @ehoenig
    @ehoenig3 жыл бұрын

    don‘t forget to protect your eyes :-) thank you, nice video.

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    2 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely right! Especially when there's metal flying around :) Thanks for watching!

  • @Dadoimp
    @Dadoimp Жыл бұрын

    Heyyy man! I an a total noob so i have to ask: why did you say that it missed a corckscrew? What do you need that for in whittling? Tnx!

  • @robbowman5857

    @robbowman5857

    Жыл бұрын

    The corkscrew sticks up more than the Phillips driver and can create a pressure point on the thumb for prolonged whittling. It's the same reason for removing the keyring.

  • @Dadoimp

    @Dadoimp

    11 ай бұрын

    Saying that he need a corkscrew was a joke. He does not need it

  • @alanjagroop1282
    @alanjagroop12823 жыл бұрын

    How to give more power to a 3.7v 1300mah cordless screwdriver into a 12v 1800mah cordless screwdriver using a rc lithion battery. How to convert that tutorial. So i could use a grinder blade to my screwdriver and get a more useful power to be able to cut things. Either 12volt or 18volt.

  • @ranjitkprasad
    @ranjitkprasad3 жыл бұрын

    Is that the Victorinox huntsman? Edit: sorry it’s a tinker

  • @WoodcraftersCorner

    @WoodcraftersCorner

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yep! It's the Tinker

  • @alexandrescarpitta8240
    @alexandrescarpitta82402 жыл бұрын

    Apprends à employer un couteau avant de le modifier.... 😜☺️

  • @mustamuri
    @mustamuri2 жыл бұрын

    Why you make good whittling knife bad for whittling? 😳....mayby hi don't whittling nothing...it is the worst whittling shape ...it kill free shaping...it is devil👹