WIP threads???

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
9,437
I'm just sort of curious what they are to you?

When they first started showing up they seemed to be relegated to folks doing something they had done many times and were more of a teaching tool for the reader/viewers. Like a tutorial by the poster so the viewers could learn a new (or old) way to do something.

Then later on they were a mix of experienced folks and some newer folks.

Now, more often than not, they seem to be guys' first knives, or their first time doing that particular type of project.

At first I thought that was a little odd, but then realized that it's a great learning tool for the new guy posting, as the more experienced guys are usually pretty quick to point out things that could be different or better. It also gives a lot of insight to both new and old makers as to how a guy looks at some of this stuff when they first start. Which IS VERY important. I've had guys ask me why I do some things a certain way and I think, "I don't know, that's just how I started doing it after several years."

Forcing a guy to understand why he does something a certain way is good for both him and the student (IMHO).

One thing that I have always liked about ALL of the WIP threads.... is shop pictures!!! Whether it's a guy with a blade clamped to his front porch hand rail, or Don Hanson finessing a blade on his beautiful 100# Little Giant.... shop pictures are always my favorite.



So what are they to you? There's obviously no right or wrong answer (well, if you said "hamburger" that would probably be wrong ;) ).... this is just one of the kind of things that would get brought up in my shop with some guys hanging out... and this is "Shop Talk" with lots of guys hanging out :D
 
I favor the one by Bruce Bump when he does shoot and stabs, and the ones by Ray when he does anything (even though he doesn't call them WIPs).

But I'm happy to see just about any WIP threads, there is always somthing to learn, between the more expernced guys giving advice back, or just what can go wrong when some one does somthing they shouldn't have.

Everyone has somthing to teach.
 
I like them.

It gives an opportunity for the entire community to have some input.

Photos are a real plus.

Stacy
 
I like the WIP threads, because I learn something darn near every time I see one.
To me it's like being invited to a maker's shop and not actually having to travel to get there, and if the pics are really good it's like you are right there looking over their shoulder. Seeing different tools and techniques is always pretty neat, so even if it's from someone expereinced or someone new, I always stop in and look.
Good post Nick! :thumbup: -Matt-
 
I started mine because it was a way to get input from more experienced people and to see what they thought of my work. I also let me show what I was having problems with and get suggestions on how to fix it. Other WIPs ar learning tools for me and a chance to share the pitfalls I had just come across in my own.
Speaking of WIPs I am heading over to the shop to work on my handle tonight after supper so there should be a picture or 2 to up date that later tonight or tomorrow
 
As a newb, I like them. There is almost always a question that get's answered that I never would have thought to ask. They also offer exposure to different ways to approach the same project.
 
To me, Being a realitive newb. It is a chance to get input but also to show possibly a small portion of the pride I have for That particular knife because It actually shows and catalogues in a way, my progression as a knife maker. Even though I have yet to complete one of my two WIP threads, I have had a chance to learn a tremendious amount of knowledge, beit from trial and error or from a master blade smith like Bill Burk.


In a nutshell the WIP threads, for me, are a sharing of personal accomplishment. and mean alot to me. In maby a wierd way,they are also small steps towards a bigger, fuller life.
 
I have been doing this for a while (not as long as you, Nick) and I love WIP's, I click on them whenever I see them. I have learned things from the seasoned professionals, and I have learned things from newbies working on their first knife. I also like shop pics, basically when it comes to a WIP, the more pics the better. It is disappointing for me when I click on a thread that says WIP, and see a pic of a bar of steel, then a pic of a finished knife.
 
Dam , and I thought this was a Wheeler Work In Process thread..... I knew that whole Work & In Process thing would throw him off though. ;)
 
I've always saw then as teaching tools, for older guys to teach younger ones. and thought it was weird when new guys posted theirs, then I realised as you did it was for the good, and to give constructive feedback to them to lessen the learning curve. I'm planning on doing a WIP of a tire power hammer and maybe making a tomahawk from a ball peen hammer this summer. :)

Jason
 
Last edited:
JasonSCarter said:
I've always saw then as teaching tools, for older guys to teach younger ones. and thought it was weird when new guys posted their them, then I realised as you did it was for the good, and to give constructive feedback to them to lessen the learning curve. I'm planning on doing a WIP of a tire power hammer and maybe making a tomahawk from a ball peen hammer this summer. :)

Jason
Click to expand...

I will be looking for that tire hammer WIP beein thinking of making one myself
 
I just started a thread with a picture of a knife I am almost done building just because I figured I'd show a piece of my work nothing more

-Page
 
grease-man said:
I like the WIP threads, because I learn something darn near every time I see one.
To me it's like being invited to a maker's shop and not actually having to travel to get there, and if the pics are really good it's like you are right there looking over their shoulder. Seeing different tools and techniques is always pretty neat, so even if it's from someone expereinced or someone new, I always stop in and look.
Good post Nick! :thumbup: -Matt-
Click to expand...


I agree and can't say it any better.:D
 
I absolutely agree with what seems the general consensus that new makers' WIPs are very helpful. I also think they should be put up by experienced makers. However, the thing I like the best is when someone does one on something new and/or unconventional. They're pretty much an all around great thing. I think there should be a subforum.
 
I think that it is great to see the different ways that people do things. Some guys do it with less stuff than you would expect or in a way that you wouldn't expect. Other guys have all the jigs and doodads others have machinery and tools that you would love to have yourself.
 
There's more than one way to make a knife. If there weren't, then most of us would probably be bored and find other hobbies or professions.

Each WIP has a little different approach to making a knife. Sometimes it's subtle, like a jig fixture or machine that someone made for a certain operation, or because they needed something for the way they make knives. The WIP threads are displays of ingenuity, they're not always about the knives for me.
 
I started mine originally because I had no clue as to what I was doing. I figured if I showed shared my thoughts either through pics or words I might get some of the more experienced folks chime in and blurt out DON'T DO THAT!!! Before I made a major mistake :p Plus when Stacy agreed to help me out as a noob I figured some people might want to follow along with what I was doing with him.

Also being completely new I also thought it would do a few other things. One of which was keep me motivated and accountable for what's going on with the knife. I think if I started a knife (as my first) and either didn't like it or made a mistake that was too much work to correct. It would be easy for me to say "the heck with it" and toss it to the side and try again. So there have been some tough parts for me to get through as far as discouragement is concerned. But having my WIP going has forced me (to me) to stay on course and do what needs to be done. I also hoped it would be something that can help a new maker out so they can see exactly what work and how much goes into each step throughout the process. So maybe it might be able to help someone (like myself) who has never attempted to make anything out of a rectangular piece of steel that turns into a functional (and hopefully) nice looking tool.

I also really like to learn from others ones as well. Regardless of how new or experienced a maker is. I can learn either from what a master smith is doing in his own WIP or something that another maker suggests to someone making their first knife. Seeing how someone does something, or how someone suggests someone else do something can be a learning experience. How's that saying go... "A wise man can learn from a fool but a fool can learn from no one"
 
I love WIPs also. I learned alot from them. On my first few knives I used Silver Pilate's(Nathan) groomsmen knife pic I think I still have it bookmarked. I still learn alot and click on ever thread with WIP in the title.
 
i think anything from a wip thread to just a few pictures or a short vid on how to do something can help the new guy (and even us old guys who have been at it for a while) make knives or make them better. i was looking through my vids of chuckinohio grinding on my disc sander when i was teaching him and thought it would be neat to make a video showing how easy it is to grind a knife blade on a disc sander.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top