The high Cost of being cheap

R

RobertHankins

Joined
Jun 10, 2001
Messages
1,385
I look at knife making as fun but hope to get a fair price for the work I put into a knife.

"I know better" but sometimes just don't listen to that little voice telling me to get a fresh belt.
Before I know it I am pushing into a worn belt trying to get an extra blade out of it. In doing so wind up losing that slight edge of control needed to define a good clean grind from a marginal one!

Point being that even at say $15 an hr (Just to pick a number) for the time spent on a blade. If you ruin 3hrs work because your too cheap or lazy to use a new $6 belt for each blade look what it has cost!
Think I will order some more new belts tomorrow:footinmou
By the way Norax and 3M 967's Rock...
 
Robert I fight myself all the time over the same thing. I have to use at least one new 400 grit belt on every knife, maybe more. I just figure I have to let the knife pay that $15-$20 for belts and be willing to use em.

But there are times like now where the last 5 or 6 month's work was all given away when I have no income from knives to buy belts with, I'm in dire need of them, and I have an expensive trip to take...what happens when I run out of belts? Yikes!

Sorry to hear you had a problem, but at least with the full-sized knives you make, you can always make it a little smaller... :cool: :D

Dave
 
Yep me too

I have learnt to use new belts for new knives.
However I can get a little extra life out of the belt just profilling the rough shape.

A lot of my knifes are infact letter openers which I forge to the finished stage the only grinding they need is the profile and a cutting edge. I used to polish them to 1200 grit someone saw an unfinished one and wet there pants over the forged look. I have saved time ever since. No polished required only an edge.

I can not post photos if you forge knives and would like a look at
a quick cheapy for your table at the next show send me a email.
They sell fairly well at the art gallery. Take about 1 hour to make
total less in a batch. I get $20 the gallery put $15 on top of that.
I have sold a couple on ebay also for $20us plus postage. It was too time consuming to go through the exchange us$ to aus$ and etc So I would not be upset if someone else wants to.
reg_ellery@optusnet.com.au
sorry I got off the track abit moral of the story some profilling is ok for some old belts.
 
I'm guilty. Just last night I finally threw away a bunch of old belts that wouldn't cut butter. They were pilin up everywhere. I can't believe I'm so hard headed. Switchin to a new belt works every time.
 
The title fits tools as well as belt useage! I've learned that you buy cheap and it usually ends up costing you more in the long run. Man have I blown alot of money on junk tools!:barf:
 
To the guys who asked for pics of the letter openers. There were a few of you so I was a bit rushed it the photos did not turn out let me know. Also when I select them from the file I cant see the picture I think I got the right ones buy the names let me know if any problems or you want instructions.etc.
 
Along with cheep tools and over working grinding belts I have got myself into trouble using "short cuts" to save time. End result is more time spent fixing short cut.
 
I'm not a knife maker - yet. But, there's a phrase I use at work all the time:



Expediency Isn't



Steve
 
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