Tell Me The Truth

My husband is considering retirement but wants to have a part-time business. He is considering scissor and knife sharpening. In our area it is difficult to find someone to sharpen scissors and knives. There used to be a man who would have a booth at the quilt shows but he must have retired. He always was very busy. I know that I love really sharp scissors and knives. Do you have access to someone who sharpens scissors and knives? If so, what do they charge? Do you take them to a sharpening shop or do they come to your lqs or quilt show? Thanks for your input.

I have no clue how to help you. We used to have a man in our town who did that kind of work, but he retired ages ago. In our throw-away society, some people probably would just spend $ to buy a new pr. of scissors rather than pay to have them sharpened. I sharpen my own kitchen knives.

Well I sharpen my own knives but not as often as I should bc they are pretty dull. I would love to take them someplace, but then if that means leaving them at the shop, that would be a problem being without them. I went to a quilt show a month ago and darn forgot to take my little stork scissors with for sharpening and they are so dull I use them all the time. I am so mad at myself. Now I don't know how, when or where I can get that done and I live in a big city.

So IMO your husband should seriously consider this...in a perfect world he could make house calls then not have rent to pay and his customers would get their items back right away. They could pay him in cash. Tell him go for it & good luck!

I would pay to have someone sharpen my knives if I had someone in the area for sure.

We have a gentleman who comes to our local Hancocks once a month and sharpens scissors for $5. I think he's still offering the service? Haven't needed it in a while so I haven't checked in the last year. I use my rotary cutter so much that the fabric scissors are rarely used. I have no idea how many people brought their scissors in?

We also had a store in the mall that sharpened knives and scissors. That section of the mall doesn't have my stores, so I'm not sure if it's still there either. Seems like they charged $8, but I could be wrong.

The local Hancocks has a man who come into yhe storemperiodically to sharpen scissors. They usually post a sign about a month ahead with dates. I haven't personally used his services (as evidenced by my dull scisors), but I think he charged about $12 for regulars and more for pinking shears. Another revenue source is beauticians. I know therevis a guy who comes to my gals shop and does all theirs on the spot. Good luck, it sounds like a great idea!

MM sharpens our knives at home. I have never had my scissors sharpened, but there is a man who goes to the shop and sharpens them every once in a while, maybe every month? But I don't know how much he charges.

At my quilt store there is business card for scissors sharpening or knives. The price starts at $5.50 to $15.00. He picks them up at the shop and normally returns them within a day or two.
I'm in Oregon.

My dad thought this might be a good idea as well.....he purchased scissor ( I don't think that was all he was going to sharpen ) sharpening business....BEFORE actually thought this over. I think JCY is correct as far as living in a "Throw Away " society. Most people normally replace whatever is needed to be replaced instead of repairing it ( themselves ) or hiring someone to repair it for them. Sometimes its a lot cheaper just to buy new than fix.....
If I were your DH, I would see what else he might find to for a part-time job. Doe he like to wallpaper or paint ? My BIL started a small wallpapering business, and it has grown by leaps and bounds ! In our fast paced society nowadays, many people just don't have the time to do their own wallpapering or painting, and of course there's a lot of people that would much rather hire someone to do certain things.
Another friend started a small lawn care ( summer ) and snow removal business in the winter. There's a gentleman that lives on the next street over from us that has a small lawn care / snow removal business. This man is still working full-time but will soon retire. He has been doing to the lawn care / snow removal for about 2 or 3 yrs now. I have a friend whose father builds wood furniture for people since he's been retired. On the other hand, some retired people ( women & men ) work part-time for BIG BOX stores and the like.......
In closing I would really research this idea that husband is thinking about etc.

I know it's a bit off track, but if he decides to take up sharpening, he might also try to figure out how to do clipper blades. The kind that dog groomers use. This would make him useful to beauticians beyond just the scissors. If he can figure out the livestock shows, he might be able to set up a booth and sharpen on-site. When we find a talented sharpener for our blades, we will send all of our friends their way. I usually have a couple sets that need to be sharpened at all times.

I know of two people that sharpen knives/scissors in my town. One is the guy who visits my LQS every Wednesday to do machine repairs. He charges $1 per inch I believe - very cheap. The other is at the farmer's market downtown and are there about once a month. They are more expensive. Both sharpen onsite and return the items that day.

I think it would be a good idea. I don't know how busy he would be, but if he went to each fabric store and arranged to do the service once a month, that would be nice.

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Originally Posted by JCY

I have no clue how to help you. We used to have a man in our town who did that kind of work, but he retired ages ago. In our throw-away society, some people probably would just spend $ to buy a new pr. of scissors rather than pay to have them sharpened. I sharpen my own kitchen knives.

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I was going to post the same thing. The reason the sharpening people travel to quilt shows and such, is probably the only way to make a good income. Is your husband already proficient with the trade? You can actually ruin what your sharpening if you don't know what your doing. I think you would have to put a whole lot of time and effort into this concept within this throw away society.

People throw away because finding an affordable sharpener is difficult. Why not, if the sharpening costs more than replacement? Charge less and do it well, and there would be more business than you can handle.

I definitely would pay for someone to sharpen my knives and scissors.

Here's my two cents:
1. Knives are always in need of sharpening. The local Sur la Table does it for $5 each. Just a way to think about price.
2. If he can get in with LQS, that will increase business. Do homework to find out if the shops in your area already have someone they work with or if they would like someone.
3. At the farmer's market in our town, there is a guy who will do it on the spot or you can make an appointment to drop off at his house.
4. Toggpine's suggestion about clippers is a good one. This would tap into animal groomers, stylists, agriculture, etc.

Good luck!

Try looking under shears rather than scissors. I just found a mobile service in town. Sometimes an older owner of an any kind of sharpening service will also do scissors and knives.

I just use Fiskars and Fiskars makes a sharpener for their products. Works well on the $1 cheap scissors you buy for the rest of the family.
Otherwise, a rotary cutter.

The mat cutter uses a special blade, so you just buy a new blade. Same for Exactos.

Research is key here, and all of the aforementioned suggestions are great. We have two folks in my area that do sharpening one for scissors/knives,,the other specializes in clippers for sheep, show stock, groomers, etc. both are very reasonable and work out of their homes, or the Farmer's markets. Most of the LQS' have one guys cards, and he keeps pretty busy and only charges $5 per item. Skill is key here, as mentioned,. Wishing you and your Husband the best of luck in any decision you make.

We have a gentleman in our small town that does sharpening of many things. He does saw blades for woodworking, ice skates, scissors and ? It is a side job for him, but it is handy for those living in town. I don't know about the charge, but my husband was pleased with the price for sharpening his saw blades.

What about lawn mower blades? He could give neighbors flyers, or just go door to door with the ability to do it right then and there. If someone knocked on my door and offered to sharpen my mower blades, I'd take them up on it. It would be so much more convenient than taking them in to the store, having to wait, and then returning.

Here is my opinion

Is this just going to be a hobby or required income?
How much of an investment in sharpening tools, insurance, and other costs to start the business?
How long (many) scissors etc will it cost you to recoup your initial investment?
If you were able to go to quilt shops, salons would you be able recoup enough for your time and travel?

I wish you luck in whatever you choose to do. Hubby and I are looking to do something as well because he is sick of working in automotive.

He just said he would pay to have his chainsaws sharpened.

Around here, a little old man would sharpen scissors for $1....he has passed away. Our guild was looking for someone to sharpen scissors at our quilt show. It was hard to find someone. When we did, he charged $5. Since then, the husband of a local LQS and small quilt shop owner has started sharpening scissors. I think he charges $8. He came to our quilt guild meeting, and gave a demonstration. I learned there is more to sharpening scissors then just sharpening the blades. He explained that the "set" of the blades (how the blades meet each other) is important along with the sharpness of the blades. I don't know how much the equipment is going to cost and if there are others in your area offering the same service. Those would be two important items to consider. Does he like to go to quilt shows? flea markets? farmers markets? Does he want to do it? How bad does he want to do it? Has he been his own boss or has he always worked for someone else (is he a self starter)? Does he have the temperament to deal with the public (mine doesn't)?
Go for it....

There used to be a guy in our area that had a booth at our local once a week farmers
market. In our area there is a market set up on every day of the week in different surrounding
cities. I think he charged $10-$12.

I think that your husband has a very good idea. It is hard in today's busy world to find personal service people. In the hair salon that I have been going to for years, they have a gentleman come periodically and sharpen all the scissors and razors for everyone in the shop. The gentleman has a van that he does his sharpening in on-site. He has been performing this service for them for many years and has built up a good clientele. Perhaps this could be an option for your husband to acquire more customers. Good luck to your hubby in his retirement.