burned out

J

JasonByers

Joined
Feb 10, 2010
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106
You guys ever get burned out with knife orders? I shouldn't complain I guess because it's a little extra money with my wife wanting a baby and all but this is just a hobby (I only make at most 20 a year now) and it seems like I don't get to make too many knives for myself anymore. I'm sure most of you have had this dilemma with friends wanting knives so how did you get past it? I hate to say no to them but it's getting to be too much like work. I hardly ever charge over $75 and most of the time charge just for materials to my friends. Just venting a little guys but replies would be appreciated.
 
An old friend of mine told me once never turn a hobby you love into a job because you will start to hate what you once loved.

So with that I would stop taking orders and get back to what you love doing. Make some because you love to do it, then later on if someone wants one of them and you can part with it sell it then.
 
You could always charge more. If you still get the orders then you are money ahead and if they slow down, then you are less burned out. How much more you charge will have a large impact on which way this goes.
 
I fully respect the top notch makers that also refuse to have the terms of their work dictated to them. The blades I've bought from the two makers (father and son) out of Sweden show the value of allowing an artisan to pursue their craft according to THEIR designs. If I had tried to tell them what I wanted it would have been nowhere near as nice.

As montana guy said, pursue your passion not the profession. Don't let your friends turn your craft into a burden.

- Greg
 
I used to think that it's a hobby and I'm going to make the knives anyway so I just wanted a little extra than I had in them. But now that I've acquired $1000's in tools and materials over the years and I'm not making the knives I want to make it IS going to be a hobby again or I'm going to make back a little money. I don't think I will take knife orders after these last five. Thanks guys for letting me vent. Have a good weekend.
 
my question to you is , are these request for knives of there own designs or from designs you have already made ? If there seems to be an interest in one of your designs , next time you sit down to profile and start a few , do a few of that design . That way when you get the request you already have the blade ready to work on . If it is from there design , give yourself a lot of lead way , 4-6 months , and take it as a request and not an order . Explain it to them .
 
Simply just charge more for your knives. You will find it more rewarding if you actually start getting more out of it.
 
Always remember there are only two ways for a knifemaker to go to hell. 1. hitting cold steel and 2. not chargeing enough
 
I'm just guessing here, but it sounds like your problem isn't too many orders, it's not getting anything in return for your time. So not only does it feel like a job, it feels more like a job that doesn't PAY.

I would quit that job in a hot minute.

If your friends won't pay full price for one of your knives, who will? I know they are your friends and all, but there's no reason to just hand them free custom knives. Help them move? Sure. Give their car a jump? You bet. Give them a little something nice for their birthday? OK. But "take an order" for a custom knife, charge them only for materials, have them under appreciate how much something like that really costs because it was just something a friend made in his spare time? NO WAY.

This is just my opinion. I give away all kinds of stuff for friends, but I always make sure that it has had its chance on the open market first.
 
It seems that a switch occurred in your hobby where what were once small fun favors to turn a friend on too has turned into what you feel is an obligation. Some options are to stop now, accept it as a business and charge accordingly. Or make the knives you want to make, when you want to make them and then find good homes for the knives based on price, or friendship or fundraising donation or whatever. If some friend wants a custom one, then tell him you will teach him how if he agrees to make ten more himself to give away at cost.
 
I stopped taking orders about a year ago on my hawks. I got burn out real quick being a part maker with a full time family. So I know what you mean. I make them and then find them homes as has been mentioned. Charge what it is really worth and you will see it is alot more enjoyable.
 
Erik has it correct (BOG)
When I burn out on knives, I make 'hawks or blacksmith stuff, BBQ tools, crosses, stuff. When I burn out on them I go huntin'.
 
Haha that sounds about right Erik. My prices are pretty cheap. The knife I'm working on now I priced at $150 but it's not a friend and actually of my style so it isn't as dreaded as the others I have promised. Not to get too big of a head but I still think that's pretty cheap for one of my knives. I started out making Scagel style knives when I didn't have my own but my style has changed a lot through out the years however a lot of people request that handle design I just change the blade design so I'm not copying another maker completely. I like to work with wood but for one of my friends I used a horn from a deer he killed to make him a knife and started something. His was a larger piece that I was able to use without the leather and talked him into cutting off the crown and adding a butt plate so it turned out well. Most deer around here is not as big so I'm kinda stuck with adding the leather and spacers to make a usable handle. I try to get away from this style but its hard to tell someone no after making so many other people these. My thoughts on knife design is that most makers knives are pretty similar if forging and using wood but my scagel handles is pretty much an outright copy and I hate to charge for something that isn't mine. At this point in my life (knock on wood) I like the extra money but do not need it so I would rather make my style and give the knives away rather than do what I'm doing now. Thanks guys for the input you all have good advise.
 
I've finished my last order. I was busy to clean my previous orders and it took about a year. After cleaning my backlog finally I can work with the same pleasure once this was a hobby to me, doing what makes me happy is a great luxury, by having to produce exactly what the costumer wants is a great stress for me. No more orders from now on...

Emre
 
Just forget about knifemaking for a while. Just wait for the addiction (affliction)
to come back around.
 
I always suggest to my boss that we should increase our prices by 100% and then if we only lose half of our clients then we make the same money doing half the work. :D

Somehow he doesn't see the humor in that.
 
You can get burned out making knives that sell folr $100 or $1000. Sometimes you just need a break. I personaly believe that only making knives you want to make creates less stress and burn out comes slower , but it still will happen if you work beyond a certain point that each of us has. Frank
 
montana guy said:
an old friend of mine told me once never turn a hobby you love into a job because you will start to hate what you once loved.

So with that i would stop taking orders and get back to what you love doing. Make some because you love to do it, then later on if someone wants one of them and you can part with it sell it then.
Click to expand...

thats a fact releive the pressure,dont put it on your shoulders!!
 
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