Thread: Expression of Interest in a Workshop Grinding Section

In here, https://metalworkforums.com/f65/t208...nding-fixtures, BC mentioned
that,

Originally Posted by steamloco1954

I did ask for a workshop grinding forum page years ago but it was denied. Knife making is more prominent?

I think that there are enough Members on here that are interested enough to warrant a Workshop Grinding Section.
Be it Surface or Tool and Cutter, Cylindrical grinding, or anything on a similar line.
So here's your chance to get something that we can ALL learn from and share.
I'm definitely interested as I've a Hercus No3 that I'm wanting to learn to use.
Kryn

Agreed. Surface Grinding is the only one of these I currently try to do, but General Metalwork isn't the correct place?


Suggested names;

• Specialised grinding
• Workshop Tool grinding
• Accurate grinding

Originally Posted by nigelpearson

...but General Metalwork isn't the correct place?

I reckon it is. We already have 29 sub-forums. I have a general dislike for huge numbers of sub-forums. Our woodworking sister-forum has around 130 sub-forums/sub-sub-forums. I kid you not.

It's all metalwork at the end of the day.

We don't need any more subforums, some of the ones we have hardly get used.

Hello again.
I'm back with another 20 cents worth.
I don't know about admin here but with a subject like grinding that is specific, keeping the threads together is important as it narrows down the search.
regards
BC

For those who don’t like them - what do you see as the downside of having sub-forums?

As I see it it’s a pretty normal way of organizing things. Same as I personally do with my own information storage.
Maybe it’s just a personal preference thing and you guys prefer to have eg all of your emails in one folder rather than putting some particular ones in a separate folder.

In the context of a forum - if you are just using it as a feed of interesting discussion then I can see that might be easier as just one large forum - ie just one place to look for new posts.
I actually see that as a failing of the particular software being used, as if this forum had a “most recent activity” view it would drag everything together anyway. You wouldn’t ever need to look in a particular sub forum unless you wanted to browse just that topic.

On the other hand, if you use the forum as a resource - being able to go to a sub forum that contains only a particular topic works better IMO.

I expect one of the responses to that will be “that’s what a search is for”
Searches work best if you know exactly what you’re looking.
Self checkout at the supermarket - has categories like veges. Products are physically grouped in common sections - imagine turning up to Coles and theyve just got random mix of stuff - no bread section and they hand you an iPad and say just search for what you want. Can’t remember the brand of rice your wife asked for but know it’s in a green packet.

You get the idea.

I’m in support of a separate section/sub forum - maybe “precision and tool grinding” but I’m not too fussed on what the title is as long as the intent is there.

Steve

I would not have a problem with another sub forum, if you are not interested then don't visit it.

It's interesting to look at the numbers of threads started in other forums
For the last 11 weeks there have been 11 grinding related threads started in the General metal forum which is about 10% of new threads started in that time.

Welding has had 13 new thread started.
Electrical has had 9
Trailers 8
3D printing 7
Foundry 4.
Gunsmithing 2
Tips tricks and how too, CNC, and Jewellery have had one each
Smithy 0

On this basis a "grinding" forum seems like it has some reason for an existence.
Especially if those with only zero or one new thread in that time, were closed down or amalgamated with others.

Originally Posted by nigelpearson

Agreed. Surface Grinding is the only one of these I currently try to do, but General Metalwork isn't the correct place?


Suggested names;

• Specialised grinding
• Workshop Tool grinding
• Accurate grinding

Hi Nigel, Guys,

"Workshop Tool Grinding" would be a suitable title !

For me having separate forums is like having a filing cabinet with draws holding specific subjects. I struggle at best trying to find posts and pictures to use to help with queries. I even categorise my pictures on the forum so that I can find what I want.

Originally Posted by BobL

For the last 11 weeks there have been 11 grinding related threads started in the General metal forum which is about 10% of new threads started in that time.

On this basis a "grinding" forum seems like it has some reason for an existence.

I dunno Bob. Does one thread a week warrant a separate sub-forum? I don't think so.

Originally Posted by China

...if you are not interested then don't visit it.

I don't know whether I'm interested until I visit it. If it's about surface grinding I'm not interested, because I don't own one. If it's about knife grinders I am interested, because I do own one.

Originally Posted by OxxAndBert

For those who don’t like them - what do you see as the downside of having sub-forums?

Mainly that they tend to make the place look untidy Steve. Stuff starts to get spread all over the place. I think they work IF people post in the appropriate sub-forum. But as we know, they frequently don't.

Have a look here if you want to see what the overuse of sub-forums looks like: https://www.woodworkforums.com
As an example, there are three sub-forums under musical instruments. Woodwind hasn't had a post for over 3 ½ years.

I agree with you about the search function. Search would work well IF people gave descriptive titles to their threads. Again, they frequently don't. Titles like "More Questions" aren't very useful.

Anyway, I only use the New Posts function these days, so it's largely irrelevant to me how many subs there are. I read the ones I'm interested in and mark the others as read.

Originally Posted by jack620

I don't know whether I'm interested until I visit it. If it's about surface grinding I'm not interested, because I don't own one. If it's about knife grinders I am interested, because I do own one.

How about we call it “Toolroom grinding”

That way you’ll know there’s nothing of interest.

I’m still interested to know what you see as the negative of having additional sub forums…

Edit - you answered while I was typing, so ignore that last bit.

I completely agree with you comment about titles and the appropriate forum.
I’ll put my hand up as being guilty of occasionally using an interesting title that likely wouldn’t get hit in a search.

Steve

Originally Posted by BobL

It's interesting to look at the numbers of threads started in other forums
For the last 11 weeks there have been 11 grinding related threads started in the General metal forum which is about 10% of new threads started in that time.

How many of those are no more than a link to a members Youtube video? Which we already have a section for.....

Originally Posted by OxxAndBert

How about we call it “Toolroom grinding”

That way you’ll know there’s nothing of interest.

Only if I can have one called "Knife Grinders"