I used to really like the show. Watching it actually got me to wanting to make knives again. Until about 2 months ago I had been out of knifemaking since 2011 so it did give me the urge to start again. Anyway I get aggravated when I see the makers choose brittle or delicate handle materials to use when they know the knives are going to be beat to death. But now some of the challenges and the crap they give them to make knives with are a little sketchy. One more thing I think is really unfair. They give them a task to do and there seems to be alway one guy who has never even done a blade using that type of construction. they should at least group the makers together with alike skills. It makes the guy look like he doesnt know what to do and I know its a timed event so there is even more pressure but how does this make him look to future customers. I mean it probalby hurts him more than helps him no one is going to say " hey I was on forged in fire and i was the first one voted off" thats not going to help you sell knives
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FiF crossbow
- Thread starter Ken H>
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2009
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- 991
I have often wondered if some of the delamination issues or other wierd problems could possibly be helped with braze or solder. I cringe every time I see them mig welding on a blade. I have never seen anyone use even a little pre or postheat on a weld. There has been more than one failure on a finished blade do to mig welding.
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2013
- Messages
- 891
That's debatable. I have only watched a few, lost interest. I might have to give it another look but the first few I watched were just ok.
Everyone tries to make it a show it's not, time, stress, failure are all what makes it fun to watch....obviously it's working as they have strong ratings and continue to put out new episodes.
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2007
- Messages
- 4,266
Just watched the crossbow episode, and I guess I'm the odd man out here: I enjoyed the episode.
I don't think the final challenge was unreasonable or completely off the wall. Sure, most knives, axes, spears, etc... don't typically have moving parts, but this style of crossbow is not terribly complicated, and I'd personally much rather build something like that than some of the other odd weapons and such that they've put on the show in the past. You're still forging, heat treating, fitting parts and pieces, etc... and making a weapon.
As for refusing a challenge? I'd love to be down to the final challenge and have my opponent refuse to participate. "Just make that 10k check out to Andrew Riley please...."
I think the 10k is pretty reasonable too. If I were to ever go on the show, I'd be looking at it more as an experience than a potential pay day. If I win, all the better, but if not? I have a life long memory, and maybe a couple of new friends and a story to tell. If the prize were any higher, there'd be less episodes, and more competition just to get on the show. I'm assuming most makers are taking PTO, and if you're a full time maker/own your own business, you're no doubt hoping for some positive press, which should give you a little bit of a return on lost time as well.
I don't think the final challenge was unreasonable or completely off the wall. Sure, most knives, axes, spears, etc... don't typically have moving parts, but this style of crossbow is not terribly complicated, and I'd personally much rather build something like that than some of the other odd weapons and such that they've put on the show in the past. You're still forging, heat treating, fitting parts and pieces, etc... and making a weapon.
As for refusing a challenge? I'd love to be down to the final challenge and have my opponent refuse to participate. "Just make that 10k check out to Andrew Riley please...."
I think the 10k is pretty reasonable too. If I were to ever go on the show, I'd be looking at it more as an experience than a potential pay day. If I win, all the better, but if not? I have a life long memory, and maybe a couple of new friends and a story to tell. If the prize were any higher, there'd be less episodes, and more competition just to get on the show. I'm assuming most makers are taking PTO, and if you're a full time maker/own your own business, you're no doubt hoping for some positive press, which should give you a little bit of a return on lost time as well.
I'll chime in... I finished second, and made a knife out of the whiskey barrel rings. I had to take 11 days off of work, but had PTO. Immediately after the episode aired, I sold 6 of the 8 blades I'd set back for that occasion, and then picked up 6 months of orders. They did ask us during the vetting process if we had any crossbow building experience. They do try and match up the smiths, and they do intentionally give a task that's at the far edge of our abilities. For example, the billet I welded for the round one challenge was only the 6th I'd ever done. Like John said, I'd gladly do it again if given the chance.