Let's make a "How To" Site

C L Wilkins

C L Wilkins

Joined
Mar 18, 1999
Messages
2,112
We see all over the internet on sites such as Bruce Evans, Terry Primos, etc. and different host sites on how to do this and how to do that. Conceptually, what if there was a "Super Site" with most all the instruction that a person would need? There has been limited attempts at doing this but nothing really in just one place.

We put our heads together a few years ago and came up with a supplier's list, why can't we do this? There could be step by step stock removal, forging, sheath making, etc.

Think about it...

C Wilkins
 
Let me preface this with a disclaimer: I am not a knifemaker, but I feel that my experience as an industrial tool designer gives me some insight.

One of the toughest parts of my job is discerning what a toolmaker wants. Differences in experience, materials, tooling and machinery mean that each toolmaker I have worked for has liked different methods of manufacturing and construction for their tools. Some have had bad experiences with certain purchased components. Some have gotten used to other off the shelf parts. Some have worked out the proper machining feeds, speeds and heat treatments for specific materials. Some have very basic equipment while others have the latest high tech machinery. In short, each one knows a different way to build a tool that they believe is the best way of doing it. And they are all right! (at least the good ones are.:p )

I am sure that as you go through different knifemakers procedures you will find differences and even outright contradictions. These are the procedures that they have worked out for themselves based on their equipment, methods, materials and experiences. Yes, there will be a lot of common ground, but there will be a lot of differences as well.

What I am saying is that, rather than have one big site that catalogues every technique under the sun, it is worth viewing the information in context to the person who generated it. A site that links to various maker's info pages might be more useful. It might also be usefull to have a site that compares and contrasts different methods based on techniques and equipment.

I am sure you already know, but this would be a huge job.;)
 
I like the idea, Bruce EVANS tutorials are fantastic.

I also think an index of links to existings sites would be a way to go.
It would give the credit to the person who has done all the work and give exposure to his other work. I'm not sure of the traffic it would generate but with the recent upgrades BLADE FORUM have needed to cope with heavy usage it may also have less impact on thier system to link to other data bases.

Good luck
 
This is what I've been trying to do here
http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html
it's been hit over 4700 times so someone is using it.
it's working with the help of the ones that made the tutorials
but as you say CL needs more.

A few problems I've found so far
one big one is Time to tend to it.
and as said above, web space, it will at some time become a problem
if a fee of a kind isn't paid.

and getting guys to chip in their time and info.
I've been hosting this one myself and isn't a problem yet.
but with the pictures adding up some time it will be a problem.

I like the idea and I'm all for it. linking is good, to others sites,
but only good if they keep it up on the net.

I'm game to add to mine/ours but I am behind as is in
adding new stuff to it.
got to make a living here too.:( sad to say.

look at it and see what can be done different if need be.
it would be nice if someone could format stuff in HTLM
and could just add it as is.
and someone to do research, I can't spell worth a hill of
beans so it takes me forever to type stuff .
I'm interested what you guy have to say.
 
Great idea guys, would need to be a big site with plenty of bandwidth, Dan's had loads of hits on his & that's just the people that know about it. Start getting other makers involved & the audience base shoots up incredibly, consequently so do the hits:eek:

It'd take a lot of work, mind you, loads of it's already there, why not just a link database a la CL's supply d/base, that wouldn't be near as much work.

& like Dan says, gotta make a living & for most that means making knives, not hosting a website. Even as a part timer there isn't enough hours in the day...

just my 2p worth :)
 
Collin,
I agree that it does not have to be ONE BIG SITE but as you stated it could have links to other sites and pages. We need to do research to see what's available now.

C Wilkins
 
ON the site I have links also and that works well
I'll have to set up an index to start with On this site I
should anyway to make it better for when it gets bigger.
I can host a lot of links
and have more Ideas on how.
My host doesn't count band width right now.
but I'm limited on the site for space.
any more ideas?
 
I own a few unused knife-name domains and would be willing to put up the hosting & design for such a beast of a tutorial site.

Only caveat: I would need someone else to manage the incoming content (coordinate the different articles with the knifemakers) but as far as the web design goes - I can do the rest.

4700 ain't bad for a knife site, but the marketing I do for my other start-up websites comes in at 500-600 visitors (not hits) per month. **not boasting, btw** just trying to say that I can handle whatever bandwidth y'all need.

I've got plenty of space and I'm willing to do it.

Just let me know what you'd like me to do.

Dan
 
What about a link site. A site that links to existing information and also, within itself, contains new information as it is created - while contained within the site space appearing as a link just like all the rest. For example: Existing good material would be linked to and newly created material could be resident within the site but too appears as a link so as to preserve a consistancy in operation to the viewer. This would preserve the traffic for those that have already paid the price for it and, in fact, help to enhance their traffic while also providing a freindly home for newly created material.

By the way, I like your idea and would suggest that its name be derived around your original idea of a 'how-to-site'.

Roger
 
Sounds like a "How To: XXXX" forum to me - which we could do... It's just a matter putting it together and limiting it to the correct sort of posting. Maybe if we limited it to KnifeMaker's only posting initial threads?
 
Spark
That would be good but that would put out the would-be maker.
unless you could limit postings to makers only?
I'm thinking you just said that, right.:confused:
with others posting I'd just be afraid of too much (maybe) junk to sort though?
I can see it working, a tutorial with a link to the guy or gal that posted it for question?
but this would leave it open to
having to tell every single detail but that can be fixed too.
I'm open to it. would you have an index to the specific
information someone would be looking for?

spark I sent you mail asking what's involved with changing my status to knife maker
someone mentioned I should do that..I guess I could be called one.:D
 
Kevin - sounds like an excellent idea to me.

Here's what I would add to it:

* Make the threads "readable" to all
* But it should be locked - only the originator of the thread can post to it. That way, it's more like a true tutorial thread (without all the "me, too" stuff).


If somebody really feels like they need to say "me, too" then they could start a new thread in ShopTalk, or somwhere else, that says "I really like this "How-To-________" thread...

Make sense?

Dan
 
I very much like the idea of "Author only" threads, that would stop the hold up of new ideas coming through by rehashing previous threads again & again:)
 
What I believe may be beneficial would be a general "How To" site with links to tutorials. I would like to have a thumbnail with a caption such as "Maker XYZ, fitting guards" and then it would link to their site. There are many tutorials out there on the web but you have to hunt and peck to find them. Here we would have a site, or just a page really, that would link to possibly Don Fogg's and Ron Reil's site on how to build a forge, Bruce Evans site for his stuff and so on. Of course, permission would be sought from the individual prior to linking to their stuff.

I like the idea that Kevin (Spark) came up with too. Lets get this thing going.
 
One real nice thing about Spark having it here would be
(if it was at the head of the threads and very visible)
a lot of the same ole things wouldn't be brought
up over and over. (A given)

it could have links to the important threads that has already
been disgust
like etching,
should the steel be mirrored or hand rubbed first?
this would give a view point to add ( do I want to do it
this way or that way)
maybe as long as the thread was to the point it could be added
as a link also.
{ maybe done by vote do be added? ( this maybe a nightmare to do) }

In time it may even help on the size of the archives
building here. :confused:
 
I'm just a newbie here, but I work for the Internet department of a large retailer.

In my surfing experience, I'm not usually very satisfied with "webrings." Which is basically what you'd have with just a page full of different links. Someone mentioned that they had some web space that can be used. Why not set up a page on the forums with a list of tutorials? It will basically still be a webring, but won't look like it. When they click on something in the list it pulls up the page that it's been built on.

Another thing that would be helpful would be the basics. There's a lot of heat-treating info, and it seems like everybody has a different opinion on how to do it. If there could be some "laymen" tutorials that just give the basics of knife building for folks like myself that don't have all the ovens and equipment to do this.

Some of this stuff is a little redundant, and has been mentioned above, but it's just my .02.
 
Dan, I really enjoyed your website. Makers like you are what knifemaking is really about. We try to pass along what we can, but What many of us have been able to do is pretty small in comparison to your efforts.And you do it very well.Everyone that is interested in making should visit your web. Kudos, guy!
 
John I thank you and you humble me..I do feel I have a lot to
learn yet, and it's a blast...,
if we stop learning you're not advancing in anything.
:) Thank you
 
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