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In this episode of the Knife and Tool Sharpening Podcast, Matt sits down with Ken Lunders of Maritime Sharpening in Halifax to talk about his lifelong journey with knives and sharpening.

Ken’s story starts the way many sharpeners do — fascinated with his father’s Swiss Army knife as a kid. From sharpening on oil stones and concrete as a teenager, to learning metallurgy as a diesel mechanic, to eventually building a sharpening business in Canada, Ken’s path shows how curiosity and persistence can turn a simple skill into a craft.

We also dive into:

• How Ken learned sharpening before YouTube and online communities
• Why understanding burr removal and geometry changed everything
• The difference between stones, belt grinders, and diamond plates
• Why beginners should start simple instead of chasing expensive tools
• The power of community and mentorship in accelerating your learning
• Why sharpening businesses don’t have to compete with each other

Ken also shares advice for anyone thinking about getting into sharpening:

Whether you're a professional sharpener, a knife enthusiast, or someone thinking about starting a sharpening business, this conversation is packed with insights from someone who has spent decades learning and refining the craft.

Learn more and join the community at guildofsharpeners.org

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What’s actually working in a sharpening business right now?

In this update, I’m sharing what we’re seeing inside the Guild of Professional Sharpeners—from charging premium rates and adding high-value services, to building real connections that help you grow faster (without doing it alone).

We cover:

• How sharpeners are increasing their rates
• A “spa treatment” upsell that customers love
• What’s happening inside our weekly Guild calls
• Lessons from real sharpening businesses in the field
• Behind-the-scenes of building out a new shop and adding a straight knife grinder

If you’re building a sharpening business—or thinking about starting one—this will give you a clear picture of what’s working right now.

Join the Guild of Professional Sharpeners:
→ https://members.guildofsharpeners.org/

Subscribe to the “From the Bench” Newsletter (monthly insights + real-world strategies):
→ https://guildofsharpeners.kit.com/b95b5ecf74

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

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James and I go way back—he was one of the early guys I taught in-person, and his story is a big part of why the Guild exists today.

In this episode, James shares how he built (and rebuilt) his sharpening business in a way that supports his life instead of consuming it. We talk about the early days, learning the fundamentals (yes—the burr), why Google Business can be the difference between “crickets” and instant customers, and what changed when he restarted after a multi-year break.

We also get real about farmer’s markets: what they pay, what they cost in time and energy, and why James is intentionally throttling back to protect weekends with his son.

In this episode:

• Starting a sharpening business with under ~$500 in gear
• Why Google Business can outperform “traditional marketing”
• Restarting after years away (and the new Google verification headaches)
• Farmer’s market economics: $100–$600 days—and the hidden tradeoffs
• Simple pricing that customers actually understand
• Building community through the Guild (and why it matters)

If you’re building a sharpening business (or thinking about it), this one is a reality check and a permission slip to design it your way.

Option B — a little more punchy / story-driven

James started in software, found sharpening through a podcast, and took a leap into a business he could build with his hands—and on his own terms.

Then life changed. He put sharpening on the shelf for years… and came back to it later with the skills intact—but marketing and customer flow totally different.

We talk about what it really means to build a business that serves you: why farmer’s markets can be great money and still not worth the weekend cost, how James simplified pricing to avoid confusing customers, and how the Guild became the kind of community you can’t replace with random social media clips.

This episode is for anyone who wants to grow—without becoming a slave to “busy.”