Excitement is contagious. These ideas would be fun and I would participate. While some might think taking a 1 inch cube and forging a knife easy, have you tried it? It might not be so easy to do it if that is all you can use. No handle material, nothing else. It takes planning and set up. I'm working on a small knife made in exactly that manner today in the blacksmith shop. I'm trying to integrate little things that are different or that tends to make it more interesting. It's our practice day where we each have small projects to work on to keep our hammer skills sharp and, at the same time, allow walk ins to visit and ask questions.

In the project mentioned above, one could take it up a notch to include a hole punch or file work, etc. You know, blacksmithing techniques. I can easily see this starting a small wave in the forging community. Even though forging is central to this group, it tends to be a weakness in some of us. We ought to encourage forging in just such ways as discussed.

Joshua, I got a chuckle out of your post. As you probably know, teachers learn more when they are teaching than any other time.

Lin Rhea Posted Today, 06:24 AM

As you probably know, teachers learn more when they are teaching than any other time.

Exactly Lin! Every time an experienced ABS bladesmith shares their techniques and skills with a member on the ABS Forum or demonstrating at a Hammer-In they also learn more and advance their personal skills.

|quoted:

To all,

Is it my imagination that the forum has seen a bit more activity lately? As in the last two weeks or so.

Well, this thread has been rockin'. I don't know if any other TOTM has had this much traffic.

One thing that this particular thread has shown to anyone who reads it, is that on this forum we all agree to disagree and do so with civility. Maybe that's because we set a standard and adhere to it. Maybe it's because we all have (how did Matt put it exactly?) a stake in the game. Maybe it's just because we are likely to come face to face with one another sooner or later and most of us carry knives. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//blink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />

What ever the reason, this topic has brought more than a couple of folks out of the shadows and onto the forum.

|quoted:

Like many before me let me take this opportunity to thank Dan and all the moderators for their hard work. i have found the discussions here to be a great resource as i struggle to become a competent bladesmith.

While i do not post often, well almost never, i do search the forum frequently and value it as is. As a blacksmith i have seen several forums start out well but go down hill because of the hunt for numbers. wanting increased traffic is fine but be patient and work to develop the participation you want and please don't aim for simple numbers. Personally i believe opening up the forum to non-members would incorporate bad information and dramatically change the feel of the site. no matter how good our team of moderators are, with an open forum the armchair quarterbacks will eventually slip through and overwhelm.

To attempt to help i have really thought about why i don't post more. first, as a beginner bladesmith i am simply shy about putting images of work out there especially when those looking at it are those i admire. while feedback is important to development it is hard to have your idols comment, sometimes harshly, on your work even harder when it's done in public. second, often i come to the forum looking to ask a question and since i don't want to get stomped for asking about something already covered (happens frequently in many forums though i really haven't seen it here) i spend all the time i have searching through the existing information and reading old discussions. granted i do usually find an answer or at least get distracted by something different to try. lastly, often times when i read through the current discussions really all i can contribute is a wow or thanks. without something of substance to add to the discussion i don't want to bother/intrude upon the participants with something unnecessary and frivolous.

that being said there was mention earlier of incorporating collectors to get their input on design and materials. would there be a way to offer limited, invitation only, memberships to collectors to see if they had questions or thoughts that would be beneficial to those currently earning their living this way and those wishing to move from a hobby stage to more. hopefully they would also be interested in answering questions from us.

another suggestion to increase both awareness and participation would be to have a 'live demonstration/discussion' time. years ago one of the blacksmithing forums would have a tuesday night online demo (text, sketches and photos) where those watching could ask questions of the demonstrator/lecturer. now, since this forum has gone to the armchair crowd i no longer participate so i'm not sure if they still do this but it was my favorite thing about the site. during the discussion/question portion of the evening participating members would often reference other areas of the forum or even other forums/websites. i did find some items of interest that i had previously missed that way and i always learned something. i recognize that this is more work for whomever does the demo/lecture but it did bring a large number of people to the site. i also found that both before and after the demo i would spend additional time browsing the site.

Candy Martens, Apprentice Bladesmith

Is this the Candace from the NESM Intro Class? If so; good to see you here!

Mike

yeah Mike, how have you been?

|quoted:

I'm having trouble formulating anything fluent so I'll just write down some thoughts I have, some that relate directly, some that just touch on the issue of participation. I don't know if any of it will help or not.

I believe we have a lot of watchers that lack the confidence to actually participate. They don't feel like they can contribute so they sit quietly and try to pick up what they can in information and techniques. These are the ones I try to help with the works in progress using photos and videos. My mental block with technology has hindered my efforts. I hope yall know that and that I do try. I will re double my efforts,.. again,... and try to apply posting techniques that will work better.

I think we'll have to build excitement to get good participation in the sense that folks reply and ask questions and give their anecdotal experiences on the matter. This will mean posting meaningful and clear information and techniques that inspire and are not the same old things that most of them already know. Yes, we need to show and discuss the basics but can we show the basics in a new way?

Illustration: Forging is basic, right?, but when have we seen a video of better forging techniques? When I saw Nick's video, I snapped a picture of the monitor showing the youtube channel and the title of the video and sent it to my "students". They can watch the video over and over with me telling them what to watch for. In my opinion, that is what we need as content on the forum. That is exciting. That will prompt participation from student level members. (Actually, in my opinion, we all can learn from that video and exhibitions on that level. We are bladesmiths but smithing seems to be a weak point in some of our skill sets.)

When a student takes a forging course, for example, there is only so much time these students get to spend with the hammer in instructors and then they go home and a lot is either forgotten or negatively influenced by poor equipment or bad habits or, even worse, local guys who don't take any ABS courses and know just enough to be dangerous. When left to their own devices, they don't progress much in between hammer ins or classes. The ABS forum can shine during these "in between" times.

We do, of course, have some who have worked tirelessly to create tutorials and videos and post them for our benefit. As someone who has dabbled at this myself, I can testify to the hard work and time involved. The current generation of bladesmiths are getting more and more tech savvy and it will be up to these to carry the forum. Might as well face that and move forward. We do, after all, have exceptionally skilled people that can teach the different aspects of knife making without burdening the old timers with this so much.

Here's and idea: Team posting. Form a two man team to conduct tests, and provide results. Or simply compile photos to illustrate a technique. Or some application of this idea of team effort.

Another idea: The Handles and Guards book by Joe Keeslar. When one of us use a technique mentioned in the book, provide photos of the WIP along with the book opened to that page. Or some variation to tie the book in with our project.

Incidentally, whenever someone comes to me wanting me to teach them knife making, I let them know clearly that I am willing to do that but I expect something from them. I expect them to join the ABS and buy the Handles and Guards book. And if possible they should take a forging course.

This forum has the potential to be the absolute final word in traditional knife making. The ABS site without the forum is pretty static. The forum is the moving, changing, growing, living part of the site.

Helol Mr. Rhea, My name is Ronald Cranker. I just became a member a couple of days ago and believe you are right on the money about new member participation. Since joining have been floating around the forum just trying to figure it all out. I have never been on a forum until now and I must say between seeing such high caliber craftsmanship and not being tech savy, I can see where new members may seem a little timid about jumping in. It may take me a few minutes to get acclimated to this awsome site but I will figure it out. I have been trying to figure out posting pics, even time I have a few spare minutes I'm on here pushing buttons and seeing what they do. Haha. I see you mentioned the Handles and Guards book by Mr. Kessler. I actually ordered the book 2 days before joining ABS and eagerly await it's arrival. Take care Mr. Rhea, I look forward to chatting and sharing information. Tho I must say I probably don't have alot to offer yet in the Form of knowledge.

|quoted:

yeah Mike, how have you been?

Old and Cranky!!!

Members; this lady has her eye on the ball.

Good for her and good for us.

M

Hello Ronald. I'm glad you decided to post. Don't be worried about being timid. I'm kind of shy myself. I think its from wearing clothes most of my life. Thankfully, its too late to break that habit.

When you get around to it, show us some of your work.

since i'm trying to be helpful and it was my suggestion, i started working on a small knife from a 1" cube while i was demonstrating today. to do my part to help with participation i have even posted some pics under show and tell.

-c