Thread: Sharpening for living !

I think your best market would be pro chefs. Their knives really need to be kept sharp. Thing is, and I don't want to rain on your parade, that this is a market that would be pretty hard to break into I reckon.

Because I think that if I was a chef, I'd probably already have a relationship with a sharpener, or I'd use the guy that the restaurant used.

Ditto for hairdressers and their scissors.

Can you make a living out of just targeting the home market?

I dunno.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I havent done it myself but .... Tormek advise that their unit can sharpen scissors (check the video) so why don't you start with that before risking more capital?
Like Craig, I think you might be up against it to break into a business sharpening tools for people who use them for their livelihood and reputation,
good luck, Fletty

The Tormek can & does sharpen scissors but you ain't gunna get rich doing it.

Today's society of the 'Silly Solleys' mentality makes it cheaper to chuck it out & buy a new one than it is to pay an Ozzie to fix it so I reckon you are pushing sheyet uphill.

Hell, since GST came in & 32% sales tax on TVs was abolished, all the old TV techs have folded up & gone fishing... it's too bloody expensive to have them fixed & pay Oz wages at the price we can buy new ones from China.

Dado2,
not trying to put you off here, but it may prove quite hard to get enough work to keep you busy full time. There's 2 mobile sharpeners that I know of that service Cairns/tablelands area (about 100K people). They do knives, scissors, mower blades, chisels, TCT saw blades, router bits etc etc. I know that a few years ago one of them was ringing me up every fortnight trying to get work from me as things were pretty lean for him. Also a mate of mine was working for a mob that sold commercial kitchen gear, everything from knives to ovens and freezers. He brought home a sharpening machine once, had oscillating diamond pads and a pretty foolproof guide system. He said that chefs loved it and even at around $300 they were selling like hot cakes. Also for the domestic market, there's not as many housewifes at home anymore to call on and a lot of knives and scissors are either self sharpening or not worth sharpening.

Having said all that, the tormek appears to be a good all purpose machine and not too big an outlay to test the waters with. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Mick

Craig,Fletty,Cliff and Mick,

Thank you all for your good luck wishes.
I am not going to leave my full time job as yet.This would be a side job to start with .Only if it takes off it would become primary occupation.Thanks again.

Dado

Good on you, Dado2.
Keep us posted via the website when you are up and running. We are also Brisbane based and may be after your services from time to time.
Cheers
Tom

You still want info in local (for me) scissor things?

You might not like this but...

Dad in law's job was making sporting goods, and they used to sharpen everything themselves, which explains the stupidly dished stones I inhereted. It's a very common thing to see at least one water stone in a house, because everyone sharpens their own stuff for the most part.

I can run a google search for you in the right language, but I really don't know what will turn up, if anything.

I also need a haircut soon, you want me to ask him what he does?

Good luck, might not bare any fruit, but it might just be worth having a crack at anyway.

Schtoo,

Yes please if it is not to much trouble.

Cheers,Dado

Dunno about you but most chefs that I know(SWMBO is one)would not let a sharpener service anywhere near their set of personaly owned knifes... seen the price of proper chef knifes?

I used to be a chef and you would be amazed how many half blunt knives there are. The only time I had pro sharpening done was in sydney when the sharpener came around and the Executive Chef said it is free just give him your knives. Did a great job. Anyway if you make contact with 4 & 5 star hotels you might be able to go in there and get knives from chefs and sharpen them more or less on the spot. The thing that scares Chefs is the butchers who grind the guts out and burn or blue up the knives. The problem is always letting people know who you are and what you do. There are many many Chefs knives out there that have been sharpened on a steel for years and have got belly near the hilt when they should be curved the other way. There might be market there to grind these back the right way.

The other thing that might work is setting up in a hardware store and sharpening on the spot for people. The store might let you in as a way to attract customers.

Studley

Is there nto a market for a sharpenign consultancy as well? Teaching chefs and or woodworkers how to sharpen properly?

No, sorry, thats a lame idea

A mate of mine is a knife sharpener in Sydney and he uses a emery paper wheel type machine, I haven't seen it but it sounds like a swansdown mop made out of emery paper. He uses it free hand to sharpen. Just sits in the back of his van, pulls up to the loading dock and does his thing.
You will also have to compete with those shops in shopping centres who sell knives and other kitchen stuff, they usually have a sharpeneing service. I was quoted around $6 per knife

I used to see a guy around Sydney with a grinder fixed to the back of his motorbike. He used to ride around to all the restaurants and cafes and sharpen their knives in the street.

I've got a set of Mondials. The chef's knife is getting a bit of belly near the hilt. I might take to it with a grinder one day myself.

Originally Posted by silentC

I used to see a guy around Sydney with a grinder fixed to the back of his motorbike. He used to ride around to all the restaurants and cafes and sharpen their knives in the street.

I've seen that guy too. I've never looked close enough to see how he powers his grinder.

I'm pretty sure that it wasn't chain driven from the back sprocket. :eek: