Tips for gun show sharpening?

[leozinho]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-amp-Knife-Show?highlight=gun+show+sharpening

Good thread with a lot of lessons learned here. His setup is different than yours. I think you are going to waste a lot of time changing belts, so you might consider 3 or 4 1x30s loaded with the various grits, including a leather strop.

I wouldn't worry about people turning their nose up at a belt sander. 90% of the attendees won't be carrying anything nicer than a Gerber or Kershaw. (By the way, how do the sharpening snobs think production, midtech and even some custom knives are sharpened? Not by hand on a wet stone. )

 

[leozinho]

Also, I was wondering about serrated edges. Is it worth buying additional power equipment for serrated edges? Or are they fairly uncommon?

Go to Wal-Mart or Dick's and see if the blades there have serrations. Because I think that's the type of knife you'll be sharpening. (I don't mean to be negative. I'd charge the same for a Gerber as I would a Sebenza.) Let us know how it goes. Good luck:thumbup:

 

[Makeitsharp]

I'm going to go ahead and let you know you are setting yourself up for a lawsuit. Any power tool in a public place is a hazard. Unless you have multiple tables where you can box yourself in so no one can get close there is a high risk. You will definitely need a vacuum or something as well. People these days will sue for anything and everything they can. Noise isn't always a good thing, if it gets too loud people will avoid you even though the gun shows I've been to are always really noise anyways. Just remember to take extra belts and stuff because more than likely one will go missing.

I will definitely make sure there is some sort of barrier between the tools and the public. But I guess you're right, people will sue for ANYTHING these days. I do realize that there is a chance of a lawsuit being filed for what I'm doing, but can you think of any successful lawsuits of this manner? If you know of any, I would be interested in hearing about them. Until then, I don't believe there is a "high risk" from a legal standpoint in sharpening knives at a gun show.

 

[Makeitsharp]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-amp-Knife-Show?highlight=gun+show+sharpening

Good thread with a lot of lessons learned here. His setup is different than yours. I think you are going to waste a lot of time changing belts, so you might consider 3 or 4 1x30s loaded with the various grits, including a leather strop.

I wouldn't worry about people turning their nose up at a belt sander. 90% of the attendees won't be carrying anything nicer than a Gerber or Kershaw. (By the way, how do the sharpening snobs think production, midtech and even some custom knives are sharpened? Not by hand on a wet stone. )

Thank you very much for the link of the setup, and for reassuring my belief that a belt sander with good 3M Trizact belts is just fine for most knives out there.

 

[Makeitsharp]

Thank you very much for the link of the setup, and for reassuring my belief that a belt sander with good 3M Trizact belts is just fine for most knives out there.

Also, I have thought about it and I will probably end up buying 3 HF belt sanders 1X30" because as you have said, speed.

 

[DrFish]

Thank you very much for the link of the setup, and for reassuring my belief that a belt sander with good 3M Trizact belts is just fine for most knives out there.

That guy at the show was running slow whetstones.

A 1x42 or a 1x30 is really fast for sharpening. Yeah, I've done it with the 3m belts and a leather belt, but it can get ugly and it's too easy to chew up a blade. I wouldn't want to do it on somebody else's property.

I personally wouldn't let anybody with a sander like that anywhere near a decent knife. But I guess if you're talking putting a quick edge back onto the usual gun show cheap knives it'll do.

Belt changes are going to be what kills you. It's just no fun having to swap out belts for each knife. If you can batch process them, it might be more efficient. Do a batch of knives at one grit, change belts, do them again, etc.

Don't be afraid to refuse to sharpen a knife.

 

[ninjarabbi]

Just make sure you know what you are doing. I've seen a few messed up blades from belt sanders in my day.

 

[NRA]

You are not inventing something new. This has been done before. Do you have a successful business model you are following?

I know people that use systems like you suggest, but not in public where everyone is watching their every move.

Get a Ken Onion Sharp Maker. Small for portability. Will not hurt knives because it is slow speed.

 

[NRA]

Five of them attached to a spinning lazy Susan so you do not move, they come to you. Diffrent belt on each one.

End of one season, you might have your equipment paid for.

 

[pjwoolw]

You could just pick up a Sharp Machine rather than lugging around allot of gear. Pretty pricey up front but really not a bad unit. I just use a Kalamzoo 1x42 myself and change belts for those knives I don't hand sharpen on stones.

 

[kvaughn]

You might consider having some kind of legal disclaimer printed up relieving you of responsibility for any perceived damage to the customers blade and have them sign it before you do the work.--KV

 

[NRA]

You could just pick up a Sharp Machine rather than lugging around allot of gear. Pretty pricey up front but really not a bad unit. I just use a Kalamzoo 1x42 myself and change belts for those knives I don't hand sharpen on stones.

[video=youtube;nqRMP6fLUwI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqRMP6fLUwI#t=26[/video]

 

[Chris_S]

I will definitely make sure there is some sort of barrier between the tools and the public. But I guess you're right, people will sue for ANYTHING these days. I do realize that there is a chance of a lawsuit being filed for what I'm doing, but can you think of any successful lawsuits of this manner? If you know of any, I would be interested in hearing about them. Until then, I don't believe there is a "high risk" from a legal standpoint in sharpening knives at a gun show.

I've never heard of it happening there is always just the risk. I'm sure there will be no problems though.

 

[cbwx34]

You might get a kick out of this...

Whole Foods Sharpening has Shoppers On Edge

You probably won't see this at a gun show.

 

[NRA]

You will if you go to one of my gun shows.

 

[Makeitsharp]

Thank you guys for all the input and advice. The gun show went well despite having two other people doing the same thing (although with different setups using wheels). I really enjoyed putting smiles on peoples faces, the feedback that I got was all positive with regards to the quality of sharpening. One really big tip I would give any of you planning to do sharpening at a gun show is bring a HUGE sign, I thought mine was adequate (1'X4') but that was easily dwarfed by other peoples signs some of which were probably 8 by 10.

Once again thank you all so much the input really helped.