To Avoid Repeated Threads

[Tai Goo]

A WIP thread isn't what I had in mind. I'm thinking more of a:

Here's how I dovetail bolsters. Here's how I slot the guard for a hidden tang. Here's how I made a filing jig. Here's how I attach pommels to a stick tang. Etc...

You would have to go through a bunch of WIP's to find those things, especially since it seems that a majority of WIP's these days are of people's first knives and they are looking for advice along the way.

I'm all for helping someone else figure out their WIP, but I'm more interested in seeing things like Tai's "how to reticulate silver" and maybe one from Rick on "How to Hemp Wrap a Handle". A sticky for that is more along the lines I'm thinking of.

I have a new blog for that kind of stuff.

Tai Goo Studio:

<removed>

Anyone interested in a "blog ring" for that kind of stuff, let me know.

taigoo@msn.com

[bladsmth]

Tai, suggesting that people don't post without thinking or looking for an answer first isn't over moderation....it is good moderation.
However, posting just to start an argument is also a good way to kill a thread.

If you think you can do a better job, send Spark a note and ask for my job. Be warned - I answer about twenty-thirty direct emails/PMs a day, and read every thread posted, so be prepared to spend some time doing it. Besides yours, I get maybe one negative comment a month out of hundreds of messages. If I am getting the wrong impression, and my moderation and advise isn't wanted here, I can step aside.

The bladeforums search engine will find any past thread or info you want:
http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=01...%3Aqfobr3dlcra

Trying to wrangle and manage all the tutorials posted would become a full time job ( as if moderating isn't nearly that). If you can convince Spark to pay someone about $20/hr. then it might happen. For free...WYSIWYG

[crimsonfalcon07]

I've really appreciated the tutorials and WIP's I've found on here. Then again, I prefer to learn by searching, reading, and then doing, rather than asking questions. And from the perspective of the newbie who actually prefers to search, all the repeated questions really make it harder to find information if you like to do things yourself. And, if you're the person who doesn't like to do things yourself, and expects other people to just give you the information, are you the kind of person who will really stick with knifemaking? Hard to say.

I do appreciate this list. I hadn't heard of Admiral Steel (although a quick search, as well as a thread I saw yesterday suggest that Aldo is a much more reliable seller), and I hadn't thought about ordering direct from Crucible. One question that I haven't seen answered yet (mostly from lack of searching, I'm sure), that might be worth adding here, is whether there's a minimum order, or, for those who are really lazy, what types of steel get stocked.

For instance:

www.njsteelbaron.com

Cutlery steels:
154-CM FROM: $13.06
440-C FROM: $10.50
52100 FROM: $14.44
CPM 154CM FROM: $17.88
CPM S35-VN FROM $13.58

Other CPM steels:
CPM 3-V FROM: $17.84
CPM D2 FROM: $15.62
CPM S30-V FROM: $19.47

Other High Carbon Steels:
1075 FROM: $16.62
1084 FROM: $9.82
1095 FROM: $5.96
15N20 FROM: $4.54
5160 FROM: $13.75

All Stainless steels:
154-CM FROM: $13.06
416 FROM: $14.06
440-C FROM: $10.50
CPM 154CM FROM: $17.88
CPM 3-V FROM: $17.84
CPM D2 FROM: $15.62
CPM S30-V FROM: $19.47
CPM S35-VN FROM: $13.58

Steels for damascus:
1084 FROM: $9.82
1084 Bundles FROM: $11.82
1095 FROM: $5.96
1095 Bundles FROM: $11.94
15N20 FROM: $4.54
15N20 Bundles $31.25

Tool Steels:
D-2 FROM: $12.93
L-6 FROM: $40.80
O-1 FROM: $4.20
W-1 FROM: $4.50
W-2 FROM: $21.52

www.texasknife.com

15N20 Hi Contrast
440C
ATS34
D2
CPM (sometimes in stock)
Unspecified forging steels
O1

Damascus and Mokume:
Chad Nichols Carbon Damascus
Chad Nichols Stainless Damascus
High Carbon Damascus
Mokume by Mike Sakmar
Mosaic Damascus

http://www.knifemaking.com (Jantz)

Stainless Steels:
440C, 154CM, CPM154, CPMS-30V, CPMS-35VN, CPMS-90V, BG42, Cowry X and Cowry

High Carbon:
D2, O1, A2, 1095, 5160 and 15N20

Damascus and 2% Nickel 15N20 for damascus also available.

http://usaknifemaker.com/

Damascus:
Varieties by Chad Nichols, Delbert Ealy, Robert Eggerling, and Tony Metsala

Stainless Steels:
12C27
154CM
410
416
440C
CTS-XHP
CPM M4
CPM S90V
CPM 3V
CPM D2
CPM S35VN
CPM154
D2
Elmax
14-4CrMo
BG-42
DT20CV
M390

Forging Steels and Others:
1080
1095
15N20
52100
Cru-Forge V
O1
W2
Wrought Iron

Okay, out of time for now.

I'll try to finish listing the others later when I have more time...

[jawilder]

Stacy, I hope you didn't think I was suggesting you do a bad job. I know that you have a lot on your plate; honestly, maybe too much. I don't know why we don't have two ACTIVE moderators in shoptalk. By the way, what does Mark Williams moderate?

As far as the work involved in creating a tutorial section, I don't think we need to go through the archives to bring up old posts. We could just add a link to a Tutorial sticky as they become available. If someone DID want to take the time to search the archives, more power to them.

[watercrawl]

I feel awful that it seems my post is the start of this negativity.

My points are made above and should, in no way, suggest I question any one's motive, skills, etc. They are only my opinions and should not be read into. Just trying to offer my opinion.....sorry if it started something.

[Tai Goo]

Nothing personal Stacy, but I think the role of a moderator should be primarily to keep things civil and fair,... and to encourage questions, comments and discussion.

… I’m not after your job, just saying…

[Robert Dark]

As for all the great makers that no longer come and post here, just talk to a few and it will become very apparent it has nothing to do with the Newbies asking questions.

You are so right. And besides, everybody was a newbie at one point or another.

Robert

[Robert Dark]

By the way, what does Mark Williams moderate?

Mark's last post was: 07-16-2011 06:30 AM

Maybe he is doing some behind the scenes moderating that we are not aware of. Last time I saw Mark, he was having some health problems, so now, maybe we are left with just one sheriff in town.

Anyone heard from him lately? He is a hell-uva guy and I miss seeing him around.

[Mace]

I knew it wouldn't be long before someone came in to prove my point of the direction this forum has gone. You don't have to ask any maker that used to frequent here what the issues are...eventually it will pop in and say hi. (and then edit).
Again...to try and stay focused on the original post which was trying to cut down on the number of posts asking the exact same thing.....Not to discourage people from asking questions.(please try and refrain from putting words in other peoples mouths...Thank you)
Mace
P.S. Stacy, I think you do a great job with all the BS that is slung your way.

[Mace]

I have a new blog for that kind of stuff.

Tai Goo Studio:

[url/tigoostu.b

Anyone interested in a "blog ring" for that kind of stuff, let me know.

goo

Self promotion of a blog without a paid membership?
Isn't that a no no?

[Vulcanite]

I might say that the metallurgy and HT sticky info is a little overwhelming. It is written by brilliant people but w/ all the discussion of various ...ites and ...toids it goes over my head. Eventually I want to internalize all those concepts but in the mean time a noob has a plate full trying to learn about the basic equipment, materials and processes of making knives.

All noob really need to know about metallurgy is that different HT processes will arrange the molecules into different crystalline structures to produce different mechanical properties, the names results of those processes (annealing, normalizing, hardening & tempering), and where they fit in the overall process of making a knife.

After that, a list with a brief overview of the equipment & processes required for heat treating the different cutlery steels. That list could be divided by whether the steel is to be air, water, salt or air hardened. Or, it could be divided up by steel type, by heat treating process. Not the detailed formulas necessarily, just overview of the different equipment/processes for different steels so a guy quickly gets a concept of what is involved and knows what things are more feasible for him with in his budget/time contraints or that should be done by HT services.

Also, those farmingdale U links are dead.

[Karl B. Andersen]

Exactly.
Let new people ask whatever questions they want.
We all did.
Repeat questions are only repeat to those who have been here before.
To new people, those questions are brand new.
If the thread seems redundant and boring to you, move on to another one.

Yes,

You need a sticky telling people to read the stickies.

Welcome to the internet.

[Vulcanite]

Also, might we post an equipment sticky for those w/ more than $50 to spend, with pictures, that recommends that a beginner stock remover go ahead and get:
-portable band saw on a plywood stand (or angle grinder w/ cutoff wheels),
-shop vac and/or exhaust fan
-a small bench top drill press and also sanding drums for it
-a belt, disc or wheel grinder (w/ links to cheap 1x30s & 1x42s, Craftsman 2x42, Jet 2x42/8" disc, Jet wheel/belt unit, Grizz 2x72, a wheel grinder and a NoWeld Grinder thread.)
-list of assorted stuff like clamps, tap magic, dykem, tap magic, scribes, abrasives, PPE etc.

And for noob who doesn't elect to outsource HT...
-a kaowool lined bucket, or ceramic brick or board forge, magnet, $20 HF weed torch & w/ PID & thermo couple
-quench tank
-toaster oven?

[bladsmth]

I'll be direct and blunt:
I can't say why all the "Great Makers" left bladeforums, as many left before I came here....but I can tell you why some left that have taken the time to tell me.........Tai Goo's constant baiting and irrelevant arguments. When I periodically clear out my PM boxes, a large number of messages have "Tai" in the header.


As far as claims of the info not being in the stickies, I have observed that since the number of folks who only use a smart phone to go on Bladeforums has increased, the use of reading the stickies has decreased. Regularly, someone says that they can't find the info in the stickies, when there is a sticky title with the info in it. My guess is that they don't like trying to search through pages of info on a 2" screen.

Tai, linking to your blog is not allowed. You said you didn't want to pay for a membership....and that was your choice. I leave it to Spark and the Super-mods to deal with.

[bladsmth]

For those wanting tutorials:

These should keep you busy for a few days
http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/instructionallinks.htm
http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/multipletutorials.htm