tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post241339661300775082..comments2022-02-25T02:51:18.563-08:00Comments on The Wood Mechanic: Homemade Knives!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-10020283343079093422008-02-25T02:02:00.000-08:002008-02-25T02:02:00.000-08:00I was drawn to your article called "Homemade Knive...I was drawn to your article called "Homemade Knives", but was disappointed. What you really meant was machine made knives. I learned how to make moulder knives the original "Homemade" way. You know, making a jointer stone to match the patern, and then cutting out the knives by tracing the pattern onto it. You then hog out the majority of the material, and then shape the knife by hand on a grinder. Once all the knives are cut out, you have to grind the bevel by hand. Once it is beveled, you balance them and set them into a moulder head in a jointer stand, and run them up to speed and joint them with your jointer stand. Then you can grind the jointed parts only from the beveled side. The knives are then made. Incidentally, I did this for about 12 years, and made thousands using this method.<BR/><BR/>No templates or 30K machines needed. Just talent, and a good grinder and knife bevel jig. <BR/><BR/>That would be a real "Homemade Knives" article I would like to see sometime. I guess it is a forgotten art.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-17056781805275890272007-09-27T03:31:00.000-07:002007-09-27T03:31:00.000-07:00Thanks for everyone's comments. Clay--to your com...Thanks for everyone's comments. Clay--to your comment about hogging out dovetail waste, I say: If Thomas Chippendale had had Baltic Birch plywood, he would have used it.Tim McCreadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15504553123444499797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-46570592942097092412007-09-27T03:29:00.000-07:002007-09-27T03:29:00.000-07:00Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I think th...Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I think the question you pose is an interesting one. You give the example of two virtually identical pieces of furniture, one hand-crafted, and the other made by machine. The difference,to me, is the heart and soul and sweat that went into making the hand-crafted piece. That's what makes it more interesting.<BR/> <BR/>It got me thinking to the age-old writer's dilemma(well,a dilemma to some) about longhand versus computer,or even typewriter. Is a well-written modern novel any less well-written because it has been composed,if you will, on a "machine"? I know it's not exactly the same thing,but there are writers out there who consider any novel not written in longhand inferior.<BR/> <BR/>Speaking strictly of furniture, the human element counts for an awful lot. There is no "soul" in a chest of drawers that comes in a do-it-yourself kit at Target. Unfortunately,money is a big issue for most people when buying furniture. But as long as there continues to be a market for what you do,and what Harrison does,I say, "Keep on truckin'!"<BR/> <BR/>Not much other news here. Have you been to see Dylan yet? I hope you requested "Big Butts." Love,SisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-27630577280726045652007-09-24T20:57:00.000-07:002007-09-24T20:57:00.000-07:00Besides, I intend so slowly, methodically destroy ...Besides, I intend so slowly, methodically destroy my fine affordable Ikea cabinetry with my children, my pets and my all too frequent moving practices.Clay Blancetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17095843828286956470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-66329673521036586302007-09-24T20:54:00.000-07:002007-09-24T20:54:00.000-07:00Sorry, I meant to say, wasn't the original notion ...Sorry, I meant to say, wasn't the original notion of the "noble proletarian craftsperson" compromised...?Clay Blancetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17095843828286956470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-78094376639176249802007-09-24T20:49:00.000-07:002007-09-24T20:49:00.000-07:00didn't the original craftsman movement die out bec...didn't the original craftsman movement die out because only the really wealthy could afford the product? When I have made dovetail joints in the past I hogged out the main material with a dado blade and then cut to the corners with a coping saw. Was this the traditional method, no way, but I needed to get the damn thing out the door quick so I could get the money that I needed for diapers beer and food.<BR/><BR/>how's that?Clay Blancetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17095843828286956470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-44509064012501711842007-09-24T19:13:00.000-07:002007-09-24T19:13:00.000-07:00word. thanks. yes, weigh in.word. thanks. yes, weigh in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-3044251394271802002007-09-24T12:59:00.000-07:002007-09-24T12:59:00.000-07:00Anonymous, no need to apologize for your first pos...Anonymous, no need to apologize for your first post! This issue is kind of a hot one for many craftspeople. For what it's worth, though, it's not really all that hot for me. I enjoy learning stuff, whether it's how to use some old-fangled handplane or a new-fangled moulder. As far as the modern day "crafts-movement people" go, while I often appreciate their sincerity, I do wonder how they expect to make a living doing woodworking once they're done with their degree programs. Inevitably, part of being a good craftsperson is doing high quality work fairly quickly.<BR/><BR/>And yes, won't someone else weigh in on this?Tim McCreadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15504553123444499797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-53702333061040359682007-09-24T11:46:00.000-07:002007-09-24T11:46:00.000-07:00duh. someone else should say something. this is wh...duh. someone else should say something. this is why i don't blog. glad these are anonymous. sorry, wood mechanic. great work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-84220073367047590082007-09-23T19:25:00.000-07:002007-09-23T19:25:00.000-07:00i'm sorry, that really wasn't really appropriate f...i'm sorry, that really wasn't really appropriate for what you were saying at all ...i am just sensitive about the crafts-movement people, i work around them regularly and they drive me up the wall ...you have an interesting question, different from what i responded to ...nevermind :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35236914.post-76654591468623161672007-09-23T17:11:00.000-07:002007-09-23T17:11:00.000-07:00it's not an either/or situation, and there is no r...it's not an either/or situation, and there is no real line, the debate goes on because the question isn't valid ...i guess it becomes dehumanized when the human stops caring, it has nothing to do w/the technology :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com