Say goodbye to my (not so little) friend......

[RNST]

Rock on RJ!

Your flippers have been mistaken by some as autos when I have used mine. One guy is an ex RCMP and said I could get in trouble carrying that thing. I handed it to him and said "show me where the button is". He was just in AWE when he flipped my Variable.

Hard to imagine a More Precise RJ Martin Flipper. Boggles my mind.

[Tony8179]

Hard to imagine a More Precise RJ Martin Flipper. Boggles my mind.

Exactly!

[NiJaRo1225]

Well, thanks for that! The differences will be slight, but they should be noticeable. I will know in a few days when I build the first Q's with S110V blades ground in with the new machine.

Precision is an interesting thing. Ultimately, it's a goal. There is always more precision that can be obtained. Anyone who tells you different is full of it. It always takes more time, more $$, more skill and more effort.

Interesting.

I'm curious how/if this new machine will affect your "creative" process, so forgive me in advance for what I'm sure will be multiple, rambling, quasi-redundant questions.

Do you separate the "engineering" side and the "aesthetic" side of your work, or is it an all-encompassing process for you, where each feeds off the other?

Each knife you do requires a certain amount of hand finishing to achieve your required standards of end-product, correct?

So this new machine achieves more exact tolerances which takes the human element (i.e. "eyeballing", for lack of a better term) out of the process, thereby leaving you only dealing with the aesthetic/artistic finishes by hand?

Is there any part of the "by hand" process that you really enjoy, or feel is necessary, that you would continue to do (even if the new machine can do it)....maybe to keep the "art" in it; or does it boil down to: demand = best possible product = shortest amount of production time? (i.e.: the machine will massively decrease production time, but there's a side of you that might miss certain elements of your process with the old machine)

For example: I'm a professional musician/composer and while there are many programs that write out music for me - which saves massive amounts of time - however, time permitting I really enjoy the "art" of writing out music by hand; so I'm simply wondering if there is some element of that for you.

I'm at the very bottom of your list for a Q-36 in s110v (I'm the one who's s110v Modulator was too small for my mitts), but eventually it will be interesting to see if I can actually detect any slight differences with your other models I own.

Shit, RJ, sorry for the 4 million questions....feel free to not answer or just say "Yes, exactly."

[RJ Martin]

Interesting.

I'm curious how/if this new machine will affect your "creative" process, so forgive me in advance for what I'm sure will be multiple, rambling, quasi-redundant questions.

Do you separate the "engineering" side and the "aesthetic" side of your work, or is it an all-encompassing process for you, where each feeds off the other? They are seperate to a degree, but a great knife must have both. Engineering must over-rule aesthetics IMO. A great looking knife that is uncomfortable is a non-starter.

Each knife you do requires a certain amount of hand finishing to achieve your required standards of end-product, correct? Yes, every part I machine is ultimately hand finished

So this new machine achieves more exact tolerances which takes the human element (i.e. "eyeballing", for lack of a better term) out of the process, thereby leaving you only dealing with the aesthetic/artistic finishes by hand? There isn't much "eyeballing" either way. Starting with more precision in the parts assures that they are more accurate after hand finishing, and there is less variability from knife-to-knife

Is there any part of the "by hand" process that you really enjoy, or feel is necessary, that you would continue to do (even if the new machine can do it)....maybe to keep the "art" in it; or does it boil down to: demand = best possible product = shortest amount of production time? (i.e.: the machine will massively decrease production time, but there's a side of you that might miss certain elements of your process with the old machine) I like all of it! The most important things to me are finish grinding the blades, contouring the handles, fitting the locks and sharpening. They are, and always will be, done by hand. I spend whatever time is necessary to make the knife as I want it to be.

For example: I'm a professional musician/composer and while there are many programs that write out music for me - which saves massive amounts of time - however, time permitting I really enjoy the "art" of writing out music by hand; so I'm simply wondering if there is some element of that for you. Absolutely!


I'm at the very bottom of your list for a Q-36 in s110v (I'm the one who's s110v Modulator was too small for my mitts), but eventually it will be interesting to see if I can actually detect any slight differences with your other models I own. I think you will be able to...
Shit, RJ, sorry for the 4 million questions....feel free to not answer or just say "Yes, exactly."

No problem-these are good questions! I spent 4 hours surface grinding 21 S110V blades on the surface grinder last Saturday. About 12 minutes per blade of extra work. Doesn't sound like much but it adds up. I may get a few minutes of that time back later on-I won't know until the blades are fully finished.
But they are flat and parallel to within 0.0001", which is well worth the time, IMO.

[NiJaRo1225]

Thanks for taking the time to answer, RJ. I find the creative process of other people's work very interesting - especially those whose work I greatly admire.

[RJ Martin]

I have finished 4 so far and I think they are better.....

[NiJaRo1225]

Unfortunately I just can't get myself to take your word for it, RJ.

PM'ing you my address so you can send all 4 of them to me for my own in-depth comparison.