How has being a knifemaker improved other aspects of your work or life?

Nathan the Machinist

Nathan the Machinist

KnifeMaker / Machinist / Evil Genius
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Feb 13, 2007
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It is funny, but while starting out in knife making as a machinist may have shortened my learning curve in knife making a little bit, I think that my experiences making knives has done more for improving me as a machinist.

I had some small steel prototypes today that I had deburred in the tumbler that didn't finish out very well. So I applied a nice satin finish with a scotchbrite belt and they turned out great. And it occurred to me that I wouldn't have that capability in the shop if I weren't a knifemaker. And it is really useful. I can't say enough good things about the KMG.

I had to make a special parting tool for production of thousands of large, thin UHMW washers. This is a very fine, very sharp, long thin custom tool. I made it on the knife grinder and finish honed it on my fine Arkansas stone. The ability to accurately grind that tool off hand is not a skill I would have had without knife making.

A custom carbide cutter used in the production of pig slat mats dulled during the run and there wasn't a good replacement, but I was able to touch it up on my diamond stone to get through the run. I wouldn't have had that stone, or been able to competently use it this way without knifemakeing.

My list goes on and on, mostly about accurately shaping or finishing steel with some finesse by hand, but also the better understanding of metallurgy, ergonomic factors, and materials that I wouldn't have without knife making.

There are countless examples I can think of where a tool, skill or knowledge I acquired for knife making has made me a better machinist. Share your stories. (unless you're a dentist or a proctologist, then I think I'd rather not know)
 
While things I have learned from my short time making knifes hasn't bled over into my day to day life yet, I will say that the few knives I have made have really upped my self confidence in what I a can do. I am sure that as I go on with this sooner or later my real job as a bike mechanic and things from making knifes will meld together. I am looking forward to hearing how knife making has touched other people, good thread:thumbup:
 
I have been making knives since 1974. Without a doubt the best thing to come out of my knifemaking is the friends that I have made over the years. I have met a lot of people who have the same interest in knifemaking and also a lot of my customers and I have become very good friends. Thanks to the internet here. I know most of them and I will never meet face to face but I still feel that we are close friends.

I have had a couple of my knifemaking buddies in my shop the last couple of days to work on some projects and they will be back tomorrow. You can't put a $$$ value on this.
 
I now have an s30v chainsaw tensioner. A little square piece about 1/2" with 8-32 threads and a small tab sticking out that moves the chainsaw blade in/out depending on the screw. I knocked it out in about five minutes with some files. I may have made one on the bench grinder but it would not have been anywhere close to the quality that I made with the files.

I am rewiring my boat. I needed a new power block instead of wiring everything directly to the battery. I grabbed some 1/2" G10, cut a couple 6" long 1/2" wide strips of 1/8" copper and a handful of thumb screws. It looks factory made, except I can't find any made in factories. On the last boat we used some masonite and stainless bolts for the wires to connect to.

Basically, every tool or project I have is improved by my attention to detail that I didn't have before knife making.
 
The biggest benefit to me has been meeting so many people that have a like interest. I have had contact with very few people concerning custom knives that I didn't like. It is a great bunch of people whether they are makers, sellers, supply people, collectors or customers. Like David said, some of them I may never meet in person, but I’m proud to call a bunch of them friends.
 
I had just about decided that most people were self-centered and cared nothing about their fellow-man.

Then I started meeting other knife makers. I'm 63 years old and have been to many places all around the world and met a lot of folks during those years. NEVER have I met a more caring and sharing bunch of folks than my knife making brothers.

In addition, some of my customers have become life-long friends.

I have taken many paths during my life, but this knife making journey is without a doubt the best of all.

Robert
 
Me, I've started drinking a lot more! "You mean I spent all these hours sanding and futzing, and ended up with this piece of crap?!?!??" "Let's go get a beer!"

It has made me more patient, though. The slow and steady rhythm of sanding is very zen-like and I can really lose track of time while I'm sitting at the vise.
 
I started out as a knifemaker and then became a machinist. It also taught me many aspects of grinding different tools. At a cabinet shop I worked at i ground a special molding cutter to match a custom order. I was the only one who had the experience to do any grinding like that. Nathan it is funny that you bring up UHMW washers. I too have had to make washers like you described and used the bosses Burr King to make the cutters.
 
Just repainted the shed today and had to sand off all the old paint. My dad was complaining. I thought it wasn't as bad as hand sanding blades :p
 
I've enjoyed meeting with, talking to and learning from a lot of people that I otherwise would have probably never met.

I think that knife making has helped me in that I can look at different raw materials and see a finished product. (Not just materials related to knife making.) I could do this to an extent prior to making knives, but not with as high a degree of clarity.

I'm probably a bit more patient and methodical as a result of making knives.
 
A C Richards said:
Nathan it is funny that you bring up UHMW washers. I too have had to make washers like you described and used the bosses Burr King to make the cutters.
Click to expand...

UHMW can be a real pill huh. Soft and strong.
 
I am a project manager in my 9 to 5. I have alot of responsibility and there usually isn;t alot of instant satisfaction in my line of work. Its just trying to manage chaos during big projects. When the job is done the praise for a job well done go to the nework engineers and the cabling lead techs. No one ever remember the lowly Project Managers. In knife Making I get the reward at the end of every knife of seeing the faces and hearing how pleased folks are with the knives I make them. It is very fulfilling to me. I also like those above pay more attention to details, and am able to make things that I never would have made before I started making knives. I am so glad to have started down this path and trade. I have also met some of the best folks in other makers and customers.
 
#1 Is knowing that there are a bunch of guys out there who will share experience, knowledge, materials and encouragement in an effort to help each other excel.
 
Knifemaking got me an expatriate machinist job in Africa, which bought a house, truck, car, motorcycle, and countless tools for the shop in just a couple of short years...

It also improved my hand finishing skills more than years as a moldmaker did.

I seem to have more of a better quality of friend now too.
 
I do systems work for a bunch of design engineers, so the skills I'm acquiring don't directly apply to my day job. However, all my engineers have learned that I'm "inordinately fond of sharp pointy things", and that makes them much easier to terrorize... :D

Seriously? Like several other people have said here, I find among knifemakers a level of fellowship and personal integrity that is amazing.

I also cherish the knowledge that I'm on an ancient, honorable path. When I'm standing at the anvil that's been in my family for 4 generations, I'm doing what men have done for thousands of years. For me, it's a literal act of worship.

How has this "hobby" improved my life?

Short version is: I sleep better.
 
Great thread !! I am a lawyer at my day job so there is not a direct connect to what I learn in knife making but there is no doubt making knives has enriched my life. Positive fulfillment and a great break from all the negativity I experience daily, not to mention a connection to a like-minded community of makers always willing to share their wisdom and experience...when the work day gets especially challenging, I take a 10 minute vacation to visit this site and interract with some great people. It re-charges my batteries.
 
My latest was, I purchased a new handgun and did not have a holster to carry it. I really love a design that uses kydex and leather and I own one for another gun. I wanted to order one but it takes 2-3 weeks to get and costs $80. Got to looking at the holster I have and wow, I have all the materials and could make one easily. Well about an hour later I had a new holster to fit my new pistol and can use it whenever I need it. Would not have had any of this material or knowledge of how to use it if I were not a knifemaker.

And Nathan, YES UHMW is a PITA to work. Made thousands of miles of stringy chips.
 
When someone is annoying me, I can bore them to tears with facts, theories and outright baloney about steel alloys and HT and whatnot... then they leave me alone. ;)
 
I had to build a few prototype molds for a biotech project. What really helped me was being able to use non standard items and ideas (by most people's standards) to get things made or done. Reading in the forum how other's solve problems or make things or make a special jigs provides alot of inspiration. A BIG THANK YOU to all those who post here.

I made some small hemispherical molds from 0.020" high density polyethylene. I used some 1/4-20 oval head screws partially counter sunk into a piece of bamboo flooring (some of it was used for scales on a Tenacious). Filled up the phillips head slots with JB Weld, sanded it smooth. Used this for the form to shape the polyethylene. I heated and formed it just like Kydex. Made a little jig to cut the sides even and look nice.

My boss needes me to make another couple of sets. He asked me if I could bring the equipment to work and make them there. I told him that that would be too much to move. So I'll take part of Monday off to make a bunch of the molds and other parts at home. I'll be on company time so no beer:grumpy:.

Ric
 
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