The Moment: the dark side

Mark Barone

Mark Barone

Well-Known Member
This is the moment when you know all is lost. Today it was the moment my grind line went too far up. The knife just wouldn't have looked good with the full grind up to the spine. My head is down as I clean up in disappointment and shame. I think I'm 1:2 in success rate. It's a good thing it's not my day job.
 
DanF said:
Depending on how bad it is, that can be saved, don't toss it yet.
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Yep. Save those "rejects." I messed up a bunch when I first started out but as my skills improved I was able to save some of them. Feels good to take something that you thought was junk and make a decent knife out of it.
 
luciusx5 said:
Yep. Save those "rejects." I messed up a bunch when I first started out but as my skills improved I was able to save some of them. Feels good to take something that you thought was junk and make a decent knife out of it.
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Yes I will. If anything they make great solid templates.
 
All is not lost.
The thing is that as you progress through the learning process there will come a time when skills increase to the point that when you revisit these rejects you will be able to see where you can retrieve a good knife from todays supposed failure.
 
Retro - A very smart knife maker (I cannot remember who) once told me when I had the very same issue to start and complete each knife. No more stopping in the middle of the process. The reason was I would not ever make a perfect knife. If I keep quitting when I felt it was no longer perfect, I would never get one finished. One of the hardest things to do in knife making is overcoming the little obstacles/problems that arise in each and every build. You will progress much faster learning how to face and fix your mistakes. So, no more stopping the build in a part way finished fashion. Learn to overcome those obstacles and always finish your knife. You will learn more that way.
 
Can you thin the blade down and pull the grind line lower?
A surface grinder works well for this ( don't ask how I know ) or you can do it on a contact wheel.
 
I have "revisited" or retouched 3/4 of the earlier blades I have made in some form or fashion. It is a continual learning and growth process as your skills and perspective expand.
 
I will save it and go back to it another time. I am actually pretty happy with my 1:2 success rate with this crazy hobby. I enjoy the process no matter what.
 
Anybody who makes knives, has those moments. Anything humans touch, is subject to flaws and/or failure.

Something that I tell all my students..... The difference between "a knifemaker" and "a good knifemaker is...... a good knifemaker knows how to minimize, or hide his/her mistakes.

Something time and experience has taught me.....WHEN you make a mistake that you don't feel you can repair....DESTROY that piece (I usually take it to the chopsaw and into pieces it goes). Why? Because you will always have someone who asks...."Can I buy some of your flaws?" (they are hoping to get a bargain from you) DON'T DO IT!! The temptation is there because someone is offering money, but remember there is NOTHING more important than your reputation! If you let that mistake out, and someone sees your "mistake", it may be the only example of your work they ever see, and the ONLY thing they will remember about it is the "flaw". It doesn't/won't matter if you stamp or etch "2nd" or "FLAW" all over it...... they'll tell everyone they know about the flaw (not about the blade/knife).

Compare your knifemaking to hunting doves..... if you can knock down 2 birds with 4 shots, your better than average. If you say you can kill 5 birds with 7 shots.....your probably a liar. ;) Your specific numbers might be different....but the point is ALL OF US MAKE CATASTROPHIC MISTAKES/FLAWS. If you don't, you're likely not learning.
 
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