My daughter's teacher

K

Kevin Kf knives

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Jul 2, 2018
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I've lurked around for a while here, haven't posted much, but my daughter was talking to me about school today. Her story rubbed me the wrong way a little. So she's telling me about a conversation the class was having about what makes their house messy sometimes. One kid says, my mom's paperwork from work is all over the living room, one says clothes piled up in the bathroom, my daughter says, my dad makes knives in the garage and it gets the house dusty. The teacher acts a little shocked and asks, your dad makes knives? My daughter says yes, he makes them and sells them to his friends. The teacher keeps going on about how it's really strange that your dad makes knives. It's not a big deal to my daughter, and she usually inspects the knives I make before they leave the house, but it bothered my daughter enough to talk to me about it today. I live in Miami-Dade county Florida and didn't think it's a big deal, but does anyone else get this kind of reaction?
Thanks
 
I find it's about a coin flip for people I've just met thinking it's either really neat or kinda creepy, I have a culinary background and focus on cutlery for such so that usually gives me an easy out.
 
I wouldn't take it personally, I think most people are not even aware that there is a thriving knife industry in today's day and age. I'll also admit, knife making isn't a typical job/hobby for people to have. It's a unique skill for sure, just not one everybody understands or appreciates.
 
Not that uncommon of a reaction anywhere really. you either get people really peaked by the mention, confused, or creeped out.

Also, your daughter told her teacher that your shop dust is getting in the house. If true and more than just residual stuff from your clothing(e.g. it's coming through vents, doorways, windows etc), you should REALLY make an effort to remedy that. It's not good for anyone living in it, especially your daughter with still developing lungs.
 
It seems most people I talk to about the knives outside of the forums and FB groups are completely clueless that people actually make knives be hand. How ever, ever since FIF some people are a little more informed about knife making.
 
I lived in Miami for 50+ yrs, most recently in the Pinecrest area 25yrs), and I wouldn't be too concerned generally. On the other hand, it may not be a bad idea to take a proactive step and contact the teacher and tell him/her what you are doing. I have had experience with both public and private schools with my two boys...I would be most concerned with what could happen from the public school system. I have seen some crazy stuff in my years there. We left Miami for N. Carolina 2 yrs ago and have never looked back....there was a time when it was my town, no longer.
 
It is so out of the box for people they just have no concept, they think it is made from a kit, they think you just buy the blades.

When you show a non knife person your custom made knife 99% of the time they are not amazed at the knife itself, they are staring at your electro etched makers mark and are all about "how did you do that? that is really cool".

I tell them, take the knife back and think "Give me that you idiot" and smile at them.

They are always super impressed at the makers mark, not the grind, the jigged bone or action.
 
Hey bud. I live in Cutler Bay (Miami/Dade) as well. My daughter goes to a charter school and I am pretty sure that she has mentioned that I make knives. Not sure what the teachers response(s) were, but probably similar. Screw em.

Side note, once I'm done with this tour, I am trying to get back to VA/NC...Miami is not for me!
 
Thanks for your service Navman....you were right down the street from us...what is your current station/position? I was the last hold out in our family...we've been in Miami since the 1920's, it really started to change in the late 90's, a lot for the good as an international destination, but also in some negative ways. It is a very strange and largely foreign demographic. Walmart sold live turtles to eat in China before they opened a store in Miami....Lowes came to Miami almost 20yrs after Home Depot, and Lowes had stores in Ft. Lauderdale for many years before they opened Miami....in many ways Miami is more like a foreign country now than a major US city, and that include other major international cities like NYC and LA. I am sure you will be happy to move on. We are near Asheville and love it...I do miss Biscayne Bay and the flats fishing....some of the best in the world.
 
Most regular people think all knives are made in a factory. Telling them that you make knives is like telling them you make airplanes.

I agree that you might want to look into better dust collection, that stuff is horrible, especially for children. If you look at the historical accounts, it was said that the knife grinders in Sheffield (the traditional seat of knifemaking in England) usually died way before they reached 40 years old, probably from breathing in all that terrible dust from metal and the grinding wheels.
 
My guess is that the surprise is more, "I can't conceive of even making a knife...and at home!"
You should offer bring some knifes in different stages of completion to your daughter's class for them to see what it looks like to make a knife.
All of the grade 7's in my school get a knife blank and build a handle from wood they found locally and cut by hand(or they can trade their piece with me) that I send off for stabilizing. They also make their own sheathe. It is their going away gift from our school. You just need to make it "normal" at your daughter's school.IMG_0403 (1).jpg
 
Aidenag said:
Not that uncommon of a reaction anywhere really. you either get people really peaked by the mention, confused, or creeped out.

Also, your daughter told her teacher that your shop dust is getting in the house. If true and more than just residual stuff from your clothing(e.g. it's coming through vents, doorways, windows etc), you should REALLY make an effort to remedy that. It's not good for anyone living in it, especially your daughter with still developing lungs.
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Wife is kicking me out of the garage, I have a shed I'm moving into. Good call, thanks.
 
Agree with you guys about the dust, I started out making a knife because I thought it was cool, now its snowballed into a couple of people asking me to make them whatever they think looks cool, and a lot of fillet knifes. So the wife told me it's time to get a shed and get out of her garage. I'm in the process of moving out now.

Also agree with the getting out of Miami-Dade too. The installation of the shed was a nightmare with the permitting with the county. I'm in the Redland area, a little out of the big city, but not quite far enough for me anymore.

Thank you gentlemen
 
I’ve been dabbling in making knives since 2011 as a hobby, and I have expireenced a wide variety of reactions from people who learn of my hobby. When I started, more people did not realize the existence of the community of custom knife makers and buyers. I have to admit, I didn’t realize it either until I became involved after, on a whim, taking Gil Hibben’s class in July 2011. As someone said, the FIF shows (as well as the maker movement in general) have exposed handmade knives to a ton of people who otherwise would have remained ignorant of it.

I have experienced a few that think my knife making hobby is creepy. They have always proven to be very narrow-minded thinkers, sorely in need of broader life experiences. It is sad that a teacher would show prejudice against a simple tool that has been essential to human development since the beginning of time.
 
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TDPurcell said:
I’ve been dabbling in making knives since 2011 as a hobby, and I have expireenced a wide variety of reactions from people who learn of my hobby. When I started, more people did not realize the existence of the community of custom knife makers and buyers. I have to admit, I didn’t realize it either until I became involved after, on a whim, taking Gil Hibben’s class in July 2011. As someone said, the FIF shows (as well as the maker movement in general) have exposed the hobby to a ton of people who otherwise would have remained ignorant of it.

I have experienced a few that think the hobby is creepy. They have always proven to be very narrow-minded thinkers, sorely in need of broader life experiences. It is sad that a teacher would show prejudice against a simple tool that has been essential to human development since the beginning of time.
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I was thinking the same, in front of a classroom of 12-13 year old kids. I guess I took it a little more personal than I should. Up until this, everyone has been supportive and excited to see what I make.
 
kmf600 said:
Agree with you guys about the dust, I started out making a knife because I thought it was cool, now its snowballed into a couple of people asking me to make them whatever they think looks cool, and a lot of fillet knifes. The wife told me it's time to get a shed and get out of her garage. I'm in the process of moving out now.

Also agree with the getting out of Miami-Dade too. The installation of the shed was a nightmare with the permitting with the county. I'm in the Redland area, a little out of the big city, but not quite far enough for me anymore.

Thank you gentlemen
Click to expand...

Never give up the garage
 
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I did all my work in half of a normal 2 car garage...we were in a gated community and no one gave me any grief, even with the noise of the machines and dust collectors. I was not forging or using a power hammer, so the noise wasn't too bad. Running good dust collection may reduce the dust into the house issue...we had no problem with it.

Surprised to hear about the shed issues in the Redland's, thought everyone had a shed/barn there.
 
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