Knifemaking burnout

B

Bufford

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Mar 13, 2006
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Does anyone else go through phases of knifemaking burn out?

Last year I made a dozen fixed blades including leather sheaths, but this year I have only managed to rough out two. I have been doing other jobs around the house including refurbishing the deck with new planking, but that has been slow going too.

I also havn't been feeling great either, I live with Chron's disease, and this knocks the life out of me from time to time, but usually I get some time in, in the shop, but this year its been a no go. Havn't been to the remote cabin in two months, and have no real desire to go until the flies settle down some more. Doc has me schedualed for a CT scan in a couple of months to see what gives.
 
Not so much of "burnout" persay, as lack of time with my other projects. I've been restoring an old triumph sports car, and that's taken ALL of my shop time since last november. As a result I've only made 2 blades, and have finished neither, so far this year =(
 
I went through that earlier this year. I started making knives as a hobby for me, not to sell or make money. I loaned a couple out last deer season and they came back with a dozen orders. I got tired of making knives for other people and not myself. I am back on track with new orders now, but have to remember to make some I can play with too.
 
Yeah sometimes even mid order i will stop and make a fun one for me. maybe a chisel grind ive wanted to make or a tanto etc.
 
Yep, I get that sometimes...lately I thinks it's due to the 100 degree weather more than anything else. Just can't enjoy being in the shop when its that hot.
 
I kind of felt that way this week.

It was 110 degrees in my shop earlier this week.

I tried to get a few things done today, but had to call it quits after a few hours.
 
yep struggling with that right now. I only have a little time, so I sometimes try to force myself to go outside and work, but in 100 F heat, and huge humidity it is hard to concentrate and do good work especially when I'm not exited about the job. Ive got way to many half finished blades.
 
Sometimes I have way too many things going at once and get overwhelmed. When that happens nothing gets done including knives. Its hard to concentrate on knives when the fence isnt finished, the trim isnt painted, gate isnt done, lawn isnt mowed, oil isnt changed, on and on. Life is just too busy good health or not. I hope you feel better soon.
 
I'm so there.. I have multiple pokers in the fire all un-knife related...........

nothing seems to get done........

no knives for me.......... maybe come october :D
 
there's a lot of shit going on in the summer, don't you let it be a bummer.

Tai is my rhyme mentor
 
I used to go through periods like that. They lasted for a couple of months sometimes, and when I finally got back into the groove I was always kicking myself in the ass for losing all that time. Anymore when I feel that way, I just try to get to the ass-kicking mentality towards the beginning of the funk, rather than waiting for the end. Sometimes a new project, or one that has been waiting in the wings, is good to break the funk and get me going again. Equipment mods/upgrades can be a good project to get me fired up.
 
Summer Time, Bummer Time. Too hot, Too humid! Bad one here this year. Screws with your mind.

I was bad burnt out ofter the Blade Show, didn't mess with knives for 2-3 weeks. I'm back now, workin in the AC.:D

Need to forge, but that'll have to wait !!!

Fall hits, I'll not want to be in the shop. Oh well..........
 
Go fishin till the yearn to be in the shop comes back. Once during my 20+ years of painting
I put it down for a few years though the desire never left. Short term I call it yellow dog,
even happens when you're catchin wlleyes or shooting ducks.
Ken.
 
I have yet to suffer from burnout, too many other things to distract me, the weather does put a damper on my making though. Right now I have 6 blades ready or nearly ready for HT, but to save a bit of money I want to send them all out at once. With the heatwave we are having right now, its just been too hot to finish up the last 2, but that may have broken now and I could get the last two ready by Tuesday. While those are out for HT I will go do some fishing, maybe a bike ride or two. I get about a 2 week break when I send things out so its like a mini vacation:D
 
I find that sometimes I'm most productive when I'm procrastinating about something else. Got something I don't want to do, so I do something else I need to do. As long as you're busy and productive, you'll get it all done.

It is important to set limits. Don't take on too many new projects before the old ones are finished. Some people get so overloaded they can't do anything. It is better to stay out of that rut.

It helps to focus on the positives than the negatives. Thinking about how pissed off someone is going to be if they don't get their stuff on time is less of a motivator than thinking about how great something is going to turn out or how good it will feel when you get the job done. Stay positive, things are more fun. And you get more done when you're having fun.

There is no one more focused than a child at play.
 
Its way hot here and im just kind of doing the minimum.But thats nothing new in N.central Texas.Its suppose to be miserable here in late July.Hopefully your health issues will turn out the best way possible.That's the important thing.I have a weird deal called Trigeminal Neuralgia and im grateful for every day its in remission.
 
Yep, in the same boat here. Not as much a burnout as much as "life" getting in the way of a perfectly good hobby. Happens every summer. Creativity wise it actually helps as I am renewed come October. The only thing I don't like is that as far as skills are concerned it feels like I've lost some from the prolonged inactivity. I hope your health gets better.
 
I pretty much quit making knives from Blade 2010 until this spring. I had a very disappointing Blade last year and was having trouble selling any pieces at anything resembling a fair price and other things to get done and actually thought about quitting for good, but I didn't I had quit for another period of about 5 or 6 months early on, but that was because I had tendonitis and couldn't swing a hammer. I went to Blade this year as a spectator with no table and talked to a few folks about this. Paul Long and others told me to stick with it, but I seem to recall that the best answer came from Matt Diskin. He said that he had quit about 5 times in his career as a knifemakers, so I guess I have three more of these periods of malaise to go before I am a real pro.:D Mike barton and I have finally gotten his little 25 pound Murray hammer that has been in my shop for a year rebuilt, so I am now motivated because I can actually forge things like blade bevels without dying of heat stroke at the anvil. I am planning to go back to Gembloux, Belgium in November because I have managed to sell a few at that show in the two years that I have been there even though I have yet to bring any damascus knives and that is what those boys like over there. I am also looking inot trying my hand at kitchen knives. After that, it will hopefully be JS testing time.......finally!!!;) Keep your chin up, but take care of your health first.
 
Health can really impact ones desire to do things. After extensive surgery for my chrons disease I nearly shut down the knifemaking shop and was thinking about selling the equipment. Then one day I found myself puttering around in the shop, then the next thing was that I had a nice batch of blades in progress. The knifemaking urge waxes and wanes and is affected by a wide range of life related issues.
 
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