John's Sharpening Supplies Profile

John's Profile

Favorite Part of My Job:

I really enjoy trying new sharpeners and learning new techniques. I've been a sharpening geek since the beginning. If something comes into the shop, I always have to see it and try it.

Sharpening Tip:

Get out there and sharpen! Don't let all the sharpening information out there get in the way of your progress. If you have a dull tool or knife, whatever you do will probably make it sharper. If you make a mistake or two, that is alright, whatever you did wrong will be a learning experience. Don't wait until you're an expert before you give it a try.

Sharpening Philosophy:

I take a rather practical approach to sharpening. I say, "Do what works for you." I've spoken to thousands of customers and everyone has different needs. Just because something works for someone else, doesn't necessarily mean it is right for you. While I learned with stones, I enjoy using machines too. Some people feel there is only one way to do something, that just isn't my philosophy.

John's Favorite Product:

It is hard for me to pick a favorite product, but if I was forced to pick just one, I'd have to say it is our Double-Sided Paddle Strop. Stropping is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to turn a sharp edge into an incredibly sharp edge. Yet, some people still don't believe that something so economical can produce such a sharp edge. It is a great feeling to have a customer call us to tell us their experience with our strop.

Hobbies:

Woodworking, Cooking, Classic Cars, Sharpening, Fishing, Hiking, Running, Watching Wisconsin Sports

	Visualizing an Edge In order to understand sharpening, it is helpful to visualize dull and sharp edges. By understanding what dull and sharp look like, it is easier to understand the process of getting from one to the other. Unfortunately, edges tend to be rather small ...
	Sharpening a Serrated Knife How do I sharpen a serrated knife? Many knives feature serrated blades. The saw-like cutting action of these knives allows for aggressive slicing and the edges hold up well. Eventually though every edge becomes dull and loses its cutting ability. ...
	What I'm Sharpening Today - Boggs Spokeshave May 5, 2020 Spokeshaves can be wonderful tools. For those that don’t know, a spokeshave is basically a very short hand plane that allows you to make nice wood shavings on curved or irregular surfaces. Like all tools, there isn’t ...
	New Laser Edge Reader January 10, 2020 Easy Way to Find the Angle on Your Knife I just tested the prototype of a new Laser Knife Edge Reader that is currently on Kickstarter. I really like it and want to see it succeed. This tool uses a laser to split the ...
	Work Sharp Precision Adjust Review November 17, 2020 I was excited to evaluate and review the brand new Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener. As the long name implies, there is a lot going on with this sharpener. Let's get right into the details. What’s Included...
	What I'm Not Sharpening Today - Kalthoff Carving Axe November 24, 2020 I was introduced to the Kalthoff Small Carving Axe by professional woodworker,Tom Bartlett. Tom uses his axe to skillfully turn a piece of green wood into spoon blank. I've been using a small axe that wasn't des...
	Gift Recommendation - For the Oudoor Enthusiast By John Carmona - Sharpening Specialist and Company Founder - December 2, 2021 Finding the right gift for the outdoor enthusiast can be difficult. That is why a sharpener makes such a great gift. If they’re a ...
	Tormek T-1 Review One of the most exciting parts of my job is to test, evaluate and understand new sharpeners. I recently had the pleasure of testing out the Tormek T-1. Below are my notes, first impressions, and overall evaluation of the Tormek T-1. The Tormek T...
	Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Review May 15, 2023 Summary We just launched the Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust, a completely new guided sharpener that builds on their many years of experience in the sharpening market. I had an opportunity to test and review a ...