Who We Are (jobs & hobbies of KNF members)

After reading a week of posts on everything from a stray puppy to the molecular composition of 440B to the best way to homebrew cider (you can’t make this up), I was moved to prepare a list—non-scientific, pure guesswork but a hell of a lot of fun—of all the occupations represented on this forum, the jobs and hobbies of people who seem to be drawn to kitchen knives. I knew in advance it was gonna be a motley crew. But the list, once in front of me, kind of made me proud at how varied our membership is.

BTW, I didn’t simply write down every way that people who post on this forum earn a living, or add “airline pilot” just because JCK needs them to ship knives from Seki City. I’m talking about the most prominent themes that come up in our posts, the skills, specialties and expertise behind our major concerns.

I hope people will pitch in and add to or elaborate on the occupations listed here. In no particular order:

woodworker
metallurgist
smith
machinist
sharpener
chemist
physicist
chefs of all kinds http://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/images/smilies/foodanddrink18.gif
cook
foodie
retailer
consumer
collector
outdoorsman
hobbyist
journalist
student
teacher
researcher
caregivers of all kinds http://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/images/smilies/th_SmileySign.jpg

I'm a bit of an odd one here. I work 3rd shift in the Security field at a college campus. I have my own business making custom fishing rods, but it's been very slow, so I started playing with making handles for knives because I was bored. I used to make knives from scratch over 10 years ago, but stopped when I started working 3rd shift. I have always liked to cook, and I like knives and sharpening, but it's more of my hobby/fun time stuff than my job. I have been working through my kitchen knife collection re handling them with cool woods I find; I am a "Burl Junky", which should be added to your list!!!

great thread idea! i cant wait to see where this goes.

lets see where i fit in:
former professional chef
sharpener
knife addiction specialist/therapist
retailer
foodie
teacher
researcher
knife dork extraordinaire
lover of all things food and cooking related
wannabe cider brewer
beer enthusiast

wow...i could go off on this for a while

software engineer, former college professor

labor of love said:

great thread idea! i cant wait to see where this goes.

Click to expand...

You should contribute, too, you know.

I get paid to do what I used to pay to be able to do.
That is when I make things with wood.
It my sound dumb but I get a thrill out of seeing what others make as well.

But.....I have a rather checkered past.
Illustrator
Silk Screen & Offset printing
Cabinet Maker
Salesman
Finance
Gardener
Bench Jeweler
Waiter
Bartender

chef
soils engineer
bread baker
field paleontologist
environmental engineer
landscape designer
welder
sculptor
jewelry maker
leather worker
Native American regalia maker
&u* runner (retired)
scrounger
former knife maker
native weapons maker
teacher
history buff
shooter
Native Medicine stuff
concrete pumper
furniture maker
roofer
certified california nurserymen
semiconductor technician in wet etch for Motorola
Hazardous material removal and remediation
some government stuff.
Cleaning up other peoples messes discreetley
finder and dealer in rare and exotic material
ivory dealer
The rest of it I forgot after the stroke

Both hobbys and work

CNC engineer
Carpenter
Welder
Laser engraving
Designer
Computer geek
Guitarist
Drummer
Singer
Music studio
Cooking
Fishing
Travel
Animal lover

The only jobs/hobbies I've ever had
Chef
Cook
Dishwasher
Busboy
Server
knife dork/knerd
Bass player
Former Star Wars collector
Former Hip-hop DJ(80's &90"s)
Dad
Husband
Closet movie critic

Naval Electrician
Telephone PBX Technician
Business Owner
Salesman:
Auto Parts
Commercial UHF/VHF Radios
Copiers/Faxes
Paint
Power Tools
Woodworker
Upholsterer
Cook - Yes in the Navy for a short time
Off Road Racing
Dad
Granddad
And others I have either forgotten about or want to forget about

Computer Scientist
Software Engineer
Disributed Computing Expert
Foodie
Home Chef
Cyclist
Defensive firearms enthusiast (working towards teaching in this field)
Technology Instructor
Cooking Instructor
Avid Reader (about 30,000 pages per year, not counting internet stuff)
Aspiring Knerd

Student (well just finished undergrad and I'm having a year off before dental school)
Computational chemist (supervised research)
Biologist (supervised research again...huzzah!)
Researcher
Home cook
Tutor

Lawn mower
Burger Joint flipper of meat
Burger Joint breakfast shift sucker
Dishwasher
Line Cook
Kitchen Supervisor
Business Depot (Staples) Computer Sales
Payphone Installation & maintenance
North American Telecommunications network operation center manager and provisioner (DS0 to OC192)
New Product Introduction Business Analyst
Call Center, Field Services Performance Management
Revenue and Customer reporting
Business Intelligence
Data Governance
Organizational transformation

civil/ structural engineer
roofing/ waterproofing consultant
home cook
tech inspector for drivers ed program
driving instructor
backyard mechanic
soccer player
gardener (my wife makes me do that one)

Accounting Student
Chef
IKEA Manager
Restaurant Owner
Sommelier Diploma
Chef Diploma
Subway Franchisee
Restaurant Manager
Business Degree
Bartender
Server
Busboy

Oil Rig Deckhand (Roustabout)
Roughneck
Crane Rigger
Rig Mechanic
Rig Welder
Subsea Drilling Engineer
Engineer Technician
Student
Mechanical Engineer
Hack Wa Handle maker
Dad
Coach
Husband

Musicologist (second only to art history in marketability)
Jazz, commercial, studio, theater bass player
Woodworker
Commercial real estate consultant and appraiser


Comment: i thought musicians were crazy till I read kitchen confidential

Disc Golf Junkie
Dishwasher
Line cook
Kennel Tech
Foodie
Kitchen Knife enthusiast
Flow Lead (think logistic inside a 900,000 square foot warehouse)
and In a couple of years, a Mechanical Engineer
Car enthusiast as well
Burl Junkie (special thanks to Mark, Mike, and Stephan)
Stereophile
Hobbyist computer builder
Mine Owner

Seth said:

Jazz, commercial, studio, theater bass player

Click to expand...

Acoustic, electric, or both?

Banquet waiter
Photojournalism student
Audio Engineer/ Theatre Tech
Trying to switch career to cooking
Amateur Engineer
Photographer
Skiboarder
Cyclist
Knife Knut
Beverage Enthusiast
Above all, FOOD

I feel very boring, even if I add a few of the jobs that got me through school.

Construction site gopher
assembly line worker making car parts
Latin tutor
librarian and archivist
beach bum & traveler
language student
psycholgist
group counselor
researcher
communication trainer
professor in medical psychology, health psychology, public health
sawdust producer
Currently a highly trained, middle-aged unemployed academic wondering what happened...

Fishing Boats
Carpenter
Surfboard airbrush designs
Line Cook
Banquet Cook
Banquet Chef
Gardemanger
Ice Carver
Carbon Steel Junkie,Japan blades
Surfing,Kayaking,Cyclist
Becoming an old Fart
Walking,swimming,Gardening
Oil Painting

Chef Instructor
Cook/Merc
Private Chef
CPR Instructor
Musician
Writer
Teacher
Smartass
And all around charming chap.

Chemist (Academia)
Mountaineer
Single Malt Drinker

Current exclusive Job/Hobby:
Cutler


Old jobs/hobbies(in order):
Serious Gamer
Title Company Archivist
Metalhead/Musician
Dishwasher
Ranchhand
Missionary
Porter/Lot Manager
Overnight Gas Station Attendant
line cook
kitchen manager
Longboarder
Line cook
UPS helper guy
Lawn Pest control specialist
Door to Door Salesman
Lawn care service owner
Sushi Chef
Sous Chef/Caterer

sachem allison said:

former knife maker
native weapons maker
shooter
...
some government stuff.
Cleaning up other peoples messes discreetley

Click to expand...

Hmmm.... You could tell me more but then you would have to kill me, right?

Sawdust Producer:rofl2:Steph never knew your past jobs,there must be a demand for a trained Psycholgist here.Hope you find employment soon.

Interesting thread to see the diff. backgrounds of fellow knife nuts.Ito & I have been trying diff. lunch spots,you will have to join us as we all love to eat.

...JOBS...
Fresh water aquarium specialist
Reptile Specialist
Airport Ramp crew
Gunsmith, spec primitive weapons
Propane
Army Infantry, Arms room
Pizza Delivery
Comic/game store
Comic/Game distributer
Werehousemen
Maintanance specialist
Wine purchasing
Cook
Lead cook
Meat Department specialist

HOBBIES
Freshwater fish
Reptiles
Shooting competition DCM
Muzzleloading
Coins
Straight Razors
Cooking
Brewing
Kitchen knives (with a hard slant tward carbon steel )
Cookbooks
Fountain pens
Bicycling, touring



Ok my brain is mush and I can't think anymore, this is by no means anywhere complete. Part of my dyslexia keeps me highly focused on any particual hobby to a point that after a few years in the hobby I run out of resorces to learn more about and then I get bored and move to another hobby. Ya I get way over focused at times and on weird tangents, but I enjoy it and I move on LOL

Molder
Coremaker
Metal pourer
Melt supervisor
Quality Engineer
Metallurgist
Technical Director
Quality Manager
Foundry Sand and Clay expert
Foundry consultant
SAHD
Line cook

I gave upall my hobbies when my daughter turned 4. Before that I was into :
Moto Guzzi motorcycles
Toyota Land Cruisers
hunting
Fishing
home brewing
Photography
music (meaning listening and attending concerts)

-AJ

Job: Professor of history. Hobbies: Cooking, tennis, baseball. Ran a half marathon once. Won't do it again.