Designing a Sharpening Business That Serves Your Life (Not the Other Way Around)

The Real Tools Behind a Successful Sharpening Business

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435835/fan_mail/new] What tools do you REALLY need to start a sharpening business? In this episode of Tool Talk, Matt sits down with Grant Lauinger of Custom Edge Sharpening to discuss sharpening systems, tool philosophy, guided vs freehand sharpening, business growth, and the reality of building a sharpening business part-time. Grant shares how he started with a simple 1x30 setup and gradually expanded into clipper blades, salon shears, garden tools, mower blades, and professional belt systems including CutterMaster, AmeriBrade, BuckTool, Tormek, and more. Topics include: * Beginner sharpening setups * Guided vs freehand sharpening * Edge trailing vs edge leading * Sharpening business growth * Marketplace tool deals * Mobile sharpening setups * Dust collection realities * Tool recommendations * Building a part-time sharpening business Grant operates Custom Edge Sharpening in the Chicago area and is an active member of the Guild of Professional Sharpeners. https://members.guildofsharpeners.org/

From Swiss Army Knives to a Sharpening Business | Ken Lunder’s Journey

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435835/fan_mail/new] In this episode of the Knife and Tool Sharpening Podcast, Matt sits down with Ken Lunders of Maritime Sharpening in Halifax to talk about his lifelong journey with knives and sharpening. Ken’s story starts the way many sharpeners do — fascinated with his father’s Swiss Army knife as a kid. From sharpening on oil stones and concrete as a teenager, to learning metallurgy as a diesel mechanic, to eventually building a sharpening business in Canada, Ken’s path shows how curiosity and persistence can turn a simple skill into a craft. We also dive into: • How Ken learned sharpening before YouTube and online communities • Why understanding burr removal and geometry changed everything • The difference between stones, belt grinders, and diamond plates • Why beginners should start simple instead of chasing expensive tools • The power of community and mentorship in accelerating your learning • Why sharpening businesses don’t have to compete with each other Ken also shares advice for anyone thinking about getting into sharpening: > “Just start. Learn the skill. The worst case is you gain a life skill you'll use forever.” Whether you're a professional sharpener, a knife enthusiast, or someone thinking about starting a sharpening business, this conversation is packed with insights from someone who has spent decades learning and refining the craft. Learn more and join the community at guildofsharpeners.org

Inside the Guild: How Sharpeners Are Growing Faster Together

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435835/fan_mail/new] What’s actually working in a sharpening business right now? In this update, I’m sharing what we’re seeing inside the Guild of Professional Sharpeners—from charging premium rates and adding high-value services, to building real connections that help you grow faster (without doing it alone). We cover: *  How sharpeners are increasing their rates  *  A “spa treatment” upsell that customers love  *  What’s happening inside our weekly Guild calls  *  Lessons from real sharpening businesses in the field  *  Behind-the-scenes of building out a new shop and adding a straight knife grinder  If you’re building a sharpening business—or thinking about starting one—this will give you a clear picture of what’s working right now. Join the Guild of Professional Sharpeners: → https://members.guildofsharpeners.org/ Subscribe to the “From the Bench” Newsletter (monthly insights + real-world strategies): → https://guildofsharpeners.kit.com/b95b5ecf74 You don’t have to figure this out alone.

Designing a Sharpening Business That Serves Your Life (Not the Other Way Around)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435835/fan_mail/new] James and I go way back—he was one of the early guys I taught in-person, and his story is a big part of why the Guild exists today. In this episode, James shares how he built (and rebuilt) his sharpening business in a way that supports his life instead of consuming it. We talk about the early days, learning the fundamentals (yes—the burr), why Google Business can be the difference between “crickets” and instant customers, and what changed when he restarted after a multi-year break. We also get real about farmer’s markets: what they pay, what they cost in time and energy, and why James is intentionally throttling back to protect weekends with his son. In this episode: * Starting a sharpening business with under ~$500 in gear * Why Google Business can outperform “traditional marketing” * Restarting after years away (and the new Google verification headaches) * Farmer’s market economics: $100–$600 days—and the hidden tradeoffs * Simple pricing that customers actually understand * Building community through the Guild (and why it matters) If you’re building a sharpening business (or thinking about it), this one is a reality check and a permission slip to design it your way. Option B — a little more punchy / story-driven James started in software, found sharpening through a podcast, and took a leap into a business he could build with his hands—and on his own terms. Then life changed. He put sharpening on the shelf for years… and came back to it later with the skills intact—but marketing and customer flow totally different. We talk about what it really means to build a business that serves you: why farmer’s markets can be great money and still not worth the weekend cost, how James simplified pricing to avoid confusing customers, and how the Guild became the kind of community you can’t replace with random social media clips. This episode is for anyone who wants to grow—without becoming a slave to “busy.”

Off the Slopes to On the Stones: Building a Knife Shop + Sharpening Business in Breckenridge

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435835/fan_mail/new] In this episode, I’m joined by Steve Harris of Breckenridge Knife & Tool Sharpening, recorded live from his shop in Breckenridge, Colorado. Steve shares how his retail store, Off the Slopes, naturally led him into professional knife and tool sharpening after customers kept asking a simple question: “Can you sharpen my knife?” What started as a value-add quickly turned into a thriving sharpening business serving homeowners, professional chefs, flower shops, groomers, and more — all in a small resort town. We talk about Steve’s origin story, how joining the Guild of Professional Sharpeners jump-started his skills and confidence, and why he approaches sharpening with a service-first mindset — focusing on quality, value, and sharpening to the customer’s real use case. We also dive into sharpening as a powerful retirement or second-career path, how to shape the business around your life, and what it takes to support customers through both knife sales and long-term sharpening care. If you’re a working sharpener, thinking about starting a sharpening business, or curious how a real knife shop operates behind the scenes, this conversation is packed with practical insight. 🔗 LINKS • Off the Slopes (Steve’s retail shop): https://www.offtheslopes.com/ [https://www.offtheslopes.com/] • Breckenridge Knife & Tool Sharpening:  https://breckenridge-knife-and-tool-sharpening-46724128.hubspotpagebuilder.com/en-us/ [https://breckenridge-knife-and-tool-sharpening-46724128.hubspotpagebuilder.com/en-us/] • Guild of Professional Sharpeners:  https://guildofsharpeners.org [https://guildofsharpeners.org] 🎧 The Knife and Tool Sharpening Podcast is made possible by the Guild of Professional Sharpeners — a community of knife and tool sharpening business owners who help each other achieve success as each individual defines it. Learn more at https://guildofsharpeners.org [https://guildofsharpeners.org] 🧭 TOPICS COVERED * Steve’s origin story: from retail knives to sharpening * Service-first business philosophy * Sharpening as a retirement or second career * Quality vs. value in sharpening work * Serving high-end chefs and everyday customers * Using the Guild map to refer customers nationwide (and worldwide) * Lessons from running a knife-focused retail shop 👍 If this episode helped you, like, subscribe, and leave a comment:  What question do you have about starting or growing a sharpening business? #knifesharpening #sharpeningbusiness #knives #guildofprofessionalsharpeners #breckenridge