Got STEEL and GOOD Vibes?!

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer

Joined
Feb 28, 2006
Messages
3,494
Hi Friends,

I didn't want to steal the steel and pet peeves thread so here's a counterpart invitation. Rather than what gets your goat, how about sharing what floats your boat around here?

I dig the tolerance of our diversity and differences. We range from savants to servicemen, academicians to technicians, from professionals to amateurs, from scientists to mystics, from left wing to right wing and to on the wing. Now that's kewl!!! (No matter how we spell and type.) ;)

All the best of holy days, Phil
 
I mostly enjoy the free wings and beer here.


I've found pretty much all the regulars on here to be really good folks. (Noobs you'll just have to prove yourselves ;)). Aldo pretty much said it best when he was telling me about how the majority of the makers are when he said: "They're just not like people in New Jersey". And believe me that is a pretty high complement. :D
 
I like it when people openly share knowledge that they may have on a particular subject. I also enjoy seeing people post their work; especially WIP images.
 
I think it's absolutely amazing that some of these guys work ten, twenty, even thirty years making knives, gain a huge amount of knowledge, and then freely and happily share it.

Dave
 
I have enjoyed the companionship of knifemakers around the world. I have seen incredible generosity and been inspired to match the example of some fine gentlemen helping some new folks get started. I have benefitted from and in my turn contributed to open information sharing in a trade that has been largely dominated by jealously holding onto information as "trade secrets".

-Page
 
+1 to everything said, especially the free shareing of knowledge.
Almost all the people here are really good people. Sure a little course and rough around the edges, but I like that. Most of these people would give you the shirt of their back. Furthermore you guys help me to be a better person.
 
The knowledge shared from the experts is phenomenal! One thing I really really appreciate is the ability to help others in need. I have had multiple PMs come to me asking if someone could help ME! Using their time/resources to help ME! It was one of the coolest feelings that I had experienced.
 
+ Inifinity on all that has been said... I love the WIP's as well. learning new and diffrent processes from folks has increased my efficiency, and the Pictures in Custom & Handmade Knives sub forum has really given me a target for fit and finish.

Jason
 
Yeah, the WIP's, I have seen amazing feats of knifemaking skill broken down as nice as you please, no secrets, just inspiration.

My other favorite thing is seeing all of the great shops out there, with tools I would love to have- Phillip's new hammer, a TW90 grinder, Jason's new press, etc.

I also love the build-your-own mentality, anodizers, etchers, forges, presses for steel and for kydex, all of the little shop tricks and cool ways of doing things. All the tutorials.

It's also great that everyone is so damn helpful and bitten just as hard by the knife bug.
 
True, i like the share and share alike little things everyone posts, kinda gets you in the mood to make sparks fly.
 
I think its fun when we get superstars like Don replying to a post, and all you other superstars on steel grinding and forging as well.
 
As a beginning knifemaker I have appreciated the way experienced makers on this forum have always been willing to offer advice and help when asked. Some of the best makers in the world participate in this forum. Ask any one of these guys a question and show a modicum of effort/forethought and they will answer it. The amount of knowledge available here on knifemaking is astounding! Some people are not great spellers. In fact, a lot of very talented mechanically inclined people can spell good at all. I know, I work with some of them. You don't need to be a good speller to be a good knifemaker. But, If you are putting up a knife for sale, I suggest you at least use spell check. I've seen makers (try) to sell knives with posts that contain terrible grammatical errors.
 
Other then the shared knowledge, I highly appreciate the obvious camaraderie. I am a mod on a foreign legion site, and believe me that not everybody is as nice with noobs as the people on here. Now you may say that one shouldn't be too surprised if the tone on especially this kind of forum is a little rougher. But then, I am also a member on a harley forum, and the guys there aren't much better. Internet tough guys all over the place. Here, people are just nice. Nobody want to be the best, kinda "my grinder can beat the crap out of your grinder" type of thing.
 
BF is a you-can-do-it-all-here kind of place. You can....

  • learn knife making methods and techniques
  • learn what tools and equipment to use
  • learn how to make those tools and machines
  • and learn how to use them
  • learn about steel and titanium and copper and brass and, well you name it, just about any material you can think of
  • you can buy, sometimes trade, sometimes get given your materials and supplies here or from folks you meet here
  • you can get critiques and suggestions as to how to improve your work
  • to top it off, you can turn around and sell your creations here too!!!
What's not to love?!
 
I love it here and I don't even make knives.

All of the techniques and tools are transferrable to my other pursuits, so it's all good for me.
 
What I think is great , is when you see makers buying and raving about other makers knives. None of that chest thumping , holier than thou , better than thou , etc just people sharing their appreciation of another persons craftsmanship.
 
I think it's amazing you can log on and find information from true experts like Russ Andrews, John White, Don Hanson, Kevin Cashen...
(just to name a few).

You can build a reputation from the ground up starting on the forums (or wreck one! lol).

You can see guys go from their first knife (or close to it) to seemingly overnight achieving great status... Kyle Royer and Stuart Branson anyone??? :)

There's lot of things I like about this place Phil! :thumbup: :cool: :D It's just a lot easier to bitch about stuff than it is to compliment somebody!!! ;) :D LOL (just kidding.... sort of ;) ).
 
Phil Dwyer said:
BF is a you-can-do-it-all-here kind of place. You can....

  • learn knife making methods and techniques
  • learn what tools and equipment to use
  • learn how to make those tools and machines
  • and learn how to use them
  • learn about steel and titanium and copper and brass and, well you name it, just about any material you can think of
  • you can buy, sometimes trade, sometimes get given your materials and supplies here or from folks you meet here
  • you can get critiques and suggestions as to how to improve your work
  • to top it off, you can turn around and sell your creations here too!!!
What's not to love?!
Click to expand...

and get to know some great people a lot better.
 
Not only is there more information here than in my knife making books, everyone is helpful and easy to get along with.

Plus, how many forums have the very best of the best giving advice, it would be like if a guitar forum had Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page as contributing members!
 
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