Sharpening Expertise

Steve Collins - He's Bona Fide....

Education

After graduation from Slidell High School in Slidell, LA, I moved to Baton Rouge to study at Louisiana State University. Yes, I know that my diploma is upside-down. It just illustrates the fact that I have no formal education! I did, however, go on to endow the Steve Collins Scholarship for the Academically Mediocre at LSU in the late 90's.

To become more proficient at sharpening both scissors and high-end beauty shears, I traveled to Spartanburg, SC, for training under Jim O'Donnell at Wolff Industries. This intense, one-on -one guidance was to further my initial education I received at the Wolff-Huff Show in Kansas City that same year.

Clipper sharpening and repair is an art form, mastered by Bobby Huffman at the Extreme Cut Factory. He taught me both sharpening techniques and the skills of clipper repair during my training in Knox City, MO.

Sometimes, you just have to take yourself too seriously. This is not one of those times. I am not one of those people. Some of my training is bogus, but at the same time, spurious. My education at Sherman's School of Sharpenin' Stuff is included just to look good on the resume. What do you think?

How sharp do I get the edge?

Is this sharp enough for you? The angle edge depends on a number of things. What are you going to use the tool for? Is the current angle working for you or does it need to be sharper? Remember that the sharper the edge, the shorter the work life of the instrument will be. The life of the edge is also affected by the number of times it is used, and on what surface it is used. A beauty shear will not hold it's edge as well if used on dry cuts, and especially if used to cut a paper strip for waxing. A knife dulls not by cutting the object, but rather by repeated contact with the chopping surface.

About Steve Collins

Find out about Steve Collins - he's One Sharp Dude. Read more...

The Dude Mobile

Yes, it was (and I guess, still is) an ambulance. Originally used by EMT's in rural Ohio, I bought the vehicle off eBay and converted it into a mobile work truck, the back of which is fitted with 8 precision-quality sharpening machines. From the flat-hone, reversible speed Hira-To, used for Japanese convex bevel beauty shears, down through the Twice As Sharp grinding and honing wheels, the Tru-Hone Knife Sharpener, the Extreme Cut Clipper Blade Sharpener, and the belt sander, every level of tool is matched up to the machine that is designed to achieve the proper edge.

The lights work as does the siren and horn.

Since making the switch to a mobile-based business, I sell, repair and sharpen on the spot.