The other day a scissor sharpener sent me a pair of shears that were bent all out of whack. Unfortunately the bend was in the ride area of the blade. The ride area is the area of the blade just behind the early entry of the cutting-edge. This meant that to fix these shears I had to bend the blade over the screw hole, not an easy task and not something I recommend doing unless you absolutely have to. In this case though we had no choice. The sharpener's customer wanted the shear fixed if possible because both she and the sharpener couldn't find an exact replacement and she really liked this shear. That's where I came in and I'll show you what I had to do to fix this shear in the video below:
For anyone new to scissor sharpening, here is a picture below of what I was talking about in the video when I mentioned that the sharpener had forgotten to flip the Ookami® clamp over causing the cutting edge of the blade to bite into the wheel.
This next picture below shows the proper orientation of the blade to the wheel. Always make sure your clamp is in the honing position one polishing to share on the Ookami Gold® System.
As always, if you have any questions about sharpening or the sharpening business in general I can be reached at 864-381-8697 or otenews@gmail.com. Also, if you're thinking about buying sharpening equipment, give me a call. I know where all the best deals are.
Top O' the Mornin' to Ya!
The daily goings on in the world of sharpening. Discussing sales, marketing, scissor sharpening, flat hones, clipper blade sharpening, sharpening training and equipment. This is the sharpening blog!
Showing posts with label Shears Sharpening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shears Sharpening. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Update On My Mobile Sharpening Station
Back in 2007 I wrote the post below about the Mobile Sharpening station I made for myself out of the Stanley Galvanized Rolling Workshop. Since then these units have disappeared from the shelves of home improvement stores here in the States. Just a few weeks ago I found what looks to be a good replacement, the Hawk Massive Mobile 3-Part Tool Box. Here is a link to it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Trademark-75-7577-Massive-Mobile-Stainless/dp/B001L56FS4/
The only drawback is the bottom bin doesn't have a hinged storage bin. It looks like you could still cut an opening in it though. In this day and age with gas prices the way they are, many mobile sharpeners are opting for smaller cars and doing scissors work inside salons and dog grooming shops. This unit has been the next best thing to a van for me.
Update:
Scott, in the comments below, pointed out this unit: http://www.amazon.com/Trademark-Tools-75-4650-Oversized-Portable/dp/B002ZZHK9W/ref=pd_cp_hi_1. Take a look. I agree, this is an even closer match and it has worked well for Scott; and he's quite a bit taller than me too.
Here is the post from 2007:
I thought everyone might like to see the Mobile Sharpening Station I use for In-Salon Sharpening.
This is a Stanley Galvanized Rolling Workshop. I bought it from Home Depot a couple of years ago. It comes apart in three parts so it is easy to put in the trunk of a car. I added the 24" x 11 1/4" poplar top by screwing it to the flip-top lid from underneath. I also cut the hinged storage bin out of the bottom to store my machines. Most of the units they make now just have a bin in the bottom, but most flat hone units will still fit in it. (You will see what I mean when you click through the link above) The middle unit on the newer models has a draw in it and a parts bin. It can be a little cumbersome getting it through doors, but it provides a work space for me so I don't have to take up a station in the salon.
The other thing I like about this set up is I get to work at the same height every time. And it's a perfect height for me because I'm...well...short. :) If you are taller than my highly elevated 5' 9'' stature, you could add what ever thickness board you'd need under the 24" x 11 1/4" top.
When I bought it, I think I paid about $80 dollars for it. The aggravating part is that Home Depot only stocks it from time-to-time. (It's out of stock online right now) They are readily available in the UK, but I guess they don't sell as well here in the states. If you'd like one, ask your local Home Depot about it. If they don't have them in stock right then, keep a lookout for it there and online. They will probably have it in the future.
The top picture shows the unit with the Hira-To and and Ookami in it. The bottom shows it with my equipment on top, ready to work.
If you're in the market for any of the Wolff sharpening machines, be sure to give me a call before you buy. I know all the best places to buy at the best price! Call 864-381-8697 or email me at otenews@gmail.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Trademark-75-7577-Massive-Mobile-Stainless/dp/B001L56FS4/
The only drawback is the bottom bin doesn't have a hinged storage bin. It looks like you could still cut an opening in it though. In this day and age with gas prices the way they are, many mobile sharpeners are opting for smaller cars and doing scissors work inside salons and dog grooming shops. This unit has been the next best thing to a van for me.
Update:
Scott, in the comments below, pointed out this unit: http://www.amazon.com/Trademark-Tools-75-4650-Oversized-Portable/dp/B002ZZHK9W/ref=pd_cp_hi_1. Take a look. I agree, this is an even closer match and it has worked well for Scott; and he's quite a bit taller than me too.
Here is the post from 2007:
I thought everyone might like to see the Mobile Sharpening Station I use for In-Salon Sharpening.
This is a Stanley Galvanized Rolling Workshop. I bought it from Home Depot a couple of years ago. It comes apart in three parts so it is easy to put in the trunk of a car. I added the 24" x 11 1/4" poplar top by screwing it to the flip-top lid from underneath. I also cut the hinged storage bin out of the bottom to store my machines. Most of the units they make now just have a bin in the bottom, but most flat hone units will still fit in it. (You will see what I mean when you click through the link above) The middle unit on the newer models has a draw in it and a parts bin. It can be a little cumbersome getting it through doors, but it provides a work space for me so I don't have to take up a station in the salon.The other thing I like about this set up is I get to work at the same height every time. And it's a perfect height for me because I'm...well...short. :) If you are taller than my highly elevated 5' 9'' stature, you could add what ever thickness board you'd need under the 24" x 11 1/4" top.
When I bought it, I think I paid about $80 dollars for it. The aggravating part is that Home Depot only stocks it from time-to-time. (It's out of stock online right now) They are readily available in the UK, but I guess they don't sell as well here in the states. If you'd like one, ask your local Home Depot about it. If they don't have them in stock right then, keep a lookout for it there and online. They will probably have it in the future.The top picture shows the unit with the Hira-To and and Ookami in it. The bottom shows it with my equipment on top, ready to work.
If you're in the market for any of the Wolff sharpening machines, be sure to give me a call before you buy. I know all the best places to buy at the best price! Call 864-381-8697 or email me at otenews@gmail.com.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The First 2011 Wolff Show

Wolff has scheduled their first show for the 2011 season. It will be held on Saturday May 7th and Sunday May 8th at the Crown Plaza Park Central Suites in Dallas, Texas.
The show times will be 9am - 6pm on Saturday, and 9am - 3pm on Sunday. There will also be a separate vendor room that will be open each day so you can spend time with a number of our supporting vendors. The price to attend is just $89.00 if you sign up by March 24th, and then $109 thereafter. The price includes access to all seminars and the vendor room.
Speakers will be Bob Schiessl, Bruce Nihart, and myself. We will be touching on all aspects of sharpening shears and clipper blades, business growth, and increasing sales.
Seating will be limited to just 50, so sign up right away to get the discount $89 dollar rate and your seat. If you have any questions, give Wolff a call at 800-888-3832. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the show!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
How Shears are Made
Great video showing how shears are made! Note all the hand work that goes into a pair of shears along with the automation. Many beauty shears require even more hand work. Videos like this dispel many of the myths and rumors that shears have twists "purposely" worked into their edges and "specific" edge radius. While all shears have some form of edge radius, most don't have an "exact" edge radius because of the hand work. The same holds true for twisted edges. This too is due to the hand work and will vary from shear to shear. Questions? Shoot me an email at otenews@gmail.com. Let me know what you think of the video. I think National Geographic did a wonderful job. I've worked many of these machines myself at some of the companies that manufacture shears for Wolff Industries.
Interested in learning more about sharpening and the machines I use? Visit this post:
http://jimsharp.blogspot.com/2008/11/scissor-sharpening-machines-and.html
Sign up by email. It's free!!
Interested in learning more about sharpening and the machines I use? Visit this post:
http://jimsharp.blogspot.com/2008/11/scissor-sharpening-machines-and.html
Sign up by email. It's free!!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
OH MY!!! Not Good!
Okay. Here is the flipside of inside work. Bad inside work is just as bad, if not worse, than no inside work. Glen received these from a sharpener that picked them up from a new customer. He sent them in for two reasons:
1. To show us.
2. To see if ANTHING could be done to at least make them workable.
In this case, we had to tell this sharpener these shears were dead in the water.
Not Sure What's Wrong Here? Let Me Point Out a Few Issues:
1. Way overworked in the ride area behind the screw.
2. Way too much pressure at the tip. This and set mostly caused the wipe out at the tip.
3. Not sure what happened to the set, but bad set is PART of the reason for the wavy inside ride line.
What Should You Do If You Run Into a Shear Like This in the Field?
I strongly suggest you click on the link below and hit the blue button!!!!!
http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/
(For a better look at this shear. Click on the image above to enlarge)
1. To show us.
2. To see if ANTHING could be done to at least make them workable.
In this case, we had to tell this sharpener these shears were dead in the water.
Not Sure What's Wrong Here? Let Me Point Out a Few Issues:
1. Way overworked in the ride area behind the screw.
2. Way too much pressure at the tip. This and set mostly caused the wipe out at the tip.
3. Not sure what happened to the set, but bad set is PART of the reason for the wavy inside ride line.
What Should You Do If You Run Into a Shear Like This in the Field?
I strongly suggest you click on the link below and hit the blue button!!!!!
http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/
(For a better look at this shear. Click on the image above to enlarge)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Sharpening Repair on a Left Hand Beauty Shear
Well, the videos are up and here is the post I promised. I had a heck of a time with this pair of scissors. Quite a bit of inside work needed to be done, and the angles were all wrong. We got 'em fixed up pretty darn good though and it only took 3 YouTube videos to chronicle some of the sharpening. :) Let's have a look:
Before we start, if you're getting this via email and can't see the videos, click here.
Video 1: Sharpening the First Scissor Blade on the Hira-To®
Video 2: Finishing the Sharpening on the Hira-To® and Starting the Second Scissor Blade on the Ookami Gold®
Video 3: Finishing Up on the Ookami Gold® and Testing the Shear
In the videos you see I had to put a LOT of time into working the inside of the shear to reestablish a good inside ride line. In the future I need to do a video that really focuses on this.
I hope these videos help. If you have any questions please feel free to call me or email me, my contact info is in the sidebar on the right. Good sharpening! :)
Sign up by email. It's free!!
Before we start, if you're getting this via email and can't see the videos, click here.
Video 1: Sharpening the First Scissor Blade on the Hira-To®
Video 2: Finishing the Sharpening on the Hira-To® and Starting the Second Scissor Blade on the Ookami Gold®
Video 3: Finishing Up on the Ookami Gold® and Testing the Shear
In the videos you see I had to put a LOT of time into working the inside of the shear to reestablish a good inside ride line. In the future I need to do a video that really focuses on this.
I hope these videos help. If you have any questions please feel free to call me or email me, my contact info is in the sidebar on the right. Good sharpening! :)
Sign up by email. It's free!!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Getting That Lefty Repair Video Ready
I've been working on the Lefty Repair Video I mentioned on Jim Sharp yesterday. I have it all edited and I'm in the process of formatting it for YouTube. I hope to have it up on the Blog either tomorrow or Monday.
In the meantime though, I'd like you to review a video I uploaded to the Wolff YouTube Channel last year showing how to use the Wolff Convexing Clamp on the Ookami Gold® Sharpening system. You'll want to watch this because it goes into a little deeper detail on what I will be showing in the Ookami® convexing part of this upcoming video.
Can't view video? Click here.
In the meantime though, I'd like you to review a video I uploaded to the Wolff YouTube Channel last year showing how to use the Wolff Convexing Clamp on the Ookami Gold® Sharpening system. You'll want to watch this because it goes into a little deeper detail on what I will be showing in the Ookami® convexing part of this upcoming video.
Can't view video? Click here.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Kenchii Holiday Sale!!
It's time for the holidays and Kenchii has put together a few discounted packages to celebrate. The prices listed below are the sales price for the Stylist. As a sharpener, you will get a special discount. I can't list that discount here, so give me or Wolff a call at 800-888-3832 to find out what your discount is. You also MUST be listed in Wolff's database as a sharpener to get the discounted price. If you are a stylist, and not a sharpener, give me a call at 864-381-8697 and I'll see if I can hook you up with a sharpener in your area that is selling this great line of shears. Here are the fliers and few descriptions:
The first kit is the Kenchii® Evolution Kit. The Evolution is a beautiful shear that normally sells for $448.00. From now until December 20th Kenchii® is offering this shear, plus a Kenchii® Swivel Razor and a 10-Pack of razor blades for just $298.00. Code: KEEV122010
You'll also see Kenchii® has their Future Starter Kit on sale. This kit normally sells for $405.00, but is on sale right now for just $249.00. It's a great deal for students and stylists alike. It also comes with a 10-Pack of razor blades that usually isn't included in the kit. Code: FSK122010
Above you'll see Kenchii® is offering their Matrix Shear with one of their top selling pouches. Shears and case together normally cost $480.00 to $510.00. Right now you get both for just $400.00. The Matrix is one of Kenchii's hottest sellers. Code: KEMA122010
Next in line is their K7 Even & Orka Deal. Both are dynamite shears, and if bought individually, would sell for $1000.00. Until the 20th they are on sale as a package for just $550.00. The K7 is a great shear, and the Orka is phenomenal. I can't say enough about the thinner, I sold one to my stylist and she swears it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. This is a great deal! Code: KEK7122010
Their are two other coupons listed above, so click on the flier to take a better look. When you call Wolff to order, be sure you have your coupon code handy. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.
The first kit is the Kenchii® Evolution Kit. The Evolution is a beautiful shear that normally sells for $448.00. From now until December 20th Kenchii® is offering this shear, plus a Kenchii® Swivel Razor and a 10-Pack of razor blades for just $298.00. Code: KEEV122010
You'll also see Kenchii® has their Future Starter Kit on sale. This kit normally sells for $405.00, but is on sale right now for just $249.00. It's a great deal for students and stylists alike. It also comes with a 10-Pack of razor blades that usually isn't included in the kit. Code: FSK122010
Above you'll see Kenchii® is offering their Matrix Shear with one of their top selling pouches. Shears and case together normally cost $480.00 to $510.00. Right now you get both for just $400.00. The Matrix is one of Kenchii's hottest sellers. Code: KEMA122010
Next in line is their K7 Even & Orka Deal. Both are dynamite shears, and if bought individually, would sell for $1000.00. Until the 20th they are on sale as a package for just $550.00. The K7 is a great shear, and the Orka is phenomenal. I can't say enough about the thinner, I sold one to my stylist and she swears it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. This is a great deal! Code: KEK7122010
Their are two other coupons listed above, so click on the flier to take a better look. When you call Wolff to order, be sure you have your coupon code handy. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Just a Quick Hello and Video
I know it's been kinda quiet around here for a few weeks. I've been working on a number of projects that have taken up much of my time. I also wanted to let you know that I'll be heading out of town for most of September. Some of this we be to spend time with family, some will be work related.
I'll be shooting some new videos showing some of my work travels with my iPhone 4. This new tool (toy) is amazing. Check out the video I created below showing some of the goings-on at Wolff today. I shot this with the iPhone, edited it on the iMovie iPhone App, and then uploaded it directly to YouTube via the iPhone as well. It really is amazing the things we can do today.
By the way, the iPhone (or any other smart phone that shoots video) would be a great tool for you to collect video testimonials from your customers. Just sayin'. Enjoy the show:
If you've received this by email and you're having trouble viewing the video, click here.
I'll be shooting some new videos showing some of my work travels with my iPhone 4. This new tool (toy) is amazing. Check out the video I created below showing some of the goings-on at Wolff today. I shot this with the iPhone, edited it on the iMovie iPhone App, and then uploaded it directly to YouTube via the iPhone as well. It really is amazing the things we can do today.
By the way, the iPhone (or any other smart phone that shoots video) would be a great tool for you to collect video testimonials from your customers. Just sayin'. Enjoy the show:
If you've received this by email and you're having trouble viewing the video, click here.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Wolff Sharpening Show Pictures
Here are some long awaited Wolff Show pictures. Sorry for the delay, but I was slammed after the show and then was out of town the week after that. There is a full write up of the show in the August Issue of On The Edge.
Randy from Shark Fin going over the benefits of the Shark Fin Shear design with Bruce. These two really know how to sell.
This was a display that generated a lot of interest. Glen spent part of the show going over a new pressure tester Wolff has put together. It tests the poundage it takes a shear to cut through different mediums and then feeds that info to a graph on a computer. The graph shows any imperfections in the edge and grades the cut of the shear. Some really neat technology we've been working on to help industrial plants improve their sharpening.
Ryan, David Wolff's youngest daughter's fiancee, did a great job running our camera for the presentations.
Bruce is one of the top selling sharpeners I know and he came to share some tips with us. He did a dynamite job!
Thanks to all of you that attended the show. It was great to see everyone and I had nothing but good reviews from those that came. In fact, here is a quick look at part of a letter sent by a sharpener that has been wrestling with going full time with his sharpening business:
We are looking at putting together the next Wolff Show. Keep and eye on Jim Sharp. As soon as I have a date and place I'll let you know. If things pan out with a place we're looking at right now, I may have info within the next two weeks.
Remember, if you'd like to see a full show write up, visit www.otenewsletter.com or call me at 864-909-3381 to find out more about On The Edge.
Randy from Shark Fin going over the benefits of the Shark Fin Shear design with Bruce. These two really know how to sell.
This was a display that generated a lot of interest. Glen spent part of the show going over a new pressure tester Wolff has put together. It tests the poundage it takes a shear to cut through different mediums and then feeds that info to a graph on a computer. The graph shows any imperfections in the edge and grades the cut of the shear. Some really neat technology we've been working on to help industrial plants improve their sharpening.
Ryan, David Wolff's youngest daughter's fiancee, did a great job running our camera for the presentations.
Bruce is one of the top selling sharpeners I know and he came to share some tips with us. He did a dynamite job!Thanks to all of you that attended the show. It was great to see everyone and I had nothing but good reviews from those that came. In fact, here is a quick look at part of a letter sent by a sharpener that has been wrestling with going full time with his sharpening business:
"I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the show in S.C. this past weekend. I bought my sharpening business from a family friend a few years back and have been working it part time ever since. I'm a welder by trade and I'm eligible for full retirement soon, but haven't been able to take that step emotionally as of yet. I've been wonder just how well I could really do in my sharpening business if I focused on it full time.
My trip to the Wolff Show has been most helpful in convincing me that - yes, this is a viable business and there are many folks making a good living doing this work. I made a number of new friends that have offered to help me as I take the plunge into full time sharpening and this alone was worth the trip. Great people, great show. Thank you for all you do."
We are looking at putting together the next Wolff Show. Keep and eye on Jim Sharp. As soon as I have a date and place I'll let you know. If things pan out with a place we're looking at right now, I may have info within the next two weeks.
Remember, if you'd like to see a full show write up, visit www.otenewsletter.com or call me at 864-909-3381 to find out more about On The Edge.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Sharpening with the Ookami Gold® Convexing Clamp
As promised, here is the video showing how to sharpen with the Ookami Gold® Convexing Clamp. This clamp makes sharpening a convex edge on a beauty shear fast and easy. Let me know what you think.
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Ookami Gold® Convexing Clamp Sharpening System Video from Wolff Industries on Vimeo.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Ookami Gold® Sharpening System Video
I've been working on a new video for the Ookami Gold® Sharpening System. Here is an online version of it. More to come in a day or two.
Sharpening on the Ookami Gold® Scissors Sharpening System from Wolff Industries on Vimeo.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Give Me the Worst Pair of Shears You've got.

I had a student say to me one time, "I go into every shop I can find and say give me the worst pair of shears you have and I'll make them cut." He then asked, "What do you think about that?"
I said, "Well...I think that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life." (With a smile on my face of course)
He laughed and asked why. So I asked, "What happens if they give you a shear like the one in this picture?" (Click on the picture for a better look)
He went on to tell me that he did in fact get a shear almost exactly like this one once. An upholsterer went outside to the dumpster and pulled an old carbon steel shear out of the bottom he had noticed the day before. So I asked, "Were you able to make it cut?"
My student said yes, but he worked on the shear for over an hour and then didn't charge anything for it. Now he did get the account, so that's good, but at what cost? I told him there was a better way if he was interested. He said he was. So I said, "Wouldn't it have been better to walk in and say give me the best pair of shears you have and I"ll make them cut better?"
I'm not pushing arrogance or cockiness here, I'm pushing toward the realm of confidence; although you do need to be careful because there's a fine line between the two. If all you can get to prove you can sharpen from a potential to customer is junk, then take the junk and make it better. But if you REALLY want to make an impression, shoot for getting what's good and then make it awesome.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Next Wolff Show

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Wolff Show in Greenville, South Carolina on July 17th and 18th is officially sold out. Wolff is starting a waiting list though, so if you'd still like to try to come be sure to call right away. The higher up you are on the waiting list the better chance you have of getting a seat.
I will be sitting down with David and Bill this next week to put together the show schedule. I will list it here when it's done. I look forward to see all of you that signed up. If you have any questions, just give me a call.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sharpening Pinking Shears
I've been getting a number of questions on sharpening Pinking Shears lately, so I uploaded this video the other day to the Jim Sharp Blog YouTube Channel. Not real happy with the quality (I shot it with Wolff's Flip Mino HD), but it will do the trick for now. Let me know if you have any questions concerning the procedures in this video. I'll see about shooting a better quality one in the future.
If you are receiving this by email and having trouble viewing this, click here to view the video.
If you're in the market for any of the Wolff sharpening machines, be sure to give me a call before you buy. I know all the best places to buy at the best price! Call 864-381-8697 or email me at otenews@gmail.com.
Sign up by email. It's free!!
If you are receiving this by email and having trouble viewing this, click here to view the video.
If you're in the market for any of the Wolff sharpening machines, be sure to give me a call before you buy. I know all the best places to buy at the best price! Call 864-381-8697 or email me at otenews@gmail.com.
Sign up by email. It's free!!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Stainless Steel
As you can imagine, stainless steel is a topic that comes up a lot throughout my day. What grade? What's the hardness? What makes one steel better than another? What happens when you mix different metals? All good questions. So where can you go to find some answers? Right here on the internet.
One of the great things about living in the 21st century is that information is no further away that the touch of a few buttons. Is all the information solid and reputable? Maybe not, but it's there. Just be sure when you read anything on the web that you go into it with the mindset of chewing up the meat and spiting out the bones, but I digress.
One of my students called me the other day and ask me to point him in the right direction when it comes to researching stainless steel. I sent him a few links and wanted to pass them on to you too. Here are the three I sent:
Stainless Steel
Rockwell Hardness
Fun Video Comparing Steel to Cake
Take a look at these sites and others like them. One of the most important things you can do as a professional sharpener is keep yourself informed. Let me know what you learn, and if you have any questions, I'm just an email away. :)
Image : underclasscameraman
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
IT'S SHOW TIME!!!
IT'S SHOW TIME!!! That's right folks! Time again for another Wolff Show!
Where? Good ol' Greenville, South Carolina. It's one town over from the Wolff Headquarters in Spartanburg and a great place to visit. To check out some of the things to see and do in one of my favorite places on earth, click here.
When? July 17th - 18th, 2010. I'll have a full schedule for you soon.
Which hotel is this? The Greenville/Spartanburg Airport Marriott. For more info on the hotel itself, click here.
How much? That's the great part! It's only costs $89.00 to attend all the seminars and gain access to the vendor room. To book your seat, call Wolff at 800-888-3832. Don't wait too long though! Seating is limited to only 46! So if you want to come, sign up right away! If you choose to stay at the hotel, they've given Wolff a special room rate of $89.00 per night on a limited number of rooms. To see what the rooms look like, click here. To book a room, call 864-297-0300 and ask for the Wolff Industries Rate while these rooms are still available.
What's gonna go on? Let me tell ya...
Sharpening on Wolff Equipment
I'll be doing some indepth training on the Hira-To®, the Ookami Gold®, and the Twice as Sharp®. I'll also be showing how the Corru-Gator and Rotary Blade Sharpeners work as well. Throughout all of these seminars I'll be peppering in some shears that...well...let's just say they'll be "fun" to work on in front of a group *shuddering already*. So whether you're a newbie or a seasoned sharpener, you'll find my presentations interesting.
Clipper Blade Sharpening
As of right now, Bob Schiessl plans to be at the show to go over clipper blade sharpening with you. Bob's been at this for over 20 years and I've seen him teach people more tricks in a hour than most sharpeners could teach a person in a week.
Nipper Sharpening
Mike Borsch will show all of us how to put his nipper sharpener to work. More and more we're seeing Day Spas pop up that offer one stop shopping for beauty needs. That means more places will appreciate it if you can service nail techs as well as stylists. Come learn how.
Up Your Income with more Sales
One of Wolff's top selling sharpeners will be at the show to share some of the methods he uses to sell shears every day; three to five shear or more per day as a matter of fact and how you can do this too. He set a business goal this past year in the six figures and beat it! Whether you're looking to sell shears, or just yourself, Bruce will teach you a number of tips and trick you can take to the bank, literally.
Separate Vendor Room
For the first time since Wolff has started doing these smaller shows, we'll have all of our supporting vendors in a separate room from the seminars. So if you'd like to spend a little more time looking at some of the lines of shears we carry, or some of the other equipment Wolff sells besides our own, you can visit with the owners and representatives of those companies at your leisure. The vendors that plan to be at the show as of this writing are:
Wolff has set the standard in this industry when it comes to sharpening shows! Everyone that's attended in the past has had nothing but praise for the quality of the education, the time and attention Wolff and it's supporting vendors give each attendee during the show, and the fun and fellowship they get to have with their fellow sharpeners. One of my favorite parts about my job at Wolff is putting together these shows. Come join me and find out what sets the Wolff Shows apart. Call me 800-888-3832 or email me at Jim@wolffind.com if you have questions. I look forward to hearing from you!
Image of Greenville at top of post provided by linkerjpatrick via Flickr.com
When? July 17th - 18th, 2010. I'll have a full schedule for you soon.
Which hotel is this? The Greenville/Spartanburg Airport Marriott. For more info on the hotel itself, click here.How much? That's the great part! It's only costs $89.00 to attend all the seminars and gain access to the vendor room. To book your seat, call Wolff at 800-888-3832. Don't wait too long though! Seating is limited to only 46! So if you want to come, sign up right away! If you choose to stay at the hotel, they've given Wolff a special room rate of $89.00 per night on a limited number of rooms. To see what the rooms look like, click here. To book a room, call 864-297-0300 and ask for the Wolff Industries Rate while these rooms are still available.
What's gonna go on? Let me tell ya...
Sharpening on Wolff EquipmentI'll be doing some indepth training on the Hira-To®, the Ookami Gold®, and the Twice as Sharp®. I'll also be showing how the Corru-Gator and Rotary Blade Sharpeners work as well. Throughout all of these seminars I'll be peppering in some shears that...well...let's just say they'll be "fun" to work on in front of a group *shuddering already*. So whether you're a newbie or a seasoned sharpener, you'll find my presentations interesting.
Clipper Blade Sharpening
As of right now, Bob Schiessl plans to be at the show to go over clipper blade sharpening with you. Bob's been at this for over 20 years and I've seen him teach people more tricks in a hour than most sharpeners could teach a person in a week.
Nipper Sharpening
Mike Borsch will show all of us how to put his nipper sharpener to work. More and more we're seeing Day Spas pop up that offer one stop shopping for beauty needs. That means more places will appreciate it if you can service nail techs as well as stylists. Come learn how.
Up Your Income with more Sales
One of Wolff's top selling sharpeners will be at the show to share some of the methods he uses to sell shears every day; three to five shear or more per day as a matter of fact and how you can do this too. He set a business goal this past year in the six figures and beat it! Whether you're looking to sell shears, or just yourself, Bruce will teach you a number of tips and trick you can take to the bank, literally.
Separate Vendor Room
For the first time since Wolff has started doing these smaller shows, we'll have all of our supporting vendors in a separate room from the seminars. So if you'd like to spend a little more time looking at some of the lines of shears we carry, or some of the other equipment Wolff sells besides our own, you can visit with the owners and representatives of those companies at your leisure. The vendors that plan to be at the show as of this writing are:
- Wolff
- Nebraska Blades
- Clipper Shack
- Kenchii Shears
- Shark Fin Shears
- Lucky Hare Shears
- ProLine Shears
Wolff has set the standard in this industry when it comes to sharpening shows! Everyone that's attended in the past has had nothing but praise for the quality of the education, the time and attention Wolff and it's supporting vendors give each attendee during the show, and the fun and fellowship they get to have with their fellow sharpeners. One of my favorite parts about my job at Wolff is putting together these shows. Come join me and find out what sets the Wolff Shows apart. Call me 800-888-3832 or email me at Jim@wolffind.com if you have questions. I look forward to hearing from you!
Image of Greenville at top of post provided by linkerjpatrick via Flickr.com
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Scissors Sharpening Class: Sizing Tips on the Hira-To® Flat Hone
I received a request a while back from a fellow scissors sharpener asking me to show how to match tips on a flat hone. What he meant by matching tips is sometimes you'll find a shear with one blade that is slightly longer than the other. For the blades to cut properly the tips need to match up. You correct this by grinding the tips back until they're even. There also will come a time when you'll need to flatten the tips of the shears down because they've become too pointy after numerous sharpenings. You'd use the same techniques I show on the Wolff Twice as Sharp® and the Wolff Hira-To® Flat Hone in the video below to do this as well. Let me know if you have any questions.
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If you are receiving this by email, click here to view video.
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Scissor Sharpening Class: Sharpen Left Hand Shears on the Hira-To® Flat Hone
Yup. It's been a little while. Sorry about that, but every once and a while I need a little sabbatical from all the writing I do. Especially when I'm in the middle of a big new website project like the one I'm working on right now. (I'll tell you more about that in the future)
Anyway, time to jump back in the saddle and get going again. I few weeks ago I shot a video showing how to sharpen true left hand shears on the Wolff Hira-To® Scissors Sharpening System. A number of people have already viewed the video, but I wanted to post it here for you to view as well.
In this video, I show you how to set your Hira-To® fixture up to sharpen either right or left hand shears. I also show you how to tell the difference between a right handed shear and a true left hand one. If you have any questions concerning any part of this video, please call me at 800-888-3832 or 864-909-3381 and leave a message with your phone number and email. If you'd like to email me a question, my email is Jim@wolffind.com.
If you are receiving this by email, please click here to view the video.
Sign up by email. It's free!!
Anyway, time to jump back in the saddle and get going again. I few weeks ago I shot a video showing how to sharpen true left hand shears on the Wolff Hira-To® Scissors Sharpening System. A number of people have already viewed the video, but I wanted to post it here for you to view as well.
In this video, I show you how to set your Hira-To® fixture up to sharpen either right or left hand shears. I also show you how to tell the difference between a right handed shear and a true left hand one. If you have any questions concerning any part of this video, please call me at 800-888-3832 or 864-909-3381 and leave a message with your phone number and email. If you'd like to email me a question, my email is Jim@wolffind.com.
If you are receiving this by email, please click here to view the video.
Sign up by email. It's free!!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Scissors Sharpening Class: Fixing a BAD Set Problem
I shot the video below over a week ago and I've been intending to write about this, but it's been so busy I've had a hard time getting away. Finally things have slowed down just a little, so here is a run down of what brought this video about.
A scissor sharpener called me and asked if I might be able to help him with a problem. He had made a mistake on one of his machines and damaged the blade of one of his customers shears. He said it was bent and didn't feel he could fix it. Seemed like a challenge, so I told him to send it on.
When I received it I saw what he meant! Boy was this shear bent in a bad spot!!! Right at the early entry! In fact, it was bend so badly it almost looked like the shear had a full bend of set in it, but in the wrong direction. I did my best to let you see this in the video below, so I'm going to send you there to view what the blade looked like and what I had to do to fix it. So watch the video now, then read the rest.
If you are receiving this post by email and having trouble viewing the video, click here.
As I said in the video, I had to do some more work to finish this shear; so I went into the sharpening training center and started to resharpen it. While doing so though, I noticed that there was a snake in the blade (this is a bend in the blade that looks like an S) about a 1/4" back from the tip. The blade also looked fatigued so I really didn't want to do a lot of bending on it because I knew it would break. I did a few test passes over my water stone after I bent as much of the snake out of the blade as I dared, but I still didn't have the shear set to the point where I could hone a consistent rideline without causing an unsightly wave. Fortunately, I had a trick up my sleeve, the Ookami Honing Blocks.
These blocks are much more forgiving than water stones and coming in handy when you have a shear with inconsistent set problems. I worked the inside of the blades on these blocks, reformed an acceptable rideline, and then polished and reassembled the shear. It cut well when I was done.
All in all I had about 50 minutes in this shear. A little too long for my taste. If I had run into a shear that was damaged this bad in the field I would have sold the customer a new one. Remember, I often say that there's a big difference between scissors repair and scissors maintenance. Repair takes a lot longer and is less profitable and often a heavily damaged shear just isn't worth saving, but working on shears like this is also part of the fun and learning experience in the business of scissors sharpening. While this may not have been a profitable 50 minutes, imagine if I had been a sharpener trying to get into a salon and someone handed me a challenge like this. When I fixed it, do you think that would carry some weight? You bet it would!
Having the right tools and knowledge is essential if your goal is to become a successful sharpener, and two tools in particular saved the day in this case; the scissors press and the Ookami Honing Block Kit. Concerning the knowledge side of this equation, dealing with a problem shear like this requires sharpening training and/or years of experience. This kind of training is something I can help you with. So if you'd like to find out more about the sharpening training I offer, give me a call at Wolff at 800-888-3832 or email me at Jim@wolffind.com. Also know that I'm available for sharpening support as well. So please call or email me if you have questions concerning anything I did in this post, or with any other sharpening questions you may have.
If you're in the market for any of the Wolff sharpening machines, be sure to give me a call before you buy. I know all the best places to buy at the best price! Call 864-381-8697 or email me at otenews@gmail.com.
Sign up by email. It's free!!
A scissor sharpener called me and asked if I might be able to help him with a problem. He had made a mistake on one of his machines and damaged the blade of one of his customers shears. He said it was bent and didn't feel he could fix it. Seemed like a challenge, so I told him to send it on.
When I received it I saw what he meant! Boy was this shear bent in a bad spot!!! Right at the early entry! In fact, it was bend so badly it almost looked like the shear had a full bend of set in it, but in the wrong direction. I did my best to let you see this in the video below, so I'm going to send you there to view what the blade looked like and what I had to do to fix it. So watch the video now, then read the rest.
If you are receiving this post by email and having trouble viewing the video, click here.
As I said in the video, I had to do some more work to finish this shear; so I went into the sharpening training center and started to resharpen it. While doing so though, I noticed that there was a snake in the blade (this is a bend in the blade that looks like an S) about a 1/4" back from the tip. The blade also looked fatigued so I really didn't want to do a lot of bending on it because I knew it would break. I did a few test passes over my water stone after I bent as much of the snake out of the blade as I dared, but I still didn't have the shear set to the point where I could hone a consistent rideline without causing an unsightly wave. Fortunately, I had a trick up my sleeve, the Ookami Honing Blocks.
These blocks are much more forgiving than water stones and coming in handy when you have a shear with inconsistent set problems. I worked the inside of the blades on these blocks, reformed an acceptable rideline, and then polished and reassembled the shear. It cut well when I was done.
All in all I had about 50 minutes in this shear. A little too long for my taste. If I had run into a shear that was damaged this bad in the field I would have sold the customer a new one. Remember, I often say that there's a big difference between scissors repair and scissors maintenance. Repair takes a lot longer and is less profitable and often a heavily damaged shear just isn't worth saving, but working on shears like this is also part of the fun and learning experience in the business of scissors sharpening. While this may not have been a profitable 50 minutes, imagine if I had been a sharpener trying to get into a salon and someone handed me a challenge like this. When I fixed it, do you think that would carry some weight? You bet it would!
Having the right tools and knowledge is essential if your goal is to become a successful sharpener, and two tools in particular saved the day in this case; the scissors press and the Ookami Honing Block Kit. Concerning the knowledge side of this equation, dealing with a problem shear like this requires sharpening training and/or years of experience. This kind of training is something I can help you with. So if you'd like to find out more about the sharpening training I offer, give me a call at Wolff at 800-888-3832 or email me at Jim@wolffind.com. Also know that I'm available for sharpening support as well. So please call or email me if you have questions concerning anything I did in this post, or with any other sharpening questions you may have.
If you're in the market for any of the Wolff sharpening machines, be sure to give me a call before you buy. I know all the best places to buy at the best price! Call 864-381-8697 or email me at otenews@gmail.com.
Sign up by email. It's free!!
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