No WIPs in the Custom forum?

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
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A couple of us have had our threads moved (that we've worked very hard on) with no apparent explanation. It seems lacking in respect.. at least to me. My thread was not a 'how-to'.. it was an explanation of the inspiration and craft that goes into making a genre of knives. It seems like there has been a tradition of these kinds of threads by many of the makers on this forum.

Anyway... If there has been a rule or policy change.. let me know!
 
I noticed that too Scott. Kind of disappointing if that's the case.

Is it only completely finished knives that are allowed to be shown here now? If that's the case, in the interest of fairness, they better go through threads like "Little Rock-Let's see what you're bringing" and do some serious deleting of all the fantastic knife pics by some great makers that show partly finished knives.

To be clear, I'm not advocating either scenario. Seems like micro managing to me.
 
Hello!

Scott, I am with you and like to see WIP threads here as well.

Best regards,
Alex
 
Thanks guys. I'm fine with a policy change if that is what's going on (although it would be a sad loss). I just don't like how it was done. Especially when mine was only a post from being complete!
 
Scott I agree

We collectors like seeing knives born and to move them is wrong IMHO

Did you ask a mod why it was moved ?
 
Yeah, I just noticed my thread was removed from here. I put it here because I wanted to introduce myself to the people of this subforum. It takes a significant amount of time and energy to make a thread like that for it to get brushed off into one of dust bins. I was under the impression that it was customary to do WIP threads of this sort here and that people enjoy them. Not welcome here?
 
Well.. this is me asking I guess. They didn't take the time to explain to me.. and it seemed like the implications had larger ramifications for the subforum.. so I thought it best to start this conversation here. And it also involved not just me.. but Nathan and Dave.

JParanee said:
Scott I agree

We collectors like seeing knives born and to move them is wrong IMHO

Did you ask a mod why it was moved ?
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Guys before any one gets to worked up I would contact a moderator and ask what happened

State your case and ask that they be moved back

The Mods are excellent in most cases and very fair

Next I would start a poll

Asking do the people here (collectors)want to see works in progress

I feel they will all say yes

That should give the mods and Spark something to base their decisions off of

Many collectors like me love to see projects being born and I think most on here will agree
 
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ScottRoush said:
Well.. this is me asking I guess. They didn't take the time to explain to me.. and it seemed like the implications had larger ramifications for the subforum.. so I thought it best to start this conversation here. And it also involved not just me.. but Nathan and Dave.
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Policy/rule questions or any issues about moderator actions belong in the Tech Support forum which is where I'll move this thread. Also, please link to the threads you have questions about so your questions can be answered as quickly as possible.

Thanks!

Jason
 
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Thanks Jason

I for one love seeing works in progress and it helps show many that are involved with custom knives what goes into them

Many collectors do not go into the shop talk area and I know that I enjoy seeing them in the custom sub forum immensely

Thank you for your time and consideration
 
Ha ha, this thread got moved too, lord...

Okay, here is my case: My thread, here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1153472

was moved from the Custom subforum (my intended audience) to the "Hammer and Tongs" black hole. For it to get stuck there I may as well not even bother.

My WIP threads are usually pretty popular and I believe this is the sort of content that people here want to see. I felt that my WIP thread fit with the tradition and roll of the custom forum and it was my intent to introduce myself to the people there. The people in the ST subforum already know me, and from my point of view there was little point in putting this particular WIP there. And the Hammer and Tongs subforum? ST needed a sub forum where some of the water could be drained from the soup, but burying the good stuff in ST in a dark unseen corner doesn't make much sense. I just looked, that sub forum has had exactly 134 threads since it was created. You may as well rename it dust bin. I don't want my work there.

I understand you would not want every weekend warrior and hobbyist posting WIP material in the Custom and Handmade forum. It's a pretty uppity place and as a general rule I stay out of there. However, I am a full time maker, collectors do buy my work, and the 8" version of the blade in this WIP was just featured in a prominent knife magazine this week. So, I could be mistaken, but I believe this work is of a caliber that it "belongs" in the custom forum. I thought it was well received. Did my CNC process offend somebody?

I think it's pretty inconsiderate to take a thread that obviously took a lot of time and effort to make and just brush it off like that.
 
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1149749-A-kaiken-(edit)-in-progress

You can see from the opening of the thread that this is not in anyway an instructional thread.. it's the spirit behind my process and an educational experience for those who are not familiar with traditional Japanese mountings. My threads have also always been well received and I pay money to post these. Buyers and collectors do not go to 'Hammer and Tongs'.
 
I'm addressing this to the Mods for the Custom and Handmade Forum.

It has been the usual form for some makers to post WIPs of custom knifemaking in Custom and Handmade , as a means both of showing more detail and depth to our work, and as an educational service to our collectors.

Many of us makers have become friends to our collectors through that forum, and have received feedback that these WIPs are welcome in the C&H forum.

I understand that WIPs may seem to more naturally belong in a Maker's forum, but feel that both by tradition and function, they can belong in C&H as well.

It does not seem to me that WIPs have become too numerous, and judging by the often high response and hit count, it is certain that they are popular with the regulars in the forum.

I would ask that the three WIP's recently running in C&H be returned, and that unless the forum becomes simply over-run with same, that the long-standing tradition of WIPs be allowed to continue in Custom and Handmade.

Thank you,

John
 
Hello!

As a collector, I love to see WIP threads in Custom and Handmade because it is the best way (not being able to touch a maker's work in real life) to get a feeling for the work he is doing and how he is doing it. Four purchases of mine from last year were sparked by WIPs in Custom and Handmade.

I would not have found them elsewhere on the site. I for one would like to have them back in there.

Regards,
Alex
 
I agree with Joe, WIP threads are very educational for newer collectors. For example, I can explain to a collector what a frame handle is, however it's much more productive to direct them to a WIP showing one being constructed.

I assume the moving of the threads yesterday was the result of a complaint from someone who doesn't care for them. I really enjoy them myself and would bet many here do.

Having said that, as has been discussed here, the 'custom & handmade' forum over the last 12-18 months does seem to be changing a bit from a custom knife discussion forum to a place where knifemakers promote their knives. So even though I don't agree, I'm not surprised to see the moves yesterday.

We often see threads posted to the C&H forum that should go in the knifemaker's forum. For example the current thread 'Off Topic Knife Shows', where a knifemaker is asking what's required to sell knives at a knife show.

CailanSeale said:
What is absolutely required to sell knives at knife shows(Such as Blade Show), if I am just a maker wanting to sell my knives and get my name out? Do they vary?
I read the exhibitors page. Was unclear as to if I shall need to obtain a Business License or Insurance?
Thanks, C. Seale
Click to expand...

Sorry to 'go on so', just wanted to share some thoughts on the subject.
 
If in fact, knifemakers are no longer allowed to post WIPs in the C&H forum, are collectors allowed to post WIPs of knives that are being made for them?
 
One thing that seems odd to me is that we have to pay to be considered 'makers'.. so if the concept of us promoting ourselves is looked upon in a negative way.. why do we pay extra for that status? Just a thought....
 
ScottRoush said:
One thing that seems odd to me is that we have to pay to be considered 'makers'.. so if the concept of us promoting ourselves is looked upon in a negative way.. why do we pay extra for that status? Just a thought....
Click to expand...

Fair question. The sharing of your knives, or more the exposure of custom knives in general, could (or perhaps should) be looked upon as a positive thing, maybe some just don't like change.
In regard to paying for 'maker' status, I assume makers pay to post as a knifemaker in all knifemaker forums (including the maker for sale forum) not specifically the C&H forum.
 
So there are some WIP threads that belong in the C & H forum and others that should go in the H & T forum. The WIP threads that are more of the "top down" view of the process should go in the C & H forum and the WIP threads that focus on technique should go in the H & T forum? Is this the consensus?

Also, nobody is taking away anyone's ability to promote their work as a paid knifemaker on this site. We value each and every one of you and will do our best to make everyone happy. Unfortunately this is an impossible task. As mods, we look at so many posts every day and try to keep the site organized according to the forum/subforum structure Spark has established. Do we always get it right? Nope...but that's one of reasons the Tech Support forum exists. Let's talk it out and see what makes sense.
 
As a collector, I too enjoy seeing the WIP of custom and handmade knives in the custom and handmade knives section. If it's only reserved for completed knives it would then just be another gallery subsection. C&H is where I come to see and learn more about customs and WIP certainly help illustrate what goes into them. That's my 2 cents.
 
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