Is it my imagination?

Kevin,I dont have a social life either.....Since I had stayed off the forums for awhile after being sick I didnt notice the quick turn around...

Tell me how to re-energize myself "PLEASE" I go through burn out allot myself.I know you have been around as long or longer than me,I was just thinking out loud..

I am wondering if the economy has something to do with more guys trying to find something to do to help pay bills and thus more people seeing the price of modern customs and think they might like to try that...

Bruce

butchban.gif
 
Whenever I feel like I can answer a newbie question completely and with confidence, I do. I think that's a fair payback for the tons of information I got here from you guys. I think all the not-so-newbies should do that, to ease the burden on the professor-types here :thumbup:
 
I dont see why spark should give the search back to non-paying members, im sure that many more people are buying memberships- and whats wrong with that? :D

we should just tell the newbies to read the sticky. More will catch on.
 
deker said:
Kevin, I'd be willing to bet that if we were to track these influxes of more basic questions we'd see a yearly cycle...

That aside, one thing I personally think would help (in particular now that non-paying folks can't search) would be to rename the "For the newbie maker starting out as well as the seasoned maker II" thread to something more clear like "NEWBIES PLEASE READ THIS THREAD BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS". The current title just doesn't jump out and say "basic questions answered here".

Just my $.02.

-d
Click to expand...

Decker I agree with you on that one, how many times do you see the etching or etcher question and constantly you have to direct people to that POORLY TITLED thread wait I meant to say POORLY TITLED THREAD

I even started a thread asking Dan to re-title it

This is perfect

"NEWBIES PLEASE READ THIS THREAD BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS"

and should be in bold with a ton of stars and flashing, lots of good info on even the oddest aspect of making knives, tooling and sheath craft.

So maybe someone with some pull or connections (insert kevins Name :D) can get that changed.

And Rat maybe you can post a tutorial on the lame ass search function? instead of gloating:confused:

If we could square those 2 things away......you will at least upgrade to a water pitcher huh

Spencer
 
Not sure I see the problem with the basic level questions. There are enough of us here at ALL levels to field the questions and that's what makes the community special.

Surely with all of us there's no need for fatigue.

Heck I'm glad to jump in with hints about how to make buffing safer - or about how to taper a tang

It takes someone like Mete or Kevin to explain metallurgy - much of which I don't even pretend (or even need) to understand.

If you're getting tired of teaching knife making 101, maybe it's time to take on the graduate class and let the TA's guide the first steps.

Thanks to all those who have helped guide me - and this door is open to any question - from anyone - whether this is the beginning or the end of your search.

I understand that the huge body of information - even just in the newbie thread - is too imposing to sort through for one simple answer.

Go ahead and ask anytime.

Rob!
 
I lurked for three months on four knife related forums before I posted a single question. When you consider the cycles that is enough exposure to have all the basics covered. I did not even know any knife forums existed until I bought a couple DVD's and one mentioned another forum.

90% of the questions here and on other forums are answered in Wayne Goddards books. You also have to pick through a myriad of answers and philosophies on the forums vs picking an accomplished knifemaker's "how to" DVD's or books and learning one.
 
As a new, non-paying member, I agree that part of the problem is the search thing. Even before it went away for me, I had a very hard time finding info. I'd actually just started skimming through all the old threads whenever I had a question. I've probably been through all the posts at least a half dozen times, just clicking through and reading any threads that seemed interesting at the time.

But even on the forums that have a good search feature available, there are still a lot of knucklehead questions. I think new people get overwhelmed by the amount of info that's available and just get lazy. I think it's part of the growth of a forum. As the membership expands, the proportion of knuckleheads probably stays the same but their numbers expand. :)

Josh
 
All, I can say is thank you to those who have answered my questions. The dumb ones as well as the not so dumb. I really appreciate answers from those who have experience and know how. Lot of great people here.
 
I've noticed a definate spike in new makers right around the time there is a new movie at the box office that involves knives.

It's easy to get burned out after answering the same questions year after year.

That's why I dont offer much advice other than administrative type poop. :D

Good post as always Kevin
 
Kevin, Mete, Stacey, Bruce, Don, You guys put out a phenominal amount of extremely useful information, I can see how it must be frustrating to answer the same 6 basic questions in all of their myriad variations every 3 or 4 weeks. On the other hand I have wondered some times if I was out of line being new to the forum with the amount of responses I post. I always worry about stepping on toes.
As a member who has not yet ponied up for the membership (hopefully I will be able to go platinum once I have finished paying for the replacement rear axle for my truck) I have no issue with Spark not allowing unpaid members to use the search, his forum, his perogative, I feel blessed that non paying members are even allowed access. It would be useful if there was a more clearly labeled basic info for newbies section, but I'm sure the inexperienced would not know enough to know to look there anyway.

-Page
 
Good points, Kevin. Now while you are here, I have question. Can I make a good knife from this piece of steel that I got from Home Depot?:D:p;)
 
There have been some things like, "how do you put on handles?" When I saw this, I didn't really know what to say. There are tutorials on this stuff. A little research is a good thing. It helps you to remember.

Now if someone said, "My handles keep popping off and this is what I'm doing. Can you help me?", then that would be a much better question and one I'd be willing to help. I think some new members need to at least make and effort.

-John
 
Mark Williams said:
I've noticed a definate spike in new makers right around the time there is a new movie at the box office that involves knives.

It's easy to get burned out after answering the same questions year after year.

That's why I dont offer much advice other than administrative type poop. :D

Good post as always Kevin
Click to expand...

It may be good, as long as it is encouraging, I am afraid that the new faces may find the overall tone as negative towards them when nothing could be farther from the truth. What I am trying to convey is that the questions are an indicator of an influx that we should be encouraging. My original question was really more along the lines of what is it that we are doing right to bring about this new wave of sharing, if we know that we can help it along better. The questions are nothing compared to the people, we can alter the kind of questions at anytime with the quality of our answers so long as we keep the askers coming.

SAR said:
...So maybe someone with some pull or connections (insert kevins Name :D) can get that changed...
Click to expand...

If SAR or anybody gets that impression they would be very mistaken, I have about as much pull and influence here, and in the knifemaking field in general, as the guys asking how to make knives from their lawnmower blades perhaps that is why I can sympathize with their pursuits. The only people in administrative positions here that I can safely say I have spent a few minutes with in direct conversation would be our moderators Mr. Williams and Mr. Ralph (I enjoyed a good cigar once outside the Blade show with Darrel, and finally met Mark at Harley's last spring). Powerless is how I prefer to be here so that if I start typing nonsense it is perfectly clear I will be as open to scrutiny and being put in my place as quick as any other guy. As always I insist on my facts carrying all the weight, not my name.

One thing I am not comfortable with is how quickly we refer people to things already in print and other media in the knifemaking world since this is where the terrible answers that spawn the troubling questions come from. In all my years of watching the whole internet thing develop and seeing the information available in other publications I can safely say that the internet can be the cure or antidote for that other stuff not a fall back or supplement. The internet forum gives the guy without the big name and connections that has managed to find some good information the opportunity to share it and point out that the stuff the majority of knifemakers have been spoon fed for so long has no nutritional value. Pop culture feeds us prepackaged junk food, and knifemaking has a very distinct pop culture, folks wise enough to harvest their own food will reap the health benefits. I can't tell you how much I just cringe when I see many of the well packaged sources that new guys are referred to for information when it is those sources that brought about the need for better input to begin with. These forums are hopping because we are correcting what is already out there, not advancing or continuing it.
 
I try to give answers on things i am pretty sure about, with facts, no matter who is asking. Burnout sucks too! A little shop time fixes it no prob though.
 
and finally met Mark at Harley's last spring).

That wasnt me Kevin..?

I spoke with you in e-mail around that time about possibly saving You the cost of a place to stay during the hammer-in. Mike Williams ?? maybe. Or was you smokin one of them "cigars" at Larrys ? :D

Maybe I was smokin one :D ???
 
I have the memory of a gnat, and tend to spend whole weekends at events talking with folks whose names escape me. With the correspondence at the the time I assumed you were in the crowd of folks there, sorry about that. We still need to shake hands and chat then, darn it! But thank you for reinforcing my point even better- Mark and I have never met so I am still just one of the common folk in the huddled masses here:D;) Now you also got me wondering if that was Darrel with the fine cigars and whether I have actually been to the Blade show before:confused:
 
Kevin - if i remember correctly the cigar contingent was mostly Matt Gregory, Rick Barrett, Myself and you.....

don't recall any other significant cigar types
 
This is a great thread and I thank Kevin for starting it. The thread has a positive spin to it, in that it seeks to find a better and more efficient way of helping newbies with those basic questions. Here is a different way of looking at this:

Advantages of newbies asking questions that have been answered before:
  • It is a way for them to introduce themselves to the more seasoned makers.
  • It allows them to get the correct information, because if they were to just look on their own for the correct book to buy, how would they even know which book or books to purchase.
  • Seeing the same questions asked and answered over and over helps reinforce learning. I teach bearing maintenance seminars for a living, and I make sure that the IMPORTANT POINTS are mentioned three times during the course of a seminar.
  • It allows the seasoned makers to introduce ourselves to the new makers. I think Kevin is humble, because the first time he and some of the other more well known and respected makers chimed in with answers to my questions, I went and bragged to my wife. Where else can you go, where the people that you see in print willingly help you with your new hobby/craft?
  • It reinforces the basics over and over for all knifemakers that take the time to read those basic question type threads

Disadvantages of newbies asking questions that have been answered before:
  • A maker who is considered "THE EXPERT" on a certain topic can get burned out from answering it over and over.

When I look at the issue in this fashion, I see many more advantages than the disadvantages. I'm sure my lists aren't complete, but you get the idea.

What might help is for someone to go through all of the old threads and the stickies and type up a comprehensive "newbie questions answered" thread. Something that covers only the most basic of questions and answers, etc.

One way would be to have a team of people put the thread together, with the team contributing to the actual content. Maybe we could form a team here, and put together "THE ULTIMATE NEWBIE QUESTIONS ANSWERED THREAD". This would be much different than the current stickie, in that it would be labeled in such a way that the newbie would recongnize it immediately as likely to contain HIS answers, without wading through some of the technical, more advanced stuff that he isn't ready for yet that is also contained in that thread. The content would be aimed at the newbie type questions only, and would be basic questions and answers, or basic type statements of fact. It would contain a section of advice for the best way for a newbie to start on a limited budget, since that seems to be what many new makers are in need of. Hopefully it would be a thread that can only be edited by a certain group of well established BF members from that team or added to the team later (if this is possible). In this way it would be a growing, living type of thread, without all the extraneous comments. Basic straight forward advice and information for newbies. A way for the seasoned makers to give a gift of ourselves to the newbies and encourage them as soon as they sign up and find out shop talk forum.

Anyone that would like to be part of that team, please email me at scott.ickes@timken.com or PM me here at BF. I would be willing to type up and retype up the content in a word format and email it back and forth to team members until we all agree that it is ready to be added as a thread. I could start the dialogue with the team by typing up a basic preliminary draft to get the ideas on format and content going and email it out to the team members. I feel a cross section of 4 or 5 seasoned makers would make for a great team.

What do all of you think of this idea? Good idea? Bad idea?
 
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