Should I Raise My Knife Sharpening Prices?

A customer wasn't happy with another knife sharpener's work so she brought me her knives to see if I can do better. We talked about his prices which got me thinking...
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If you want to mail me your knives to get sharpened! www.laknifesha...
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#knife #sharpening #business

[@yglvidhughes3721]

I charge 5$ for a touch up and 10$ for reprofiling/ getting chips out so 8 seems like a good middle ground! I’d also like to do another side business of teaching people how to either strop or sharpen themselves, not sure how much I could charge for that but it would be interesting.

[@j.d.1488]

First time here. Love seeing young people doing the thinks they love. When you enjoy what you do you tend to excel at it. Very cool channel

[@dropdead266]

Love your transparency and commentary!

[@steven_sharpens]

Tryna keep it reaalll

[@lizaduran8518]

Your video was so relaxing. I didn’t know who you had out of state customers too. That’s amazing.

[@steven_sharpens]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@felipemontero1087]

I charge (in my currency) about 7-12 dolars on each knife to a mirror polish on diamond stones, with honing, stropping and polish, along with rust removal. If someone gives me more than 3 knives, I make a full price depending on the size and state of the edge. The only one I charge more are super steels, big swords and bowie knives and stuff that is way to damaged

[@daveh777]

I charge $1.50 per inch of blade.

[@peternowlan5196]

I sharpen professionally in Canada on water stones at $15 per knife, $10 for paring knives. I should be charging $20 but I’m doing fine. I think $12 is fine for your method. Be careful,charge to much and customers will run away, charge to little and it tells people not to expect to much from my services even though you may do a great job and you probably do. Good luck.

[@billybobwombat2231]

Good onya mate, 27 year sharpening business, done well , Australia 🤙🦘

[@K3Flyguy]

Handle wood was not stabilized before construction, sad considering how much work went into the handle material. Nice video! I subscribed.

[@twistedbranchesfishing]

It might have been stablized and then the knives were cleaned in the dishwasher. Dishwashers do horrible things to wood, stabilized wood, synthetics, micartas, etc. A combination of the heating and cooling. They get really hot.

[@thisishowithinkbytms7379]

Not every knife is sharp with the same technique you should charge for that! Especially if you deliver an outstanding job! Wish you the best!!

[@StephenFoster-n3f]

I have charged only $3.00 for knives under 8" I make about $60.00 per hour doing volume. I make good tips also. I can do a knife in under 3 minutes and I work at least 6 days a week. Check out knife sharpening at the Santa Cruz flea market. That's me😊

[@hotdogplayzhalo]

Hey bro! Great videos, I saw you on tiktok then found ya here. Listen, i love the goggles but you gotta get yourself some nice safety specs. You only have one pair of eyes, it's worth protecting them. Anyways, love your content!

[@zarehzoro]

12 bucks is nothing. I charge 20 bucks.

[@TrySomeFentanylToday]

For $20 the customer is better off buying a lansky

[@tdawg6615]

Maybe 20 for a machete but if you’re charging 20 for any knife under 10 inches that shit better be hair Whittling

[@SlavikSilverSave]

I think maybe i will raise my price every 1000 knives by 0.2 usd Just to feel the progression. I am thinking about it yet. It feels right. Like a master will be paid more than a novice. And after 100 knives you are not the same who's doing his first. And a master chef will ask for more money for less food.

[@BladeLabMiami]

I think $10 is about standard for this kind of sharpening.

[@graydonwilkinson1458]

When you love what you do it's awesomeness you ignore the world and it's nonsense. I love knives and all that stuff good fun. Great vid

[@nickjg333]

I like your style and outlook on life , could you be descriptive in the process of sharpening the knives even down to the grit belts u use

[@mrTHAISONtran]

excited for your journey man!

[@steven_sharpens]

Ty Thaison 🥹

[@seeharvester]

Don't get greedy. It will pay off in the long run.

[@edcmobilesharpening]

I charge 5.00 per knife, 10.00 for scissors and hand garden tools. I do house calls mostly..average house call, 150.00 per hour.

[@thomask837]

In Australia the equipment is twice as expensive as the states and we get around 60 percent of the fee compared to you guys. So your 10 bucks would be equivalent to 6 here. A Tormek is almost 1600 here

[@WatchWatchlist]

Hey I have a quick question for a newbie knife maker from Dallas. Do you have 4 Kalamazoo just for quick sharpening on the spot? What grit sandpapers are you using on these? Would you recommend the 1SMVP or the 1SM? Thanks for any answers in advance!

[@messermanufaktur-knifeart]

Keep it up! You doing great! Sarahs knives look like the "cheap individual" ones from pakistan. They are spamming around Insta and Facebook.

[@steven_sharpens]

I think she mentioned she bought it at Goodwill or something. Thanks for the kind words!

[@frankcostanzo8391]

Honestly, those knives look like she's been putting them through her dishwasher. There's no epoxy or wood glue in the world that's going to withstand a hot water cycle in a dishwasher repeatedly, especially with an endgrain checkerboard pattern like that. You can structurally "repair" the cracks by filling them in with epoxy and then sanding and buffing them back to shape. They'll still be there visually and further cracks will keep happening on those endgrain checkerboard scales unless she hand washes her knives.

[@lozaleather]

I love your videos Steven!!!! It’s so cool to see your process!!!

[@steven_sharpens]

you too brotha!!

[@evanpeck3278]

Your machines are from my hometown!!! Let’s go Michigan

[@wictorwictor1126]

This is it mang! Soak it up!

[@steven_sharpens]

Working on it 😬

[@andrewillis6537]

I charge $10 for large chef knives and $5 for boning / paring knives.

[@Adanacon]

Cracked handles are usually from the dishwasher. Hand wash all your knives

[@ChristopherSalisburySalz]

A lot of places charge by the inch. $8 flat rate is kind of a good idea. Sort of split the difference. Do people ever complain about $8 for a little paring knife?

[@faunsolo]

How long does it take per knife?

[@ronsellew5696]

Hey Steve what brand of Machines are you using to sharpen and what grits are you using?

[@topfueljunkie100]

I was hoping to find the answer to this too but didn't see him reply so I went looking for you and me :) I think it may be a Kalamazoo Industries 2FSM 2"x48" belt sander that currently runs around $549 according to the company's website.

[@ronsellew5696]

@@topfueljunkie100 Thanks for the information! I am looking for something to finish the blade by stropping with a leather belt.

[@robertcalzadillas8224]

Just paid 20 bucks for a 9" blade in Texas

[@Jeffrose_]

I love sharpening knives. Have you heard of curry custom cutlery? You should watch his videos. He has quite a setup.

[@alvarezjesus93]

Love your videos, surprisingly interesting 😊

[@flash2tz]

$8 is nothing! Your time is worth more than that. Factor in your expertise, you gotta be at least $12!

[@jasonwho100]

Me too, i am charging $8

[@JohnDoe-zb7dz]

Belt sanding commands less money than hand sharpening on a stone. Reasons are obvious especially with high end knives. I personally don't like burnt weak edge's.

[@steven_sharpens]

Gotcha!

[@SirRoger_007]

Do you strop everything on denim? I'm just starting to use denim. I sharpen a lot of stuff for free because I enjoy it, but everything is on a stone from Arkansas, aluminum oxide, diamond, etc.

[@bangdingow1414]

Compound to debur? Hmmm....I just use a ceramic rod.

[@rowboat1972]

Dude, im totally digging your business idea. What a great idea. Ive never thought i could make $ doing something i like such as sharpening. Can you tell us about your whole set up? Machines? Did you take any training or are you self taught. What was your initial investment to get going? Are you making a living off it or just spare time?

[@connorchagnon5661]

where is that jacket from in the end of the video?!

[@fuzzyfletcher1954]

May I ask what grit lapidary diamond wheel you use for bread knife serrations? Thank you

[@michaeloddone2530]

Do you add a compound to the denim strop?

[@tomsmith6094]

I have a question ❓ how much are those machines costs?

[@jerryduffey1118]

Dr. Ashby, the leading world authority on arrow broadheads, has proven by massive volumes of testing that the smoother the edge the better it cuts. This is also proven by the international community of extreme sharpeners.

[@BenoJ3000]

For pushing motions yes. For draw, or slicing motions, no. I would posit cutting fibrous rope with a fine vs coarser edge.

[@BermPeakClips]

New to the Channel what city are you in

[@TheMobster450]

How do you creat a toothier edge ?

[@dennishilligoss7386]

Why not, everyone else does.

[@unclejerryssharpening]

Looks like they are washing those knives in the dishwasher... cracks!

[@scottr22]

do you still do edge trailing?

[@alexboy2111]

Love it!

[@steven_sharpens]

Appreciate that!

[@georgekarapetyan4272]

I love you and your videos

[@steven_sharpens]

I love you too

[@morganroberts8368]

10 bucks a knife

[@Davide0877]

Mask glasses fan 😮 is nuclear?

[@ProudPatriot1776]

Hi handsome

[@steven_sharpens]

Oh hey babyyy

[@chrisclarke4541]

I simply purchased an electric knife sharpener. It quickly produces a razor sharp edge and means i never have fork out money to pay a human knife sharpener service. No brainer really.

[@josephlopez7593]

Bro get out of here

[@chrisclarke4541]

@@josephlopez7593 YEAH !!!!!

[@NerdRobotGaming]

Well duh your working with cheap knives. If you can afford nice knives. You can afford to have them taken care of. Pretty simple to understand.

[@chrisclarke4541]

@@NerdRobotGaming I don't think you would last very long as a knife grinder. Oh and my knives are not cheap they just get a lot of use.

[@chrisclarke4541]

@@josephlopez7593 where to bro? ho ho ho!!

[@yarbjamel6132]

I charge $10 NZ dollar that's $6.26 USD and people are still not happy. Do what is right for your Business mate