How many do you make?

colu41

colu41

Joined
Dec 24, 2014
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This just came up in total curiousness. I have a full time job, with a family, so I can't full out just makes knives all day. I usually have time to work on them for an hour or 2 every day. A bit more on the weekend. I'm able to usually get a knife and a half done within the week. If I'm lucky and have a nice long day of working on them during the weekend, I can get 2 done.
What do you guys do weekly? Whether you do this for a living or just casually & obsessively, like me :rolleyes:
 
I finished 10 last year. Speed isn't my forte. But in my shop quality and attention to detail trump speed.
 
I've averaged about one a week for the last five years. As the knives have gotten more complex, I've also gotten faster, so the average has stayed the same.
 
i4Marc said:
I finished 10 last year. Speed isn't my forte. But in my shop quality and attention to detail trump speed.
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Quality is number one in this business. I make very simple knives too. I've made one bolstered knife, otherwise I just do simple micarta or g10 handles with liners and pins. So I'm happy to be able to finish about 6 knives a month.
 
Good question! For me, knife making always takes a second seat to other things, i.e. family stuff, volunteer stuff, and the general things that come up in life. When I make knives, it's when everything else is taken care of. In other words, knife making for me is strictly a hobby and done strictly to have fun and unwind. That being said, I look for every opportunity to hit the shop to make knives.

My shop is not air conditioned and living in Phoenix, AZ means my knife making times are limited to about 8-9 months out of the year. On average I produce about a knife a week or one every other week (high production right?). I'd like to make more, but just delegating knife making to a hobby limits what I actually produce. Most of my knives I give away or sell. One day I would like to produce even better (and more) custom knives than I currently do, but given my life's circumstance, it will probably be a few more years before that happens.

Thanks for asking the question, I look forward to reading what other do!!!
 
Cactus Kid said:
Good question! For me, knife making always takes a second seat to other things, i.e. family stuff, volunteer stuff, and the general things that come up in life. When I make knives, it's when everything else is taken care of. In other words, knife making for me is strictly a hobby and done strictly to have fun and unwind. That being said, I look for every opportunity to hit the shop to make knives.

My shop is not air conditioned and living in Phoenix, AZ means my knife making times are limited to about 8-9 months out of the year. On average I produce about a knife a week or one every other week (high production right?). I'd like to make more, but just delegating knife making to a hobby limits what I actually produce. Most of my knives I give away or sell. One day I would like to produce even better (and more) custom knives than I currently do, but given my life's circumstance, it will probably be a few more years before that happens.

Thanks for asking the question, I look forward to reading what other do!!!
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You're having problems with no AC in your shop. I'm having problems with no heat in my shop! :cool: Michigan can get a bit nippy out. Its been averaging about -20 or colder with the wind chill here for the past few weeks.....not fun....
Luckily all I do in the garage is rough cuts and hole drilling.
 
Sorry to hear about the negative degrees in your neck of the woods. It hit 77 degrees here today, good knife making weather! I actually sweated today working outside, imagine that!
 
I made 40 last year, yet I haven't finished a knife now since before Christmas. That being said I currently have 24 in various stages on the bench!:eek:

Chris
 
Hey Cactus Kid I just noticed you are in my neck of the woods (or desert as it were). I probably should have guessed that given your username :)

To the topic of the thread - I probably only make one knife a month on average. I'm definitely only a hobbyist. I've not yet sold a knife...and probably wont for a while still. My hope is to look more seriously at selling once I retire. But that's still 13 years off...I guess you could say I've got time to hone my craft :)
 
Seventeen since I started last spring. I can heat my shop with propane heaters but it's in the barn and first I have to go down there, start the heat, go back to the house for a while. It's a slight deterrent to production and I am sure looking forward to a break in the intense cold at least. Below zero right now.
 
colu41 said:
You're having problems with no AC in your shop. I'm having problems with no heat in my shop! :cool: Michigan can get a bit nippy out. Its been averaging about -20 or colder with the wind chill here for the past few weeks.....not fun....
Luckily all I do in the garage is rough cuts and hole drilling.
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...Yep, agreed on the cold sucking the motivation a bit. I have found i do a lot more now that i have a natural gas furnace in my shop. worth every penny. Still only make around 0-4 a month or so... stupid "real job" and family get in the way of my knifemaking a fair bit.
 
I'm in the same casual maker boat -- regular job, family with little kids, etc. If I'm really excited I might do 2 hours a night 7 nights a week. But usually at least 3 nights a week.

I've switched from one at a time to small batches. Right now I've got two petty knives and a gyuto in progress. There may be some efficiency gain from this but the real gain is if I get bored with some aspect of a knife or am not sure what to do about something I can set it down and come back to it later when I'm less frustrated or have had some time to think.
 
It used to take me forever to do a knife. Now that I have my 2x72 it goes much much quicker. Today I will probably finish 2 that are currently in progress. I'm averaging about 1-2 per week and always trying new knife types and characteristics of construction.
 
if the shop wasnt so cold lately i would be on track of last year of 198 completed but all the global warming. just 18 so far with 15 blades sittin on the bench gettin the COLD treatment. so ive been gettin ahead on sheaths in the house
 
I have yet to finish my first knife so I may not qualify to respond, but I'll do it anyway. I have had my steel for maybe 2-3 months and have cut out three blades. One of them is ready to treat and two of them just need holes drilled for pins and they will be ready.

I would be farther along but as I work on these first ones I have been acquiring new equipment or building stuff I need. I started out making a file jig as described by Aaron. I quickly found out I don't have that kind of patience so I ordered a Craftsman 2x42. I have also built a burner and made a 2 brick forge to HT. Currently working on (or will be on a warmer day) making a muffler or the forge.

As mentioned, my shop is not heated or cooled other than a propane heater that at best gives you a place to warm your hands occasionally. No insulation makes it tough to keep a warm area. We haven't been hitting any East Coast temps but in a holding pattern of around 0-10° and I have an ambition threshold of about 35°.
 
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