Have a basic question about a bent blade

[mikekoz]

   I just got a new multitool, and the very tip of the blade is slightly bent. It was only about $17.00, and it would probably not be worthwhile or cost effective to return it to the vendor. I was going to try to straighten it using a set of pliers. Will this work, or will I just break the tip off? The blade is made out of 3cr13 steel if that helps anybody. This defect probably would have no effect on the usability of the blade, but it is bothering me nevertheless!!! Thanks to anybody that can give me any advice!

[AimlessWanderer]

If it doesn't break, it will probably still weaken it - plus there's a good chance you'll not properly realign it again anyway. It it breaks, you'll need to regrind the tip ... so why not do that first and save yourself some intermediate agro ... or it it's not hurting function, live with it as it is

[MultiMat]

I have had some luck with bent blade tips, I try putting the blade in a vice , if it is really badly bent this helps straighten it a bit. I then place the blade on a perfectly flat surface & try tapping the bend out with a very small hammer , flipping the blade over & tapping each side.

But like Al said above there is a good chance you will have a weakened blade tip , I think I have broken 2 blade tips trying to straighten them, one was a LM Mini that I had gotten 95% straight  (could not just leave it be ) & a Aussie Army Swisstool , I used a too big hammer on it    

I think the pros heat the blade up , straighten it & then re-temper the blade 

[jzmtl]

I would just take pliers to it, since as you said it's not worth it to exchange another, the worst can happen is it breaks and you regrind the tip.

[Aloha]

I have a SAK that has a bent blade and I've just let it be.  While it sucks it would suck even more broken.  I understand this is not advice on how to "fix" it but sometimes the best thing to do is, nothing.  Good luck. 

[mikekoz]

   Thanks everybody! I emailed Amazon to see if they would do an exchange without me having to pay return postage (unlikely!). The thing to do though, as some of you have stated, is to just leave it be and live with it. I was not expecting a whole lot from it anyway, but it still looks like a great deal for the dollar!

[CanadianLMfan]

$17, 3cr13 steel, it was a Gerber Dime, wasn't it?

[mikekoz]

$17, 3cr13 steel, it was a Gerber Dime, wasn't it?

     Actually, it is a full sized multitool made by Valtev. Amazon actually is offering me 40% back on it because of the defect, and I am going to take them up  on it. This is one of the few inexpensive multitools I have bought where all of the tools lock! It is no Leatherman, but for the price seems very solid!