To Avoid Repeated Threads

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

ilmarinen - MODERATOR
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Aug 20, 2004
Messages
38,500
About daily someone posts a new thread - " where can I get "XYZ" steel.

The answer from the vast majority of folks is, ALDO, www.njsteelbaron.com

There are other suppliers for knife steel:
Texas Knife supply
Jantz Knife supply
USA Knifemakers supply
Sheffield Knife supply
Alpha Knife supply
Kelly Crupples
Admiral Steel
Crucible Steel (Niagra Specialty Metals)


Those looking for steel should try these , and if you can't find what you need , post a new "Where can I get steel" thread.
 
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Stacy, You should make this a sticky! Problem is I don't think a single new guy reads them!
Mace
 
Make it required reading; if new members would take time to read the basics, anvils are heavy and so on, the conversation, around here, would be elevated.
 
Yes,

You need a sticky telling people to read the stickies.

Welcome to the internet.
 
So.....can anyone tell me how to get started making a knife?

;)

Just kidding Stacy. It would be nice if all us 'newbs' did our own legwork.
 
I guess I'm in the minority here because I like newbie's to ask these seemingly mundane questions as it gets them involved.

If all of the newbie's only searched and researched, yeah they could probably find all of the info....but they wouldn't be participating members IMHO.

It also helps seasoned members out too.....maybe there is a "new something" and when a newbie asks and someone mentions the "new something" it's maybe news for that seasoned member.

I, actually, see no negatives and only positives coming from newbie's asking these very common questions. They take seconds to answer and if you don't feel like answering due to time or whatever...then don't.

Being inviting to the newbie's with a "Hey newbie....I buy most of my stuff from Aldo, but do a search and you'll find more. BTW, welcome to BF!!!" goes a heck of a lot further than "My gawd, did you read the stickies?" or "My gawd, this again....use the SEARCH FUNCTION YOU MORON!!".

The same holds true for seasoned members too. I guess, IMHO....what does it hurt to ask these types of questions?

Just my $0.02!
 
Adam,
It hurts when you go to shop talk to find almost a 1/4 of the posts are "what kind of steel do I need" when just a little reading can help a newbie figure that part out.(probably the reason Stacy made this post) I don't have an issue with answering a question, but shop talk used to be a great place where fantastic makers used to share lots of great info by doing tutorials and just hanging out here. I suppose there is more to it than that...seems shop talk has gone WAY down hill in just the last 5-6 years. Beyond everything that is on the internet there are TONS of books on the subject of knifemaking that are out there for anyone to read...I know because when I started that's what I did...I read....
Newbies, Please understand, I have nothing against you. Matter of fact I'm thrilled that you have decided to try your hand at making a knife, but please...do a little reading...it will not only help you...it may help restore what was once a great forum for learning.
Mace
 
It can get repetitive, but having members chime in with their concerns and interests creates an interactive environment which is far better than mundane searches. It helps keep the knowledge fresh and up to date as new information comes into the mix. Bladeforums is an interactive chatroom rather than a simple data base.
 
When you have an open forum you will get the same question over and over and over again. A simple reference to the stickies solves the inquiry quickly.

As for all the great makers that no longer come and post here, just talk to a few and it will become very apparent it has nothing to do with the Newbies asking questions.
 
I see a distinct difference between "How do I.....?" and "Where do I find.....?". I think its possible to post stickies answering the static "Where do I find...." info. If the question is asked by a new member, then provide them with a link to the list. But, the answers to the "How do I....?" stuff are always more dynamic when applied to that individual's specific needs. That deserves an open discussion.

I began my knife making hobby here on BF, and I'm sure I bored many a long-time member and seasoned pro with all my mundane questions. But, in many cases, I just couldn't find info that was pertinent to my particular, specific question.... so I asked.

A recent thread about mar-quenching stainless steels in oil comes to mind. I'm pretty sure Robert had searched and found all he could on the topic, but he was still curious..... so he asked. His simple question generated enlightening discussion.... and not just for his own benefit(i.e. mine as well).

That's the beauty of this forum.

Stickies are great, but this is a forum which, according to Marriam-Webster, is "a public meeting place for open discussion". That component should not be thwarted or diminished.

-Peter
 
Guys, Stacy(who is a mod) started this post the title of which includes "To avoid repeated threads"! I am not saying newbies shouldnt ask questions...hell I ask questions....all I'm saying is that a lot of simple info can be found by doing a little reading first.
As for the forum degrading....it has more to do with the way some people interact and lack of respect...not because newbies ask questions.
Again, I think this info should be in the stickies so that the guys that want to learn a little bit on their own...can.
Mace
 
How do I...., What is the way to......, Why is it that......, When is it time to....., are all good discussion questions.

Where can I get....... is not a discussion question......especially when they are three similar threads in the past three days.

No one is discouraging discussion, or dialog. It is just that the same questions are asked about steel sources almost daily.
 
The stickies are great but might be a actually reason some ask here due to many of the links in the stickies are dead. I just check and while some are good several key ones are not working.

dead_link.jpg
 
Stickies aside....a simple Google search for knife steel suppliers will yield you a whole page of info.
Mace
 
The stickies should be used for announcements etc., not as a tool to discourage posting and asking questions.

If you just go back several months or years, the post replies, "new topics" and page views were higher, which are good things on the internet, statistically.

“Over-moderating” an interactive evolving forum in general is self defeating and a good way to kill it.

(I still think a newbies sub forum would help.)
 
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Since we are (sort of) on the subject of the stickies, what are your thoughts on a sticky for TUTORIALS. Not necessarily a WIP sticky, but if a WIP is very detailed and shows something new, or even a basic skills WIP (like Nick's "Stuck In The Metal With You"), then the WIP can become a Tutorial.

I'd love to see a library of tutorials from our makers. Sure, I can go to other forums to get that, but I don't spend my time on other forums. I'd rather be here.
 
Libraries of tutorials are better found on and suited for individual websites and blogs.

... Forums are for open ongoing interactive discussions.
 
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jawilder said:
Since we are (sort of) on the subject of the stickies, what are your thoughts on a sticky for TUTORIALS. Not necessarily a WIP sticky, but if a WIP is very detailed and shows something new, or even a basic skills WIP (like Nick's "Stuck In The Metal With You"), then the WIP can become a Tutorial.

I'd love to see a library of tutorials from our makers. Sure, I can go to other forums to get that, but I don't spend my time on other forums. I'd rather be here.
Click to expand...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/915448-Virtual-BBQ-and-Hammer-In-Multiple-WIPs
 
A WIP thread isn't what I had in mind. I'm thinking more of a:

Here's how I dovetail bolsters. Here's how I slot the guard for a hidden tang. Here's how I made a filing jig. Here's how I attach pommels to a stick tang. Etc...

You would have to go through a bunch of WIP's to find those things, especially since it seems that a majority of WIP's these days are of people's first knives and they are looking for advice along the way.

I'm all for helping someone else figure out their WIP, but I'm more interested in seeing things like Tai's "how to reticulate silver" and maybe one from Rick on "How to Hemp Wrap a Handle". A sticky for that is more along the lines I'm thinking of.
 
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