Originally Posted by
Martin Siebert
I realize there is time involved actually doing it, but how many blades can you sharpen in the time it takes to box one up, address it, drive it to a shipping outfit and receive and un-box it??
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You just addressed the obvious, and thanks for stating it so eloquently. I am a professional with $5K overhead per month, so time is $. Anyone running a pro shop knows this, which is why I hold to a $200.00 minimum order for all my products because $50.00 of that minimum is spent printing shipping labels, packing and shipping, plus cost of shipping - all needed to send blades out, then return.
Maybe I need to shoot a side by side video of the four to six blades I can sharpen with my system in the same amount of time it takes to pack blades, print labels, drop off shipment, then wait for blades to return, then unpack.
The real advantage though for me (might be for others) is the convenience of sharpening on demand. Very addicting. I'm almost like the guys in the hand tool forum that make sharpening a zen-like religious experience (never joining the dark side)
I am cutting expensive composite resin / carbon fiber /plywood laminations all the time, and I have grown addicted to the zero bottom tearout and crisp top edge from a well sharpened blade, so I will often mount my diamond sharpener to dress up an already sharp blade, since its so quick to do.
If I were retired and have all the time in the world, then I would ship blades - did it for many years. Then there is the ancillary advantages to having a 600 grit diamond blade - sharpening router bits and carbide drill bits. I needed to make a step drill from carbide for drilling grip screw holes in my carbon fiber 1911 grips since they don't sell carbide step drills to these specs. The diamond blade did it perfectly.
bits.jpg1911-ccf-copper4x-full.jpg
john.blazy_dichrolam_llc
Delta Unisaw, Rabbit QX-80-1290 80W Laser, 5 x 12 ft laminating ovens, Powermax 22/44, Accuspray guns, Covington diamond lap and the usual assortment of cool toys / tools.