WIP threads???

As a knife noob I like them. I like to see the shops guys have and the tools in them, the designs for knives they make, their techniques, their reasonings for doing this or that, and of course the finished product. Im involded in one alreay, and hopefully you guys will rip my making apart so I can learn without making all the mistakes that you guys learned doing it the hard way.
 
I just love seeing something come together. I always click on WIP threads. You can see the work develop right before your eyes. Patience is a tough thing, though.

As for WIP's I've made.... I do them for the suggestions and problem solving they tend to bring, and I do them as a resource for other makers. The first WIP I ever made was my groomsmen knives WIP I did before I got married that Frank referred to. I'd been making knives a little while, and I thought it might be helpful for someone just starting out to see how I figured out how to do things completely and from start to finish. I remember learning the ropes and researching/reading everything I could get my hands on when I first started making. I found pictoral WIP type threads particularly helpful as a picture really does speak a thousand words and help the concepts come together. The recent forge build WIP I put together was done to bring together several threads of research into a more condensed body of work. I took the idea for the PID control that I had seen partially documented by JT and Stacy, and I put it all together with more pics / diagrams to help it make sense. I did the same with the lining process. I figure it's something that I can bookmark and come back to as well as something that may help others in the future. I guess putting it all together in a single thread is my way of giving back something that I had learned.

That being said, I think it's important to realize that there are many ways to skin the proverbial cat. WIP's that myself or others have made simply show one side of things, and especially in the case of my WIP's, shouldn't be taken as a be-all-end-all reference.

Frank, I'm glad you found that groomsmen post helpful. It was fun putting it together and an exciting time in my life.

--nathan
 
I enjoy the WIP threads, even if I'm not not fond of the style of knife being produced. I enjoy seeing how other people go about the process, and compare that to how I do things. People often come up with methods that I never would have thought of. I've learned a lot from the WIP threads, and hope they continue.
 
I like reading them and looking at in process knive.s I've picked up a fair amount from them. Usually when I'm posting it's because I am doing a new design or am just really happy with doing a 'showier' working knife or something. I don't get a lot of process photos, which I should work on.

i do like getting feedback, sometimes I refine things based on it, sometimes I just need to make sure my design is still in touch with reality.
 
Hamburger! What do I win? :D

I named my thread WIP since I saw that's what similar threads were named. I never actually thought about exactly what this was describing. I always thought about them as either:
1) I am an experience maker and here is how I do things, or
2) Follow along to help or correct me when I mess up.

Either way like you guys I always learn something either from the description or the pictures. And everybody loves pics.

Patrice
 
Just to be clear, I really enjoy WIP threads and click on every one I see.

I realized a long time ago that when I occasionally thought, "WTF?!?!" when looking at certain WIP threads, that SURELY there were people that had thought the same thing when looking at my own threads like that :D :o :D

And yes, of course, SANTA DOES EXIST!!! :) :cool: :D
 
richard j said:
make sure you read this thread. it can keep you from getting hurt or worse. shop safety tips. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=614065
Click to expand...

Im pretty up to par on shop safety having ben a fill in at a machine shop several times, a carpenter, a mason, etc. I'll give it a look over though and see if its anything Ive missed. Thanks, shop safety should be utmost when around machines that can maim, kill, remove limbs, etc.
 
The WIP threads are fantastic. I wish a few "old timers" would post them more often, but no matter the experience of the thread starter, there's lots of stuff to critique and consider. still It's great to give "students" fair critique and advise.
 
They're one of my favorite aspects of the forums...even the ones that don't get finished. But we won't name names, right NW? :p
 
I like and greatly appreciate WIP threads of all stripes. It's always a pleasure to see a master craftsman at work, but it can also be helpful to see a less-experienced hand being coached by those who have more experience.
 
As a new comer here I have been reading as much as I can on the forum. I think WIP threads are very informative in the processes involved in knife making. Pictures are the best part of WIP threads I think. It's one thing to read the step by step but to have pictures to go with it is outstanding. I just wish there were more of them. They make for a great read. John
 
Hey Nick,
I'll take #69 for the win.
I’ve thought about this question quite a bit in the past. I am one of those relatively new guys that posts WIPs of about everything. But why?... I think that there are several answers (at least for me).
  • {You already mentioned this one} The opportunity to solicit feedback on a project. The forums are great for asking questions; but sometimes a good WIP (accompanied by tons of photos) can really put those questions in context. Experience makers can then make suggestions based on the equipment that I DO have and the processes that I AM using.
Which brings me to a bit of a side point – I, like most folks, enjoy getting feedback like “Looks great”, “Way better than my (first/second/eighth/tenth/etc.)”, “Good work”, etc. etc. etc. It feels good… especially when coming from makers that I respect. But something I would like to see more of is specific constructive criticism. I know that there are established makers out there that will "thumb-through" one of my WIPs and think “he should try this”or “doing it this other way would sure speed things up”, etc. I would ask that, if you see something that could help me out on my next build, you let me know.
​
  • Letting folks with less experience than me see what I am doing with the tools that I have. I am a new maker, but feel that I make some fairly decent knives considering. Maybe watching my progression and growth can help somebody else as they grow. I make it a goal never to mislead people as to my level of experience or expertise in my WIPs. The truth is, I could fit every knife that I’ve ever made into a flute case… not that I have a flute case, or would hang out with any man that has a flute case.:D
  • Sharing knifemaking with peers. I don’t know what things are like for most of you, but I have nobody around here who really cares much about knifemaking; not my wife, not my coworkers, not my family or my inlaws. Don’t get me wrong, most folks who look at my knives say “ooh”, “pretty”, “awesome” or “cool”… but nobody really cares about what it takes to make one. Terms like “bar-stock” and “platen” just make their eyes glaze over… and the work “satanite” just scares people. Posting a WIP on a forum is one way of sharing the knifemaking experience with people who DO care (am I being optimistic?) and DO understand.
Does this make sense?
Erin

BTW: Thanks Nick for your comments on my Knife #8 WIP http://knifedogs.com/showthread.php?t=5517
 
[*]Sharing knifemaking with peers. I don’t know what things are like for most of you, but I have nobody around here who really cares much about knifemaking; not my wife, not my coworkers, not my family or my inlaws. Don’t get me wrong, most folks who look at my knives say “ooh”, “pretty”, “awesome” or “cool”… but nobody really cares about what it takes to make one. Terms like “bar-stock” and “platen” just make their eyes glaze over… and the work “satanite” just scares people. Posting a WIP on a forum is one way of sharing the knifemaking experience with people who DO care (am I being optimistic?) and DO understand.
[/LIST]Does this make sense?
Erin

This is a HUGE point with me, thanks for bringing this up.
 
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...

A tire power hammer? Trying to figure out what you mean there. A power hammer on wheels? Probably not. Hmmm. I need a power hammer, and have lots of tires laying around, Hmmm.
 
b4thewheel said:
A tire power hammer? Trying to figure out what you mean there. A power hammer on wheels? Probably not. Hmmm. I need a power hammer, and have lots of tires laying around, Hmmm.
Click to expand...

a picture is worth a thousand words...:thumbup:

Here's the article

nc-jyh_views.jpg


Jason
 
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I absolutely love the wip's. I love sitting and talking about knives and different ways to accomplish a task. I likethe enthusiasm that comes through in the new makers threads. I also feel it can be a learning opportunity for new and old makers alike. I'm not a method snob, I don't care if it was forged in a fire and/or ground with files/machine. To me, they are all knives made to perform a purpose. I would like to see more of them!
 
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