Replies

1. 
   BillA | Jul 21, 2012 06:41pm | #1

   forums

   thanks!

1. 
   Westchester | Jul 21, 2012 06:48pm | #2

   Other Forums

   Bill

   There are other places to go but they argue alot whereby we just give good info - go there you'll see !

   SA

2. 
   wericha | Jul 21, 2012 08:12pm | #3

   It's all about "attitude"

   Howie gave you some really good options.  Those sites are more active than this one for several reasons, not the least of which is the assinine structure of this board.  Honestly, I believe the intent of this board is to provide a higher level of expertise but it has been so badly managed the best of the best have given up.

   You may find those other boards more "contentious" than this one, and that means you'll have to filter the fluff for the meat.  Over the years I have found that each board develops it's own culture and attitude based on the type of administration involved.  Good, bad, or otherwise quantity does not equate to quality.  That being said, all the options Howie gave you will yield significant knowledge.

   If the admins of this board read this, please know that very talented folks are leaving this board because of the lack of your involvement.  Either apply the same quality standard to this board you use for your publications or shut this thing down.  This board has become too difficult to deal with.

1. 
   Julimor | Jul 26, 2012 11:07am | #12

   If I can add to that.

   The forum software program used here leave much to be desired.  It's slow and difficult to navigate.  I've stayed because it's tied to a great magazine but the program and low activity level make me want to find someplace else.

1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 26, 2012 04:20pm | #13

   there is nothing

   to say that one has to be loyal and not stray. look at it as an adventure

   ron

2. 
   RalphBarker | Jul 27, 2012 10:40am | #14

   Being tied to a good magazine, Knots does attract a lot of people who are new to woodworking. It is unfortunate that the clunky software, poor configuration and lack of management have driven many of the experts away. I stay mostly to "give back" to the newcomers in areas that I have some expertise. For more detailed discussions, particularly if I'm looking for guidance, I find The Burl a better alternative. Loyalty to FWW doesn't mean we can't also participate elsewhere.

3. 
   Mcfarmer | Jul 27, 2012 07:56pm | #15

   This is the slowest site I visit, but the layout to me seems fine.

1. 
   Julimor | Jul 28, 2012 07:00am | #16

   And then there's the SPAM FILTER!

   I just ran into THAT wall.  I have no idea what triggered it but it seems to be overly sensitive.  Too much more of that and I'm finding someplace else to go.

4. 
   Mcfarmer | Jul 28, 2012 06:16pm | #17

   Let us know where, I am just starting this woodworking forum business.

   Thanks

1. 
   roc | Jul 29, 2012 04:03pm | #18

   Well while you are hear just search around the old posts

   A person could spend a great deal of time reading the old posts here and come up with about anything they need to know.

   I wasn't blocked once doing that just now and haven't been for ages.  Hmmmmm . . . anyway . . .

   used to be a busy place around here

   http://forums.finewoodworking.com/fine-woodworking-knots/hand-tools/marcou-planes

   http://forums.finewoodworking.com/fine-woodworking-knots/joinery/dovetails-pins-or-tails

   http://forums.finewoodworking.com/fine-woodworking-knots/hand-tools/chipbreakers

   This one's not pretty but I still find it remarkable. Do wear your body armor upon entering; there's a good chap.  Larry never did send to me the plane I ordered but great things are worth waiting for. (no I am not kidding around about that ).

   http://forums.finewoodworking.com/fine-woodworking-knots/hand-tools/testing-sharpness-high-angle-blades?page=2

   My fascination is blade geometry and sharpening so I do get a little myopic.  I hope others here will post links to some of the great posts about furniture etc.

   PS: it did take like twenty minutes for this post to be accessable (show up on the forum). I would go to this thread and my post wasn't in it.  May have been because I had trouble getting the first link to be a link instead of just text.

3. 
   HowardAcheson | Jul 22, 2012 10:34am | #4

   Yes, I forgot about that one.  There are a number of  former "knots" folks there.  They just got impatient waiting for this forum to improve.

   Let me also make a comment about "argumentitive boards.  Knots used to be quite contentious before a bunch left.  You're always going to get more opinion and discussion when you have more participants.  Who's going to provide a lively discussion when you have almost no one to discuss something with.  In many cases there are more than one way to accomplish some task.  But, with only one or a couple of participants, only a small number of ideas are brought forward.

1. 
   bones | Jul 22, 2012 12:55pm | #7

   Hard to be an argument when only a few are here

   You made a good comment about "use to be" contentious.  I like to think of it more as voicing a lot of opinions.  I know when I got back into ww after a long absence about 7+ years ago, this was the go to site.  The knowledge was unreal, and I'd check it several times a day just to keep up just due to the diversity and quantity of topics and responses.   Then as you said a different direction and a refusal to listen to the members who then left.   let's face it a forum aint worth squat with out the base.  Now you can go days without checking in and be up to speed in about 2 minutes.   I did not always agree with everyone but the talent was amazing and diverse.  Yep, a lot less voicing of opinions now but its hard to get upset with 4-5 posts a day.    

   Now I find thesawmill creek the most prolific, as the # of users on at any give time is a lot, but its just not the same appeal.   I've also developed a love for the old woodworking machinery site.  I wished I had known about it when i was rebuilding my shop, I could have bought a lot ob old american iron for less than the grizzly i bought and had much better equipment.  Lumber jocks is another goodone and the forum on woodweb aint bad either, I've followed some very good threads there on drying wood and other areas.    

4. 
   Knotscott | Jul 22, 2012 11:02am | #5

   Howard's list is good....those are some of the forums I frequent most often....lots of traffic, mostly good replies.  Familywoodworking.com is a small very friendly community....started out as a loyal group of SMC members who got disgruntled with the direction of the for-profit SMC administration.   Lumberjocks.com is another that I think is worthwhile.  

   The format and the site policies are big influences on the members, but any forum is only as good as the current list of active members, which is a huge variable over any given span of time.   The vocal few often make a site worth visiting (or avoiding).  Knowledge and varied opinions make for great input, but unfortunately some folks think their way is the only way, and/or can't handle those who don't agree with them.  It's just people being people....

   Guys like Howard are valued members wherever they visit....

5. 
   RalphBarker | Jul 22, 2012 11:09am | #6

   Other forums

   I've tried various other forums over the years, but have trimmed my participation back to Knots and The Burl, which was formed by previous participants here. http://www.theburlforum.com/

   As mentioned, each forum tends to achieve its own "personality" based on the attitudes of both participants and how the forum is managed (or, not managed). My personal preference, forums-wise, leans toward venues that encourage pleasant exchange of ideas and methods, even if opinions differ.

   Many of the previous Knots members got upset over the change in software here. The Burl is on Delphi, so the "user interface" is essentially the same as the old Knots.

1. 
   evalewis | Jul 23, 2012 07:01am | #8

   yea true

   I am new memeber here but I found this interesting.

6. 
   BillA | Jul 24, 2012 12:17am | #9

   Other forums

   Great discussion. Thanks

7. 
   mvflaim | Jul 25, 2012 09:19pm | #10

   come on over

   come to The Burl and bring your hundred closest friends. We need them.

   http://www.theburlforum.com

1. 
   Westchester | Jul 26, 2012 06:23am | #11

   Other Forum

   your candle won't be any brighter -

   SA

1. 
   BillA | Aug 02, 2012 07:29pm | #19

   Forums

   One thing I found about woodworking Talk is that it has it's own iPad app. Makes visiting the forum easy