Knife Making

S

sctalon

Joined
Apr 10, 2014
Messages
12
Hello Yawl

I made knives 5 years ago and had to sell every thing tools and all.The reason I had to was to pay medical bills.I became disabled then as well.But I would love to get back into making knives I can work most day but some I cant.But the main problem is money disability don't pay much at all.I have been trying to figure a way to raise money but just cant get it done.

What I would like to know is do yawl think a kick-starter would work?

Any way thanks for reading..
 
Sorry to hear about your troubles.

I have actually seen some knifemakers asking for money on kickstarter, but I've only seen one successfully raise money. All the others pretty much failed to raise anything. The one who did succeed was already turning out very nice product and each backer got a really nice knife. He already had a good following and a lot of knives out there and he had difficulties getting the backers knives out, though he did eventually get them all made.

I wish I had better advice for you. I am a firm believer that if you want something bad enough you can find a way to get it, so I hope you find a way to make it happen.

-Clint
 
I'm not sure if this is the appropriate subforum for a topic like this, but I'll add my .02 anyway.

The thing about kickstarter is that you have to have a product to sell that enough people would want to invest in to meet your predetermined goal. That goal will also have to factor in overhead, commission fees, material costs, packaging and shipping, etc....
You also have to determine how fast (and how well) you can produce 10, 100, or 1000 of your widgets should the demand be there to reach whatever goal you set.
If your goal is to fund a small machine shop, how will you make your widget to begin with? How much profit will be left to fund a tool purchase or two? etc...
 
If its knifemaking, start small. Get some files, hand tools and some steel and start from there. its going to be slow going but with patience and persistence it may work. If you have computer skills you may be able to get a job to work from home. The unemployment office may have some work possibilities.
 
Several things here:

1) Fill out your profile. No one knows anything about you. Age, location, past career, etc. - these will help us help you. A nearby maker may offer help or shop use. Others may offer materials and tools.
2) Kick starter isn't a charity fundraiser, it is an investment in a starter business. It would not work for you. It would likely be looked upon poorly.
3) Learn slow. A few files and some steel are all you need.


Start with filling out your profile and lets see where this goes.
 
Take what you have and that is time.
Make what you can with limited funds but plenty of time.
That might be a good niche for you.
Extra time consuming details that some knife makers don't do because they take to much time.
You have time, that is your unique selling point.
I'm thinking mirror finish, decorative filing, texturing, maybe engraving or checkering etc.

Think like old day crafts men in times that materials were expensive end time was cheap.
 
No response?

I also noticed his first post was in reference to buying an $1800 grinder with $300 shipping???
 
Give the man some time, just noticing that your posting this in the middle of the night in less than 24 hrs.
 
I don't want to sound negative but I really don't like this type of attitude, which unfortunately is common place with some knifemakers.

If you want to make knives, it's your choice and burden, not everyone else's. I see some makers that constantly ask for money or take full upfront money etc, to buy equipment in hopes of making knives. It almost always turns out bad, you don't want to owe people a product you may or may not be able to deliver.

Knifemaking is a money pit.

When I decided to start making knives I looked at my hobby budget and basically sold off my collection to get the money for equipment, it's called a choice. Fast forward 8 months and I no longer have a knife collection but about $20k in my shop. I blew through my budget for this year and have only materials on hand, the question becomes why have I not sold a knife yet? I've gotten some ridiculous offers for my knives and have been tempted to, but couldn't because I know my quality level is not where it should be in order to take money from someone for one of my knives (I give them away now). So why am I telling people this? It highlights that I have a choice, and even though it's not easy I made the choice to spend my resources on knifemaking, I don't put that burden on others.
 
Pittknife said:
I don't want to sound negative but I really don't like this type of attitude, which unfortunately is common place with some knifemakers.

If you want to make knives, it's your choice and burden, not everyone else's. I see some makers that constantly ask for money or take full upfront money etc, to buy equipment in hopes of making knives. It almost always turns out bad, you don't want to owe people a product you may or may not be able to deliver.

Knifemaking is a money pit.

When I decided to start making knives I looked at my hobby budget and basically sold off my collection to get the money for equipment, it's called a choice. Fast forward 8 months and I no longer have a knife collection but about $20k in my shop. I blew through my budget for this year and have only materials on hand, the question becomes why have I not sold a knife yet? I've gotten some ridiculous offers for my knives and have been tempted to, but couldn't because I know my quality level is not where it should be in order to take money from someone for one of my knives (I give them away now). So why am I telling people this? It highlights that I have a choice, and even though it's not easy I made the choice to spend my resources on knifemaking, I don't put that burden on others.
Click to expand...
1000% my philosophy
 
Greetings,
Knife making is a money pit? Please don't post these types of comments. My wife sometimes read these.

Regards,

Dennis Paish
 
Pittknife said:
I don't want to sound negative but I really don't like this type of attitude, which unfortunately is common place with some knifemakers.

If you want to make knives, it's your choice and burden, not everyone else's. I see some makers that constantly ask for money or take full upfront money etc, to buy equipment in hopes of making knives. It almost always turns out bad, you don't want to owe people a product you may or may not be able to deliver.

Knifemaking is a money pit.

When I decided to start making knives I looked at my hobby budget and basically sold off my collection to get the money for equipment, it's called a choice. Fast forward 8 months and I no longer have a knife collection but about $20k in my shop. I blew through my budget for this year and have only materials on hand, the question becomes why have I not sold a knife yet? I've gotten some ridiculous offers for my knives and have been tempted to, but couldn't because I know my quality level is not where it should be in order to take money from someone for one of my knives (I give them away now). So why am I telling people this? It highlights that I have a choice, and even though it's not easy I made the choice to spend my resources on knifemaking, I don't put that burden on others.
Click to expand...

wow, sounds like me :-) I thought I was the only one! lol

sold my collection, haven't sold a knife yet, "my quality level is not where it should be "
we are twins :-)
this was actually very comforting to read, thank you
 
If there is a makerspace anywhere within driving distance of you, I would contact them and see what kind of equipment they have. The one I belong to has blacksmith equipment, welding equipment, a woodshop, etc. If you can find something like that, your only cost would be the monthly membership fee and the cost of your steel.
 
Mike, I really feel what you;re saying. I made my first knives around 17-18, and in an area where handmade is a big deal, i got a lot of offers. But I knew the quality wasent up to it yet. Thats one of the major reasons i sell handle scales. While i might not be the best knife maker, I am very knowledgeable about woods and can be POSITIVE my clients are getting only high quality products. In truth, my wood selling supports my knife making habit!
 
I may be wrong, but I'm not sure OP was asking for ways to get handouts/charity, just some ideas on how to afford some shop upgrades with a currently limited income. There are a couple of well known ways to ask for handouts via the interwebs, and kickstarter really isn't on that list, so I assume he's trying to earn the money.

At any rate, OP, it would be helpful to know a little more about your disability, I.E, does it inhibit you from using a file, or doing a lot of labor intensive hand work?

Also, what resources are currently available to you? Do you ANY tools? What kind of knives did you previously make? What kind are you planning on making?

The suggestion for a maker space is a good one, or alternatively, if you know somebody else with a shop that might allow you to work in it from time to time, you may be able to make a few knives to fund some future purchases.

If making extra income and buying a shop were easy, we'd all have full blown CNC machine shops with the latest and greatest of everything else. Heck, if I had a million dollars I wouldn't be able to buy everything I'd like to have. That said, you can still get started making knives for as little as $40 or $50 bucks, it just all depends on what you're able to or want to do.
 
Sorry for the post didnt mean for it to go this way.Thanks for the replies I never asked for a handout just some info.
Thanks very much
Brian Davis
 
No need for apologies. There are plenty of us willing to provide you with more info/help/advice, but it would help to have a little more info from you as well.
Fill out your profile for starters, and share a little bit more about yourself and the knives you used to make.
 
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