Getting sidetracked with shop projects?

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
I am taking a resolution. No more work on the shop itself. I'll only build something if I need it right away to make a knife.
I keep doing the "cool looking jig, I think I'll make one" even if I may never use it.
And meanwhile my list of knives to do is growing exponentially.

Am I the only one?
 
Just spent the past month or so working on, new grinder, then new power for the new grinder, running wire, setting up the new rotary inverter, attachments for the grinder etc etc etc. It never ends. That along with the new shelves and quench tank bracket. Now I have 2 more days before a mini show. AARRRG.. Then at least I have 2 weeks before the next show.
 
It's REALLY REALLY REALLY bad if you have ADD like me Patrice.

You know, attention defici...... HEY LOOK A SQUIRREL! ;) :D
 
An all-too-large portion of my shop time for the last two-plus years has been towards the shop itself.

'Course, what happened was that I started on a heavy tool-buying shop-upgrade program, to help production and increase capabilities... right about the time the economy took a nose-dive.

So I found myself with a little more time, but less money, too. Some of the machines ended up being cheap restoration projects because of it.

And, of course, every time I added a new machine, I had to add other stuff- new wiring, more air lines, I had to rip out workbenches to make room for equipment, I had to add a bunch of new storage for all the tooling for each new machine, and so on and so on.

Business is finally starting to trickle back, so I've had to do the same thing- cut back on the shop stuff (I'm about out of room for new machinery anyway :D ) and put more focus back on the customer work.

Doc.
 
Ditto what Doc said.

I think it was someone on a blacksmith forum who spends x amount of time Every friday for jigs, and shop projects for the last 15-20 years.

I'm not that disciplined.

Mark Behnke
 
Been there and done that. Your mind says boy it shore would be nice too have "that" and off you go! All your time and resources get tied up in making "that". But there is some satisfaction in the fact that you were able to manufacture "that" and the time that "that" saves you later!

Did you get "that"!:D:D:D
 
I feel you, Patrice. It happens to me all the time. The big problem for me is that, as a hobby maker, I don't HAVE to go make a knife. So every once in a while (all the time) I get this idea in my head like, "I REALLY need a new drill press" or "I REALLY need to get that EERF grinder finished so I can permanently mount my small wheels", etc, etc.

Now, there is nothing wrong with these thoughts in-and-of themselves; however, what happens to me is I get de-motivated to do any knife work until the previously mentioned projects are bought/completed/etc. It's almonst like I get a mid-project depression that sapps all my will to do any work on knives. That really cuts down my productivity :D. Well, that, and I'm just a lazy son of a gun after I get off work. ;)

--nathan
 
Well at least it is god to know that I am not alone in this.

Nick, I think I do suffer from ADD or SADD anyway (Shop ADD). :D I don't know if it is related but I have an obsession lately with not only making something but trying to simplify it as much as possible. Good in itself I think but time consuming sometimes for the design stage at least.

I had heard before about putting a certain amount of time aside for shop upgrades/jigs/etc... It is a good idea and I will try to do it, just not ALL my shop time. And focus on projects that actually DO help in the short term.

Thanks for letting me know there are other crazy folks like me out there. ;)
 
I am quite the opposite, I start too many knife projects and have this constant stream of fixed, folder, chef and now looking at razors. I see the need for a jig but think well if I get more orders I will make a jig, and then get busy and never do. I wish I had more jigs, but like you say they take quite a bit of time, the last I built was over a year a go, a rise and fall indicator for folders.
 
I tend to find myself torn between things when it comes to my "to do" list. I still have 2 knives back from ht that need to be finished. I have be bearings in my drill press that need to be replaced. I recently cleaned my whole shop area that DESPERATELY need it. I still have a few knives that people want me to make for them. Plus I still need to get one done for the kith, granted that is like 6 months away but it still takes me a while to get one done. I think my problem is it seems like there just isn't enough shop time when I get in there that I just become a scatter brain when I get in there.
 
:)Patrice, It's just part of the creative mind. We need to get reeled in once in a while. I can't throw stuff out because I see it as raw material. I love to build things. If you are relying on the knife work for income then the suggestion of setting aside time for non knife projects (but related to knife work) seems the best idea.
If you can figure out the difference between "wants" and "needs" it will help.
Nick, I'll bet there are a lot of us that just have never been diagnosed. But remember that it is also an attribute to be embraced. Look around at "normal" people, do you want to be like them?:)
Patrice, your shop and tools look great. If you recognize a problem you will work through it.
Have Fun!
Alden
 
I am glad I have no money! Hehehe.... I can't get side tracked that easily. What I do need is to make a jig to make the grass quit growing.:D
 
Just FYI-


It was our very own Fred Rowe that mentioned having a designated time for shop improvements. :) :thumbup:
 
I just posted this in another thread, but I got a chance to visit Karl Andersen's shop which was my first time getting a look at a true pro's work space. I'm doing shop projects the rest of the week....
 
I have always believed in plan the work and work the plan. I start every new year and plot out a set of goals, how knives, new equipment, other improvements and new knife designs to try out. I then track these each month and make sure I stay on track. The plans are not set in stone and are changed as needed buy they do provide guidance for when I look at what I want to do with my shop time this week or tonight I can get to work.
 
Thanks Alden. I do have to work on the need vs want thing. Funny thing is I don't have a problem with that with anything else in life except knifemaking/tools. Guess that's why they call it an addiction. ;)

I thought I remembered Fred saying that but wasn't sure. In his case you can see it was a good idea because he came up with the Bubble Jig. Which is sitting on my bench by the way. Haven't tried t yet because....well you know why. No moe!!! Tonight I build my last jig and I start a knife. Ok maybe a quench tank too. Oh and weld handles on my other thank...

Hi everyone, my name is Patrice and I am an addict.... :(
 
I often get side tracked, and have spent the majority of my shop time working on things besides knives. I had to do a lot of renovations to my shop to make it suitable for making knives, so that has eaten up a lot of my time. I'm finally finished, so maybe I can actually make a few knives now.
 
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