can it be done? how? does and don'ts.

have two fillet knives, both carbon steel blades.

also have a knife that the blade broke off and i'd like to "round nose" it.

thanks for your input.

charlie

charlie
IMO, I would keep the blade as cool as posible, if you don't you will soften the edge, i would do it bare handed so you can fill the heat in the blade, it looks like you have 3 knives, so try one, if it works great if not you still have 2 knives left.
good luck
dana

Easy to do.  Cut it off with dremel tool, zizz wheel, or angle grinder.  Like Dana said, keep it cool.  Dip in water before it starts turning colors.  Use dremel tool with tootsie roll drum sander bits, and clean it up.  Finish with files and sandpaper.
Dan

And put tape along the edge before working with it.  Too easy to "mess up" and get hurt.  Dan

OR if you have a forge, just re-grind to what ever you want.  Then re-do the entire quench/heat treat process and cleanup...Doc

is carbon steel hard to drill thru?

Easy to do.  I've redone a bunch of the kitchen knives for my Sportsmen's club.  Go slow, cut and grind barehanded and if it starts to even feel warm dip it in cold water.

Dan's advice is critical!  Tape the edge before you start working with it!!!

If you're talking about drilling for a pin in the tang, then it all depends on if the tang was hardened or left soft.  I always leave my tangs soft, so it's relatively easy to drill.  If it was hardened and tempered with the blade it's going to be more difficult to drill through the hard steel.

Shortening a blade is easy. The way I have done it in the past is to use my knife as a screw driver or a pry bar. It's quick and easy.  

"Tootsie Roll" Sanders... LOL!!      

I shortened up a couple old kitchen blades,cut off enuogh to make paring knives from the tips.I didnt want to re temper after drilling so I bought a couple straight flute,solid carbide drill bits.they arent cheap,but they drill through some hard metals.I think I ordered mine through MSC.

If you want to drill thru the handle.  Just grip the blade in a pair of vice grips.  Hold the blade in a bucket of water and slowly heat the tang until it turns light blue.  Hold it there until the tang is cool and you can drill right thru it.

Thats actually alot better than the way I did it,because it leaves the tang less brittle.But I didnt think it through that well at the time.
Robert