how much do you charge family for sharpening?

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fatherleadfoot

Joined
Apr 26, 2012
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I don't mind sharpening knives for family, however, I don't really like spending my only day off catching up on knives. How much have you guys been charging your family members for sharpening services?

I was thinking I would maintain there 2 most used for free, and the charge whatever for the rest.

I just dropped 400 on a new wicked edge system and I figure I might be able to make a little of that back.

Also, how much would you charge someone who isn't kin?
 
Friends and family I do for free. If I were to charge, I wouldn't go over 10 bucks a knife.
 
I don't. But I don't always give them a $20 sharpening either.

A 1x30 with a 120 grit belt and a leather belt unless its a knife of quality, a no name kitchen knife with soft stainless steel does not need to see my expensive stones or get a high finish.

My brothers ZT or my dads spyderco is a different story, but I'm still not charging them.
 
If my family actually allowed me to sharpen their knives (they're afraid of mine), I wouldn't charge anyway. I have to constantly restrain myself from 'touching up' the kitchen knives around here, and that's not easy for me. I have done it a couple of times (secretly), and then deliberately 'dulled' the edge a little bit, just enough to keep somebody from seriously hurting themselves. They've become a little too 'casual' handling knives they know are always dull. :)
 
Free was how I started, but my family has embraced it. While I've done all my moms for free, I now have several aunts in line. Ive got 23 knives waiting for me when I get home that need to be finished before I pick up the next box.. I run them through the sharpmaker at about 10 minutes each for a quick sharpening but it still eats away an afternoon easily.

I want them to be more selective in which knives they want done or I'm okay with charging a little.

Im thinking 2 for free and then three dollars each after that. Something fair for both parties.
 
Family & relatives - free.
Friends - free for knives cost over $15.
Others - free for high end knives.
*free = no charge nor liabilies.

For me, buy new stones is cheaper than grind my cutleries into toothpicks.
 
It's your family man. As long as they don't abuse it I could never see me charging my family for sharpening. You never know when you will need a favor.
 
I sharpen family and friends' knives when asked for free. Doesn't happen all that often though.
 
Rather than charge your family, what you could do is ask them to recommend you to their acquaintances, and charge those people something. Effectively your family would be paying you in advertising :)
 
Family and friends I do for free, although typically it more comes around to a "trading favors" thing outside of my immediate family. The belt makes sharpening so fast that the handful of knives I'm usually handed can be put right in short order, although last fishing trip got a BIT absurd, with perhaps 35-40 knives from a dozen people.

Yes, I take power tools on fishing trips.
 
Friends,I'll charge a couple drinks.For family I don't charge anything.Thing is,I have a one knife rule.I had a buddy one time ask me to sharpen his knives for him,I did'nt realize it was a Safeway bag full of them:grumpy:.I sharpen by hand,and wore a big groove in the middle of my favorite(at that time)Bench stone:mad:.I swore off doing more than one at a time,that was 15 years ago.I use Diamonds now,which reduces my time,big time!;):D
 
Just swap your time for their time with a different menial task, eg: “I was going to mow the lawn. You go and crack on with that and I'll have your knives done by the time you're finished”. “I was going to go to shop X. You go and by the time you get back...”
 
kreole said:
Rather than charge your family, what you could do is ask them to recommend you to their acquaintances, and charge those people something. Effectively your family would be paying you in advertising :)
Click to expand...

This is what I do. As for what I normally charge people outside of my family to sharpen their knives, I charge by the blade inch ($2.00 to cover materials). For something the size of a BK7, you're looking at $14. Though sharpening a 7 inch blade on a Spyderco Sharpmaker isn't all that easy to do.
 
Free. But I don't have many family or friends that bring knives to have sharpened. Most of them think the factory edge is as sharp as a knife can get. :rolleyes:
 
I do free as well, but I most certainly understand charging them if you are doing them all by hand! I would too if I were in your shoes... Maybe give them the first knife free like you said. But for me, it's nothing to take a kitchen knife to my $35 set of paper wheel s and have it done in about 3 minutes :-)
 
Family/friends for free. Nobody besides me in my family actually uses a knife so they never dull. I do bring my sharp maker with UF stones to bar nights on Fridays and sharpen my friends.
 
My family gets it free. If I have to put up with their arrogance I'm too busy the next time. Should they grill me burgers I'll remember that as well. Most of them don't know how and don't understand what sharp is.
Sometimes, I even do it for a young meat cutter. They really appreciate it. I'm suprised at how many meat cutter don't know to sharpen their knives and don't have a single stone at home. My Mother-in-Law had no one to sharpen her knives yet, was a good cook. Guess who got her knives sharpened for free... To me it's pratice and maybe a story or meal. Some even gift me a new stone just so I'll return. DM
 
I don't even think about friends or family, why should they pay?

Anyone else, low grit edge on a pocket knife is $1 an inch.

Medium grit, $2 an inch

Polished $3 an inch.

Big and dull or odd, $5 an inch.

I also tell 'em that if it's a PITA then they better get me some drinks too. :)
 
If you feel that they're abusing the privilege (and 23 knives x 10 min each is quite a lot), either give them a limit or charge them in beer or something.
 
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