Mail In Knife Sharpening

When you run a knife sharpening business by mail, Christmas never ends. Each visit from the mail man or the UPS guy with another box of dull knives reminds me of opening presents on Christmas morning. Even though you have a pretty good idea of what may be inside, you never know for sure!

Sometimes the boxes I get may contain an expensive German made chef's knife or maybe a finely crafted custom hunting knife, but often it is just a seemingly ordinary, run of the mill knife that to the casual observer, is just another knife. But often it is just these types of knives that can be the most valuable of all. Perhaps they were handed down to you from a family member, or given as a gift to commemorate a special occasion. Or you may have purchased them with little thought, but through their constant use in the kitchen or the field they have become more than just tools.

Every knife has a story and I'd love to hear yours. http://www.KySharp.com/

Mobile Knife Sharpening

Many of you that live locally have asked if the mobile service will be coming back around soon. The short answer is, Yes! I've been getting geared up for another season and can't wait to restore your sleepy, dull knives back to their former glory with their gleaming, razor sharp edges.

If you haven't received a post card mailing yet with the dates I'll be in your neighborhood, you can still contact me to schedule a sharpening visit. I cover the following cities: Georgetown, Dry Ridge, Richwood, Florence and Hebron KY. The full listing of the entire areas serviced along with pricing can be found at www.KySharp.com/prices.html.

Before using any knife sharpening service, ask these questions (Part 4)

Can I specify the level of final polishing?
There are occasions where you definitely want a highly polished, gleaming edge but there are times when a slightly coarser edge is preferable. It really depends on what needs to be cut and your individual preference. For most kitchen work and general use, a mirror polished edge will cut the easiest and last the longest. A coarse edge is more "grabby", and works very well on the tough skin of a tomato and fibrous materials but doesn't hold it's edge quite as long.

Think about what you use your knife for the most, and be sure to specify the final polishing you need from your knife sharpening service. If you're unsure whether to go polished or coarse, choose polished. It is ideal for 90% of the cutting you will do.

Before using any knife sharpening service, ask these questions (Part 3)

What do you charge?
We all know that you get what you pay for, right? Well, I'll let you in on a little secret in the knife sharpening business. While price can be an indicator of quality work, there is an element out there that charges exorbitant prices to make you believe you are getting something more than you are. If you are considering a service that charges five times the average rates, do your homework first to ensure that you don't get sheared.

So what are typical costs for a mail in knife sharpening service? Expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $10 per knife depending on blade length. Rather than having you measure each blade and fill out complicated order forms, at http://www.kysharp.com/ I charge a flat $5.95 for most any knife. I like to keep things simple!

Before using any knife sharpening service, ask these questions (Part 2)

What is the turnaround time?
If you've sent out your knives for sharpening, you don't want them sitting in a box collecting dust halfway across the country while you anxiously wait by the mailbox. A well run service should be able to get your knives sharpened within a few days of receipt, and quickly send them back to you. If you're told it might take a week or two, look elsewhere.

Before using any knife sharpening service, ask these questions (Part 1)

What sharpening method do you use?
Generally speaking, you want to ensure that they aren't using a method that will cause the blade to overheat and lose it's temper. More knives are ruined from misuse of overly coarse belt sanders and rough grinders (heaven forbid) than anything else. Choose a knife sharpening service that goes to great lengths to eliminate heat buildup and removes a minimum of metal to preserve the life of your knives.

That being said, bear in mind that it is the operator that ultimately controls the finished product rather than the sharpening device itself.

Welcome to the knife sharpening service blog!

Why a blog about a knife sharpening service? Good question, and I'm glad you asked. I run a knife sharpening service called http://www.kysharp.com/ and we get a lot of questions from local customers and from those that order knife sharpening by mail. As I spend most of my time sharpening in the shop or on the road I don't have as much time as I'd like to address the many questions. My hope is that you find this blog a useful resource that answers your questions about sharpening by mail, at events, or at your home or business.