New, KnifeMaker only forums: Your thoughts?

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Spark

Spark

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I've had some thoughts on some KnifeMaker specific subforums for a while now where only KnifeMaker members would have access to.

Do you guys have any thoughts on what you'd like to see?
 
Spark,

Where would you draw the line? Professional full-time only? Part-timers? Serious hobbyists? Casual hobyists?

Personally, I find that this forum isn't polluted by too many non-maker questions, etc. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm worried that being just a fairly casual hobbyist I wouldn't be welcome to a knifemaker's forum.

JD
 
Sorry, I should have been more clear. By KnifeMaker only, I meant KnifeMaker Memberships only. A restricted forum for only them as an incentive to join up and support the forums
 
I know my knifemaker status ran out, and I haven't renewed it...but my opinion on this has nothing to do with that.

Personally, I see no reason at all for a seperate forum.

It would be turning a cheek to new makers looking for help...like it was some sort of elitist clique.

And I WANT collectors to see the stuff we talk about going on in our shops/lives....good and bad. It gives them insight as to our ups, downs, and just everyday trials and tribulations.

If there is some sort of info that a maker is holding onto as propietary...I don't think they'll be any more willing to share it in a seperate forum.

I plan on updating my status again...just as a personal choice. It wouldn't be any more incentive to me if there is to be a seperate forum or not.

So my vote is NO. :)
Nick
 
Thanks, Nick! If the Shop Talk forum were to disappear into (or because of the creation of) a knifemaker-only area it would be a grave disservice to the community. Folks like myself receive a lot of knowledge and inspiration here. :)
 
No thanks Spark, unless there is still a shop talk forum. We have a lot of folks here asking about how to fix a knife, or asking how to go about talkign with makers abotu such-and-such, etc. We need that!
 
Perhaps this way: a subforum under 'Shop Talk' that would allow all paying members regardless of whether it be 'Knifemaker' or what. I would like to see Shop Talk unchanged because it is a breeding ground for new members who wish to learn knife making. I was one of them.

RL
 
I dont really mind paying to support these forums. If its an incentive to pay then do it. But like Nick has said. I dont see less sharing here or more in another subforum. I vote yes. Maybe.
 
I don't know if something like that would help, or not.
I would say yes, but only if Shoptalk remains unchanged.
 
this is home to me...it might seem to be a place for secrets
and this isn't the place for them I don't think.
but I see Sparks point , he has to pay the bills, and some more
then wanted as of late too.
all of the guys that don't see that and can't come up with $35.00 a year
for the stuff they get out of this place maybe should start buying books at
$20-$35 a pop. I didn't have to join up but I know the cost of computer
junk is exspensive,, and the paying members are paying for it the others are not. that's not fair either IMHO,, I get much out of this place and the new guys I think get more most times for nothing..as I said I joined because I wanted to.... :)
 
I was going to post on this, but all of the thoughts that I had were already expressed better than I could write them.
 
I agree with just about all that has been said. I would hope that folks support the forums because they get a lot out of them and enjoy helping others rather than belonging to an exclusive club. I am one of the lucky ones who is very fortunate to have had Shoptalk as place where I could ask questions and get answers from some of the best makers out there. Making a separate and exclusive place will not serve the existing makers any better and it may even discourage new makers. Many non makers like to hang out and learn about the more technical issues of making knives and that really deepens their appreciation for the craft.
 
I had a few more thoughts.

First, I don't want to come off as though I don't understand the forum needs money to be alive and well...so nudging folks to be paying members is understandable.

For the guys that said yes to this idea (if shoptalk remained): How would you decided where to post what???

Say you shot yourself in the foot with a nail-gun, so you post it in the knifemaker forum...but you have a question on heat-treating so you post it in shop-talk?

It's like when the subject came up for an ABS forum here. While I am a staunch believer and supporter of the ABS, I did not see any reason for that here...since any question a bladesmith has could be put here in shop-talk just as much as a stock-removal maker's question could be.

I really like the people over at CKD, but I don't like the forum itself. There are way too many different forums...all of which hold some sort of interest to me. With my slow computer (even if I had a fast one) it just takes too long to look at all the seperate branches of it with my schedule. That's one of the biggest reasons I like shop-talk....heat-treating, leather-work, guard-work, etc....it can all be asked and answered here.

So other than HOPEFULLY creating revenue for the forums...what would this seperate forum accomplish???

I need to shut-up and go finish some knives ;)
Nick
 
I say NO WAY MAN!!!
More forums is not the way to go. Like Nick I like it here because I only have to go to one place for everything. If it was segragated that just makes one more page to check and that takes too bloody long.
 
I don't think we need a knifemaker-membership-only forum. I understand the reasoning, though. Why should any of us get a knifemaker membership instead of a Gold? Right now, the reason is to be able to post knives for sale in a specific, albeit poorly trafficked, subforum of The Exchange.

...which leads me to another question...


The current way of organizing forums greatly benefits "registered users"....that is, the average Joe can just go and browsing whatever they want, keeping to their favorite 2 or 3 (or more) forums.

Now, from a knifemaker's point of view...the organization really bites...

We come to ShopTalk to talk "tech" stuff...
We have to post our pics in "The Gallery"...
We have to sell it in the "Knifemakers: For Sale" section of The Exchange...

Not only is this greatly discombobulated (or something like that) but it is a pain for someone who wants to really make a buck or two via bladeforums. (which is why we subscribe for a knifemakers membership)

It's very hard for knifemakers to connect to other "registered users" on bladeforums. The part of the Exchange is so poorly trafficked, it's pathetic. Why is this so? Not because there aren't great knives there, but because it's literally at the bottom of the barrel.

What if we had a general Knifemaking Forum with several subforums like this?

Knifemaking Forum
- ShopTalk
- Gallery (for knifemakers, not knife-owners)
- Knives For Sale
- Equipment For Sale



I know...I know...."We put all the For Sale stuff in one place".....well that does make it tidy, but at what cost?

For me, this would be incentive to maintain my knifemaker status. I could ask questions, post pics and make sales all in the same general place. What we need is an IDENTITY....not just a lil' chair in the back of the room....make that 3 different chairs in the back of 3 different rooms...


Sheesh.....rant mode got kinda carried away....

Off now...
 
I don't have a problem with a seperate main category for Knifemakers - If you look at the top of the screen that was the original intent (which got compressed into Makers / Manufacturers) and I've been contemplating doing that for months. Just change the / to | and make "Makers" a link to the category.

I can easily move all of the Knife Maker related stuff into a category of it's own. Maybe that deserves it's own thread.
 
also
Shop Talk - BladeSmith Questions and Answers
looks like only for smiths
there are make stock grind guys here too.

how about knife makers Questions and Answers? :)
I do some smithing now but had not in the past.
 
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