Knife Making Blues

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
3,415
I got the blues..... I just haven't felt like going out into the garage to do anything. Its 100+ everyday for the past month more or less and no relief in sight. My fan broke down, and I just haven't been feeling inspired lately. What do you guys do to get that loving feeling back? Maybe its good to take a break every now and then I guess. I have two order to do to catch up and when I am not inspired to make a knife I usually screw something up. Hopefully this will pass in a week or two, so I can get those knives done. Thanks for listening.
 
I haven't handled a forging hammer or light up the oven before but i would say take a break or visit another smith in town.
The idea is rich within you, pal!

Good luck and have fun....the best work always come unexpected!
 
I'm in the same boat Frank. But thankfully my fan still works. I usually work a few hours in the A. M. and an hour or two at night. Just barely been able to keep up with orders much less do anything extra. I'm hoping this heat will break in a couple of weeks. This break has allowed me to think up several projects I wanna do when the heat finally does break. I got some 3/8" L-6 from Aldo and I'm gonna make a couple of HEAVY choppers. I'm also gonna make a few friction folders and once I'm comfortable with them I'm gonna start on some slip joints, Thats the plan anyway. We'll see what happens. Stay cool brother.
 
bro I hear you on the heat.. I was in the ozarks last week and it was in the '70's everyday it seemed...... unlike the 115 degrees (record breaking) it was here the day before I left..

I can't use the heat as an excuse myself........ although its an excellent one..

for me, its MANY non-knife related issues that have come up in my life that I have to deal with..

for you, I say get wet (pool, hose etc) chill out in your swim shorts and grind a little here and there... its should be enough to inspire you.. but first you must make a trip to lowes and buy a $15 box fan.. they work great.. !!!
 
Make something small, thin and delicate that allows you to minimize the heavy work and concentrate on the details. A severely specialized knife that's outside your normal parameters, whatever those may be. It doesn't matter if it sells or even if works... just do something new.
 
Frank,
#1 I hate to say this, but go to wallyworld and get yourself a cheap $15 fan.
If you don't feel inspired by knives, then make something else.
Talk to another knifemaker, if you are in a real bind call me, this has happened to me as well, we can swap knife stories or talk about anything else.
Del
 
When our temps started getting bad, 95 plus to me, I went out and got me a new industrial fan. That thing feels like it knocks the temp down 15 degrees. When I am getting the blues I put all orders on the side for a few days and focus on something for ME. It is all part of doing what we love and keeping #1 happy is an important thing, at least that is what I tell my wife when she asks why I'm not completing orders.
 
I got the Blues
I got the Bluuuuues
Its a hundred and four
Too hot to light the forge
Guess I'll stay inside
And have to bide my time
But it tears at my soul
To have to wait 'till its cold
I got the Big Bad Knifemakin' Blues.
 
I only work on knives on the weekend. That being said I work around the heat (this year it has been pretty mild). I work early in the AM and then later as the sun goes down. I am still so excited to be making knives I only get bummed when I don't get as much done as I wanted to.

David Sharp
Sharpwerks
 
I have the opposite problem, I want to work on my knives but can't for a number of reasons, the main one being that I sent the latest two that I am working on out for HT and they wont be back for at least a week. Anything else I have on the go I am waiting for parts to arrive. And we have been having nice weather here either sunny and warm or raining and cool
 
OK I agree its been too hot to create much in the shop lately except for sweat puddles.:eek::D

Stacy, I don't know about you, sometimes I just dont know about you:p:D:D:D
 
Put on a damp cotton polo shirt (heavy fabric). Then stand in front of a fan to increase the evaporative cooling. If the shirt dries out, rewet it. A damp cotton handkerchief around your forehead also helps.
 
Make a mini! It only take minutes to forge a needle file down with a mapp torch, and all the finishing can be done in the house at the kitchen table with a towel layed down to keep the mess at bay. You get to make a knife and stay in the A/C!


-xander
 
In hot weather its important to make sure you observe proper health and safety rules to protect your mind and body, I encourage everyone working in hot weather to drink more beer, I suggest a better beer than the typical light beer, it may also give some inspiration. Fan, shorts, sandals, beer..cure the hot weather blues (stay way from that hot forge with this level of protection). I also start a new design just to get the juices flowing.
 
I feel your pain, Frank; every summer I go through the Knife Making Blues. I've tried fans, an evaporative cooler, and those special bandanas that contain beads that absorb water and nothing has allowed me to be able to work through the heat. It's even hot inside the house (about 80), and that kills my will for indoor projects as well.

I can tolerate the heat reasonably well in general, but try as I might I just can't seem to make myself work in it.
 
Paul I know how you feel out there in Arizona now. Its been nothing but 3 digit weather, and the fan didn't help much before it busted. I think maybe working on something different than what I have been doing might make me battle the heat a bit though. I like the Cold beer idea as well!!! I have yet to make a hidden tang, and have some 9 month old 1" thick axis antler hanging outside. I may make me something when it cools off a bit.
 
Same here; it's been up to 105 this summer. I don't have AC in the shop, so I haven't been able to get much done lately. Ready for it to cool down!
 
I'm saying, Frank, that if you are not in the need to work, put it aside until the weather changes. I'm sure you will get feeling like going for it then. I haven't got a shop right now because of our making a move to live with one of my daughters and her husband. This is a great house and I will get my shop, but as well my wife is being treated for cancer and I too, don't have any interest in doing some work. Frank
 
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