When does knife making become a job

T

Tinbasher

Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
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I went into a local store to buy a side of leather to make sheath`s for the knives I make ,the lady behind the counter asked I had a card because she has had a few people inqure about a local sheath maker.
I am enjoying the knife and sheath making at the moment but if I leave the card will it become a job I have to do or remain my hobby???
 
I'm an amateur/onlooker, but it seems to me that THAT is up to you. If you do it to get paid, it's a job. If you do it because you enjoy it, and happen to be able make some extra scratch, you can still consider it a hobby.

My litmus test is whether you would do it for free/cost-of-materials.
 
Lucky Bob said:
I'm an amateur/onlooker, but it seems to me that THAT is up to you. If you do it to get paid, it's a job. If you do it because you enjoy it, and happen to be able make some extra scratch, you can still consider it a hobby.

My litmus test is whether you would do it for free/cost-of-materials.
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I do make a few knives to order along with a sheath (leather or Kydex) but I am not sure if I want to be working every week end making them.
I may take the chance and drop of the cards I can always go get them again if things get to busy.
 
Tinbasher said:
I do make a few knives to order along with a sheath (leather or Kydex) but I am not sure if I want to be working every week end making them.
I may take the chance and drop of the cards I can always go get them again if things get to busy.
Click to expand...

Or just say you have a 6 month backlog and charge double the price...
 
Tinbasher said:
I went into a local store to buy a side of leather to make sheath`s for the knives I make ,the lady behind the counter asked I had a card because she has had a few people inqure about a local sheath maker.
I am enjoying the knife and sheath making at the moment but if I leave the card will it become a job I have to do or remain my hobby???
Click to expand...

If you just want it to remain a hobby, make it clear that you are a Part-time Knife-maker. That usually makes it clear that you have a regular job and you don't take time-sensative orders.
 
Tinbasher said:
I went into a local store to buy a side of leather to make sheath`s for the knives I make ,the lady behind the counter asked I had a card because she has had a few people inqure about a local sheath maker.
I am enjoying the knife and sheath making at the moment but if I leave the card will it become a job I have to do or remain my hobby???
Click to expand...

If it does turn into a job,it's still better than a 9 to 5 don't you think:thumbup:
 
Let’s see if we can find the right forum …
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If you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life.
 
You can, if you make sure they know that your part time and even a simple order can take a while to complete.

On one hand I enjoy custom orders as it gets me to try things I probably wouldn't, like mixing Iron wood and crown stag, after I did it for an order I loved the look and feel. And it lets me pay for tools and sometimes a little extra scratch. On the other hand there's a lot of projects I want to try but if I have orders I feel like I'm cheating if I don't work on them first. Add building a house to the mix and it can get frustraiting. I just tell them that it'll take a while, most times 6+ months with the little shop time I'm getting rite now.
 
When you stand in front of the shop and can think of a half dozen things that would be a whole lot more fun to do today, it may have become a job on you.:(
 
Hey Guys...

I Agree..

When it's not fun anymore,, then it's a Job !!

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
I take very limited orders at this time. I like to make something different each time I make a knife. I enjoy being creative and trying something new. In other words, I make what I like to make. Fortunately, other people seem to like what I make and I sell them.

I think it would be a job if I went into the the shop and said "OK I have to make 10 of this model".
 
it feals like a job to me when i feal like i have to do somthing. but if i am working on a knife and want to put it down and work on somthing else and and it does not mater then thats not a job. i hate the fealing that i have to get an order done by ? date it cramps my style. i just told my wife that im thinking about not taking custom orders any more and just making what i want. she was cool with it and understod why. keep it fun
 
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