Best Ideas from the 2019 Sharpeners Jam

Best Ideas from the 2019 Sharpeners Jam

It may sound crazy, but you can restore and recondition the edge on a pair of beauty shears using a common nail buffer. This video shows you how to do this and it also includes rideline work on a waterstone.

Check out this video.

Jim Turner’s Creative Winning Ideas at the Sharpeners Jam 2018 Best Ideas Contest

Jim Turner’s Creative Winning Ideas at the Sharpeners Jam 2018 Best Ideas Contest: The Sharpener’s Jam winning idea came from Jim Turner of Gaffney, SC. Jim always knows how to repurpose one item for another with his creative turn of “Git’R Done” attitude. When you don’t have a bumper to fit a shear, whether it is a pull through or screw on, Jim discovered a colorful solution. Jim purchases the bag of watercolor paint brushes for children from WalMart and puts the tapered handles into the hole for the bumper. The tapered ends will fit any of the scissors. He uses a little super glue, cuts off the excess length to the right height between the handles and melts the protruding back section to keep the new bumper in place. Only Jim Turner would look at paint brushes and see a bumper. Several years ago he suggested using weed-eater plastic string to make bumpers especially on shears like the older Yasaka that don’t have a pull through. I’ve kept several rolls of different size weed-eater string on the shelf just in case. Now that will be joined by a colorful bag of paint brushes. Thanks for the tip!Jim also had a second idea which was not the one he put for the best idea vote but I personally thought it was the best idea of the day. This was a trick he said he had been using for over 15 years. Why did you wait so long to share it Jim?Jim sharpens a lot of groomer scissors and poodle groomers often are very particular about the tip of the shears whether they can cut that ...

Shear Sharpener or Shear Salesman? Who would you trust most?

Most stylist indicate that they would trust a distributor of shears who also sharpens rather than a sharpener who also sells shears. It seems in their world that a shear distributor who has been trained by the manufacturer would be better equipped to sharpen their shears than those who are not a distributor. Also, stylists tell us that they would rather buy a shear from someone who can service that line of shears, especially if they are an authorized sharpener than to buy a shear that they would have to send off for service or warranty work. 

Sharpeners who have tried introducing themselves as shear distributors who also sharpen get more sharpening business on the first call than those who go into a salon cold as a sharpener only. One sharpener at the Sharpeners Jam a number of years ago shared his positive experience of calling on salons as a shear sharpener. 

It is also improtant to both the stylist and the shear distributor that there is a selection of shears to choose from when calling on salons. This is why most sharpeners start with the salesman portfolio case full of shears when they begin selling shears. Bonika Shears also suggests several helpful videos that will instruct sharpeners on how to present and sell shears to the salons. There are also some great videos on shear selection we recommend to stylists. 

Understanding shear and scissors edge angles.

When is 90 degrees Zero degrees? When you switch from sharpening knives to sharpening beauty shears in the USA.

I trained a new shear sharpener yesterday who has copious experience in sharpening and making knives. He was left hopelessly confused with the crazy way we measure angles when sharpening beauty shears and scissors. I have run into this problem before with people I have trained from Asian countries who had some limited experience in sharpening hair scissors because over there, the angle on hair shears is measured in the same way that the angle on knives and other sharpened tools and instruments are measured throughout the world.

Here is a chart that will help in converting the angles. Understand on shears, the higher the angle, the more acute or sharper the edge.

So, things might be upside down in Australia, but shear angles are for sure backwards and wacked out here in the USA. Don’t expect this to change. We Americans continue to measure distance in miles instead of kilometers. Some things you don’t have to understand. You just go with what is accepted. Since the average age of the American shear sharpener is probably about 60, I don’t ever expect to see a budge in the USA shear sharpening scissor mechanics measure shear angles.

Please, Watch, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to my Youtube videos. I think this one may explain the angle dilemma for sharpeners who sharpen for the beauty and hair industry.

For training in shear sharpening check out these classes. http://www.bonika.com/sharpener-events/

#shearsharpening #scissorsharpening 

How To Shorten a Beauty Shear

How To Shorten a Beauty Shear: What to do if you drop your shears and one tip breaks off? There is nothing you can do but shorten the other blade. If you are a sharpener of scissor or shears, there may be other occasions as well to have to sharpen a customers's shears. This short video will help you to know how to shorten a shear.

Have a website? Why not sell Bonika by dropship?

Have a website? Why not sell Bonika by dropship?: I just talked to a person who paid $6,000.00 to set up a website and learn to dropship. It's pretty easy to drop ship our shears with Bonika. These are the steps:Build a website. Not all that hard with the many easy to use inexpensive sites out there. I personally played with GoDaddy and Aabaco for sites I set up for others. This website has a list http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/website-builders-comparison-chart/ We use bigcommerce which has some glitches and is pricey. I would only suggest it after you have established yourself.Set up an account with us at Bonika. https://store-q55uc.mybigcommerce.com/login.php?action=create_account and put in the contact section that you have such and such website and want to buy wholesale and dropship.We will contact you and set your account for dropshipping. You can dropship direct from our website by changing the shipping address. I would put in the comment section that this is a dropship and we will be sure there is no literature with your prices in the box. You can also email us the order and we can send a PayPal request for payment or get your credit card number. We will charge you wholesale plus the actual shipping cost.Put our items (everything but sharpening supplies) on your website. This can be done by clicking on the photo, right click with your mouse, select save as and save on your computer and upload to your website. If you are a little more savvy on websites we can send you an Excel file of all the items that you can upload in one batch.One more bit of instruction. Our MAP policy dictates that you not advertise below the price we advise the item. You can however give away a free item with a purchase for value added. In addition, if you slightly change the description it can help in the search engines, believe it or not.FAQIs there a 'buy-in' to get started?Yes, just buy one shear! Easy!How quick do you ship?Shipping is within one business day.What methods do you use for shipping? Do you ship international?We ship every method available on the website. Yes we ship international. Be aware most fraud is from overseas and we are not responsible if you are not paid.Can I sell on Ebay and Amazon?At this time the answer is yes. This could change. Please follow our MAP policy. We do not sell on these platforms ourselves so we would not be competing with you.What about returns?Customers must contact us for a RA # before they return something to us. We will know if it is one of your customers at that time and will contact you. Refunds to your customers come from you, refunds to you come from us. We do not refund your customers buy on occasion may make exchanges for equal price items but will inform you of this.

The Bonika International Shear. What makes it special and how to sharpen it.

The Bonika International Shear. What makes it special and how to sharpen it.: So, what's up with the Bonika International Shear? What makes this shear so special? The Bonika International is Bonika Shears Flagship Shear. It was the first shear we debut in 1997 at the Bronner Brother's International Hair Show. It was the first shear designed for cutting multicultural hair. Since then, it has gone through changes but has kept the uniqueness of the blade. On the tip of the International scissor is a microserration installed here at the Bonika Shears facilities. These serrations are created with diamonds and allow this shear to cut crisply and precisely all the way to the tip. This short video will discuss the difference in the Bonika International Shear and will show the way sharpeners can reinstall the Bonika Tip. It is important for shear sharpeners and scissor sharpeners who decide to sharpen this shear to watch this video clip on how to sharpen the Bonika International Shear.  The serration file and the Bonika International can be ordered through the Bonika.com website. Also, Bonika offers sharpening training at their facility in the Atlanta, GA area.

Sharpening suggestions on the Bonika Peacock Shears

Sharpening suggestions on the Bonika Peacock Shears: Watch this Youtube video on how to disassemble the

Scimech Comparison of Shear Sharpening Flathone Equipment

See the comparison of the new Scimech HD Machine.

http://www.bonika.com/scimech-hd-scissor-sharpening-flathone-updated-2017/

New Youttube videos for Sharpening

Bonika Shears is proud to have been able to make both the contour hone stones and the Rideliner Pro videos available free on Youtube as of today. These tools were created by a sharpener trained by the Bonika Shears team, Dayna Schleufer of Shear Mechanix in Charlotte, NC. He is continuing to create tools that make sharpening easier and better for the professional shear sharpener who sharpens for salons and groomers. Today we have reduced the price of the contour hone stones and have made the videos for both the contour hone stones and the revolutionary Rideliner Pro available FREE on Youtube. Please subscribe and watch the videos on our Youtube channel to become the best sharpener you can be. Bonika Shears is all about education for the sharpener.

Youtube videos

Rideliner Pro Video

Sharpening Curved Shears with Contour Hone Stones

Sharpening Beauty Shears with Contour Hone Stones

How to Maintain Your Contour Stones

These are some frequently asked questions about these products

1. Will the contour hone stones fit the Rideliner Pro?

Yes. The stones are now the same size. If you have a set of the original contour hone stones they are a larger.

2. Can I use the contour hone stones without having the Rideline Pro?

Yes. The videos on Youtube will show you how.

3. What is the difference between Binsuie Japanese Contour Hone Stones and the Shapton Japanese Hone Stones?

Binsuie cuts better and the Shapton lasts longer.

4. Are the contour hone stones breakable?

Yes, very! No warranty on breaking.

5. How do I maintain the contour hone stones?

We suggest you use the 3000 Grit DMT Waterstone. Watch the Youtube video for that purpose. https://youtu.be/BFT83Oq7YHc

6. Do you offer private training in sharpening?

Where do I get the Scimech machine used in the video?

7. Why is the Rideliner Pro better than using the contour hone stones alone?

The Rideliner Pro will give you a flatter more perfect rideline (zero angle) the contour hone stone will give a slightly relaxed rideline.  

8. What are the Links to purchase these? Rideliner Pro and Contour Hone Stones

9. How do the Contour Hone Stones compare to the pink ceramic stone and the white ceramic stone from Wolff Industries? 

The ceramic stones from Wolff Industries are very good and we still sell them. However, the contour hone stones will give a more accurate and smoother ride to all types of shears. This is why we have switched to the contour hone stone instead of the Wolf ceramic stones in our start up kit for new sharpeners beginning today.

Understanding Pivot Screws on Scissors and Shears

There are three basic types of screws on shears plus variations on a theme of these three types. There are regular screws, thumb-nut adjustable screws and UFO or tamper-proof screws. 

However, I will begin with a story about a shear with a regular screw.

At a hair show in Chicago, a lady brings her Hikari shears to the Hikari booth for sharpening. (Hikari shears start at $299.00 for their budget shears and go up to over $1700.00) At this particular show, Hikari was not sharpening, but recommended another sharpener at the show. She brought the shears to the other sharpener who explained Hikari’s warranty would be void if they were not sharpened by Hikari, but she insisted anyway because she wanted the shears sharpened that day.

Two weeks later she “discovered” that her shears in her words were “ruined” because they were folding hair and demanded a replacement overnighted to her salon. After copious conversations between her and the sharpener, her complaint sounded like a loosened screw. Since Hikari shears have regular split screws, this is a common occurrence with these types of shears. Although the sharpener explained how to tighten her screw she angrily asserted, “I know how to tighten a screw and these shears are ruined. I want a new pair to replace these.”

Another suggestion to send out a local Chicago sharpener who is a certified master sharpener with the NBTSG was to no avail. Finally, the sharpener agreed to replace the shears and that is where I became involved since I have contacts with the Hikari Corporation.  I spoke to the stylist and told her replacement means just that, she must send in the shears to be replaced.

A week later I received her Hikari shears. I video taped me taking them out of the box. They were so loose the screw barely kept the shears together. There is no way the sharpener returned them that loose. She must have loosened them. As they were, they would not cut. Once I tightened the screw, they cut very well with only a slight push. This push could have been caused by her trying to cut with loose shears. Certainly they were not ruined.

However, the sharpener had already agreed to replace them. After contacting Hikari, they had a reconditioned pair I was able to purchase for the sharpener and send directly to the stylist in Chicago. I assume she is happy because she has not called to complain. The so-called “ruined” pair will be sold as used for more than the price of the replacement. So everyone is happy now.

The lessons learned from this are:

1. Stylists very often have loose screws.
2. It is the job of the sharpener to teach the stylist how to adjust their screws. Be sure the have the proper knowledge and tools to do this.
3. Double check the screw adjustment and triple check before handing a shear back.
4. Never agree to replace a shear until you have had a chance to look at it and inspect it. The customer is not always right.
5. A shear that folds hair usually has a loose screw.
6. Stylists sometimes loosen screws for whatever reason that goes into their head.
7. Good can and very often can come from bad.

Regular Screws

Regular screws usually have a slotted rounded head style but can on occasions have a variety of head styles. These screws are not normally available at a hardware store and are sometimes specific to a particular shear model. Most often, the shaft of the screw is split. This means that the length of the screw where the threads are has a split. The purpose in theory is the screw opens wider and holds the adjustment more securely. The truth in reality is that the split often closes up and the screw will not hold the adjustment.

To adjust regular type screws, never over tighten then loosen to the correct adjustment. If you do this you have created the thing you were trying to avoid. You have pushed the sides of the split closer together and the screw will not hold. This is why the sharpener needs to use a screw driver, scissor pliers or other device to tighten the screw somewhat and check the adjustment.

How to adjust a regular screw:

1) Tighten a little more and check the adjustment. Tighten again and stop once the tension is set to your preferences. Do not over tighten.

2) Wiggle the handles to seat the washer in place. Check the adjustment again and retighten if necessary.

3) Open and close the shears a few times to be sure the screw is holding.

4) Put a drop of oil on the head of the screw and on the ride.

5) Repeat steps 2 & 3

If the screw is not holding, you have several choices:

1)      Use medium (blue) loctite to hold the screw

2)      Slightly damage or rough up the threads to create a slight but on the screw and adjust

3)      Add something into the hole like dental floss, broom straw, rubber band or some other creative object to make the hole smaller to hold the screw in place.

4)      Use plumbers or Teflon tape over the threads.

5)      Insert the screw and adjust appropriately. Turn the shear over and ping the thread side of the screw with a hammer and a nail punch to create a bur on the outside of the shear to hold in place.

6)      Replace the screw.

7)      Sell them a new shear.

8)      Open the split in the screw.

This last step can be risky. I have broken the screw on more than one occasion. One time I did this sharpening in the salon on a cruise ship and did not have another screw to replace the broken screw. I have seen many different ideas on how to do this successfully. My favorite method of opening a split screw is to keep the screw in the single side of the shear and use a knife, spatula, razor blade or some other skinny object (depending on the screw) to open up the slot. This will hold the screw steady and in place. You don’t have to purchase extra equipment for this purpose. It also supports the screw shaft.

Thumb Screws

Thumb nut adjustable screws are the favorite among most sharpeners because of their ease in taking the shears apart without extra tools or gizmos. However, stylists usually complain about this type of screw with complaints that it “gets in their way,” “makes the shears too heavy,” “shears fall apart when they turn the screw.” While these are the downside, the ease of use has made this one of the most popular screw types.

The adjustable thumb nut screw is by in large just a decorative nut with a choice of “clicker plates,” “springs,” or “metal washers” (depending on your terminology) that keep the thumb nut screw from loosing and backing out. These types of washers were briefly discussed in the article on washers, but I will elaborate on each now.

A typical thumb nut screw assembly consists of the following:

·         Thumb nut most often with grooves on the bottom side and a smooth or decorative top

·         Clicker plate of some sort with one to three knobs or nipples to catch the grooves on the thumb nut (or sometimes it is just a rubber donut type thick washer that holds the shear together by friction)

·         Washer

·         Bolt. The bolt will usually have a square shaft that leads to the round shaft with threads or a round shaft that leads to a square shaft with threads.

Normal assembly of thumb screws:

• The bolt with the washer go into the round hole of the back side of the shear. (Note sometimes the shaft is square, not round and, yes, sometimes the square peg goes in the round hole!)
• The bolt fits up into the top blade of the shear. Wiggle and work the shear and the bolt until it engages and the two blades are together with no gap.
• Insert the clicker plate.
• If it is an internal clicker plate (see illustration) press the metal washer clicker plate into correct flush positioning using tweezers, needle nose pliers or a probe.
• If it is an external round clicker plate (see illustration) be sure the pointy nipple aligns and goes down into the hole on the shear.
• If it is a leaf type clicker plate, be sure the nipple at the lower end of the plate fits into the hole and the top aligns to the contour of the shear.
• Fit the thumb nut screw over the bolt, turning slightly in the counter clockwise direction until you feel the nut engage in the threads, then tighten to the desired adjustment.

Trouble shooting.

Other than loosing or breaking the clicker plate or other parts, the largest problem with these screws occurs with the leaf style clicker plates. Often the plates which are designed to be somewhat spring-like in action become flatter and the screw will not hold an adjustment. There are two solutions to correcting this problem.

1. Increase the bend in the clicker plate. I often hold one part with my needle nose pliers and with the plate laying flat on the table increase the curve or bend in the metal. Usually this works good. On one or two occasions the leaf broke.
2. Put a metal washer under the leaf plate to increase the bend. (see metal washer illustration) Many shears now commonly come with a metal washer under the plate for this purpose.

It is a good idea to have additional parts if possible of the adjustable screws although I rarely have to replace a defective one. I usually need these because I dropped a part and can’t find it.

 UFO Screws

Many years ago an employee at Bonika Shears began calling the odd tamper proof pivot screws “UFO Screws.” I believe this is the first place this term was coined. Since then this has become the common use name for odd screws, especially those that have the two slots to be adjusted with a “spanner-type” screw driver bit. This is now a very common screw.

The UFO screw will be the final segment of the “Understanding Your Scissor Parts” series. This screw can be confusing since it needs special tools to adjust and the flat part of the two piece screw can be on the back of the shear or as a decorative piece on the front of the shear. We have UFO screws of both varieties among Bonika Shears. Even though the flat portion is frequently on the front of the shear, for the purposes of clarity, I will refer to the flat portion as the bottom of the screw set and the part that takes the adjustment tool as the head of the screw set.

Normally the UFO screw will have an internal clicker plate or a rubber donut under the head of the screw to prevent the shear from loosening up. The two slots, slits or holes on the head can have a variety of configurations in regards to spacing and width. It is important to have a number of UFO adjusters and some additional spanner bits for your screwdriver so that you are armed to deal with any shear that comes your way. In the factories they usually have a modified screwdriver; I assume modified using a Dremel to carve out the right configuration for their particular screw. As field sharpeners, we do not have the luxury of a customized screwdriver and must have on hand every bit and UFO adjusting coin available. Harry Megowan designed a handle for these coin shaped adjusters made from a dowel stick. These give a better torque for the standard UFO coin shape tools for these shears. By the way, Harry won the best idea award at the Jam in an earlier year with this simple tool. The simplest ideas are often the best.

While I feel certain of the origin or the name, I am not sure of the origin of the UFO screw design. I assume it was not designed to make it more difficult for sharpeners to work on these shears although it seems that way. We have found on our Bonika Shears that have the UFO screw, we have less complaints or warranty issues with the pivot mechanisms that we do with other design of screws. Often stylists and I assume groomers objected to the bulky knob systems that interfered in their cutting. However, the preferred regular flat screw had the issue of loosing after constant use. The UFO screw was most likely born to address both of these issues.

The first of the UFO screws I encountered in my career was the original Vortex Shear. It had a UFO style head and the back was a hex. It came with a complicated two part system that hooked onto the UFO head via a device that attached to the handle and a mechanism to adjust the back. Invariably the stylists would lose these tools and we were unable to adjust the shears. I would use needle nose pliers on one side and an allen wrench on the back side and found I was always one or two hands short of taking the shears apart. I am so glad those shears were changed.

Trouble shooting on this screw is straightforward. The first concern is to be conscious of which side of the shear screw head is attached. I have often seen these installed backwards. Next, be alert as to the number and placement of washers. Look carefully for internal clicker plates (see previous article) so as not to lose these. I have found that adding an additional washer sometimes helps in those cases where the screw will not tighten adequately.

There are a number of other unusual and odd screws which I may address in an article at a later date. For more help on pivot screws from regular screws to UFO’s and all in between,  I would suggest “Screwing Around with Josh” from the 2014 Sharpeners Jam DVD collection from Bonika Shears.

Understanding the Basics of Shear and Scissor Sharpening

Understanding the Basics of Shear and Scissor Sharpening: Today is the last day in the office before our annual Sharpeners Jam. I have been working with knowledgeable shear sharpeners and have been sharpening for so many years I often take for granite that the average shear sharpener has a fundamental idea of the complexities and geometry of Japanese style shears. I also assume that even if their sharpening technique and equipment is different they are reaching for the same goal based on returning the stylist shear to the original edge. My assumptions are wrong.When I first began sharpening I did not understand the purpose and the shape of the hone or ride-line. I was clueless about the shear set and alignment. But because I practiced with the philosophy “Do no harm” I was able to restore an edge on a shear that was not badly damaged by using very smooth ceramic stones and using hand sharpening to follow the angles and edges on the shears. Unless the shears were damaged by a previous sharpener or had very deep nicks, I could bring a shear back to a performing level and my customers were happy … well most of them. I had this nagging doubt that I really didn’t know all I should.Today, I still don’t know all that I should, but I have a better understanding of the shear edge. I have toured three scissor making factories and trained with sharpeners from factories from 3 different countries. What I learned is techniques and machinery is different but there are still fundamentals that all sharpeners must abide by. This is important for sharpeners to know as well as the owners of quality shears so they can assess whether their sharpener is following those principles. Like me in the early years, my technique was not always perfect but I met success in most of my cases. There are sharpeners who have good reviews but have not updated their techniques, knowledge and equipment. They do this by attending sharpening conventions and investing in themselves and their profession. They do this through certification programs that prove not only to the stylist but more importantly to themselves that they know what they are doing.In 2012, I spoke at the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild Convention with a presentation entitled “Sharpening Shears – Back to Basics.” I was the first woman to speak to the convention. In that presentation I covered this information that is essential to know no matter what technique or equipment for sharpening scissors a sharpener might use. This video should make my point. Please watch all three parts.

News about the Nebraska Blades Clipper Sharpening Machine

Why Update? For over 16 years the CS-101-2000 Clipper Blade Sharpening Machine had arguably been one of the best on the market but a lot can change within an industry in that amount of time. When Jason, owner of The Edge Pro, acquired the Nebraska Blades company in February of 2016 he knew it was time to make some needed modifications and upgrades to the Classic CS-101-2000 Machine. Jason, having been a distributor for Nebraska Blades for many years prior to becoming the new owner was completely aware of the CS-101-2000’s success and shortcomings. Jason had spoken with many customers over the years about how the machine was not ideal for mobile units but it could work with a little effort. Back in 2014 Jason had also acquired Huff’s Wholesale and the rights to the Extreme Kut Clipper Blade Sharpening Machine. While that machine never saw the market again due to complications with the manufacturing process, Jason knew that it had some valuable design features he wanted to combine with the CS-101. Immediately following the acquisition of Nebraska Blades Jason started drawing up plans for a new and improved clipper blade sharpening machine that would enable customers to thrive in their shops and in their mobile units. What’s New? The first and most imposing step was to eliminate that pesky 34 AMP draw on startup! After quite a bit of research Jason discovered he could do away with the current motor and replace it with a more powerful three phase motor and a WEG VFD controller. Switching motors and adding a VFD gave the machine some handy new features, one of them being a motor brake to replace the old hand brake. Secondly, the new machine has a variable speed control knob allowing you to sharpen from a max of 1750 RPMs down to 50% speed (around 875 RPMs but not exactly). Thirdly, upon request, the new machine can be reversed optimizing the machine for those sharpeners who are left handed. Fourth, but not least, the initial startup AMP draw of 34 has be dropped to somewhere between 3 to 6 AMPs! Upon much contemplation, the decision was made to modify the housing cabinet of the machine. The first modification to note was to bring the outside edge of the cabinet up a little bit higher to cut down on the amount of grit the wheel throws at the sharpener. This keeps everyone and the sharpening space a little cleaner. Next, Jason evaluated that sometimes-annoying toggle switch that sticks out and decided to make all the switches and knobs recessed into the side of the machine. What About My Old Machine? Jason knew when the machine was released we would have customers who will want to upgrade their Classic CS-101-2000 Clipper Blade Sharpening Machines to include the technology and features of the New CS-201-2017 machine. We have made a conversion kit available as an affordable alternative to buying a whole new machine. For only $1300 the kit includes the new motor, the VFD power inverter, the recessed switch housing and switches, mounting brackets, layout templates and instructions. While all of this may sound complicated, we have worked very hard to make this a simple conversion for our customers and as painless as possible. While we tried to keep the process simple, there is some effort and assembly required but we will be your resource through the process. What’s The Damage? The upgrades from the CS-101-2000 to the new CS-210-2017 are extremely valuable to any sharpener. Unfortunately, the added hardware to the machine pushed the price up slightly. Having said that it is worth noting that the price on the Classic CS-101-2000, prior to 2017, had stayed the same since 2000 (if you are curious what that should cost with 17 years of inflation it would be around $2200). Jason wanted to keep the CS-201-2017 Low AMP machine as affordable as possible but the price could not stay the same. The new CS-201 Low AMP Clipper Blade Sharpening Machine will start at $1995 with a 14” diameter rolled aluminum plate and $2195 with a 16” diameter cast aluminum plate. What If I’m Happy With The Old One? The plan is to continue selling the Classic CS-101-2000 as the perfect beginner machine. It is called a “101” because it is an entry level machine and is bare bones and user friendly. The new Low AMP machine is called a “201” because there is a little more to it than the classic machine. The CS-101-2000 will be available online and in our catalogs for those customers who are content with it and in fact, the updated cabinet features will even start showing up on it as well. It is important to note that in 17 years the world has changed and inflation has caused even fast food restaurants to remove beloved dollar menus. We still want the CS-101-2000 to be affordable for those starting out in the industry or simply looking to have a backup but there was no getting around the fact that pricing needed to be adjusted. The Classic CS-101-2000 Clipper Blade Sharpening Machine will start at $1695 with a 14” diameter rolled aluminum plate and $1895 with a 16” diameter cast aluminum plate. This new pricing will go in to effect as of April 1, 2017. What Now? The New CS-201 Low AMP Machine became available as of March 1, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. New Nebraska Blades catalogs are also now available via email upon request or snail mail for a small postage fee. Keep us in mind. We want to continue to be a resource for your company and to see it continue to grow and be successful in the industry. Nebraska Blades The Edge Pro 1163 SW Ordnance RD Ankeny, IA 50023 Phone: 866-963-1990 Fax: 515-964-0616 NebraskaBlades.com TheEdgePro.com

What’s the deal with the 800 mm radius on Japanese Shears?

The 800 mm radius myth started a number of years ago. Larry Brooks, a well respected retired shear sharpener, wrote a book on how to sharpen beauty scissors. To my knowledge this is still the only book on how to sharpen beauty shears. I bought it and read it and found it had a lot of good information Larry noticed that shears from Japan have a curvature to the edge of the blade, a belly so to speak. He wanted to know what the curvature was and took several of the shears he had at that time and laid them on his barn floor and drew a circle from the shape of the edge of the blade. Lo and behold, all the shears he had an 800 mm radius. This piece of information was interesting but accurate for only the shears he picked up and measured. It is not accurate for all shears.

The best radius for a shear for the least push and the best cut is 800 mm. HOWEVER, just like there are specific paint brushes for specific purposes for painting there are different edges of shears that make them specifically better for slide cutting, point cutting, blunt cutting, texturizing and more. These will all have a different radius to make them more suitable for a particular purpose.




When sharpening, the sharpener should when possible maintain or reestablish the original radius. Sometimes due to damage to shear from previous sharpening, deep nicks or other issues it is not in the best interest of the longevity of the edge to restore the original radius. All of this means
that the sharpener and his or her equipment must be able to follow the edge of the blade and can create any radius that is on the market and be prepared for the shears of the future.

The Bonika Firefly Shear has a different radius on each of the blades. The top blade has a radius of approximately 1200 mm (almost straight) and the lower blade has a low radius of around 600 mm (curved). In addition, the edge angle of the two blades are different as well. This shear is one
example why a 800 mm radius would be inappropriate for this shear. Other shears like the
Bonika Fishbone has a low radius to slide cut and point cut better while most German type shears like the Kretzer have a high radius for straight line precise cutting.


For those who want to know more from the manufacturer’s point of view this is a video clip from a sharpening convention in which a USA scissor manufacturer answers to question of a sharpening concerning the 800 mm radius.
https://youtu.be/bmvMe6SfKco


If you are looking for sharpening equipment please be sure you purchase equipment like the
Scimech Scissor Flathone and others that can address all the different radii found on today’s shears from a 500mm to 1500mm as well as the 800mm. If you have equipment that will only sharpen a 800 mm radius my suggestion is to purchase another clamping system so that you have the flexibility to sharpen any type of shear or scissor on the market today and will appear on the market tomorrow.

Report on the 2016 Sharpeners Guild Convention

Report on the 2016 Sharpeners Guild Convention: Last weekend in Kansas City the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild held their annual convention. Bonika Shears once again had the privilege to attend the oldest and largest sharpening convention which certifies both shear and clipper blade sharpeners from all over the world. Shear sharpeners from Brazil, Portugal and New Zealand attended as well as USA sharpeners. One Canadian sharpener who was on the board of directors was to attend, but had his jeep flooded out in the Iowa floods!Bonika Shears, CEO, Bonnie Megowan once again remained on board as the president of the  NBTSG and is still the only female MASTER CERTIFIED SHARPENER. New board members were elected and about half of those sharpeners who attempted certification were certified. There was only one Master Level certificate in the shear and blade sharpening category. That went to James McGrew of Nebraska in shear sharpening and Martin Huxley of New Zealand in blade sharpening. Next year's convention will be in Chicago. A sharpeners cruise is planned for 2018. Those interested in joining the Sharpeners Guild can go to www.nbtsg.com. The website is undergoing transitioning again for the organization and will be updated with details soon. The Sharpeners Guild is an organization owned and operated by individual shear sharpeners. They are looking for members who will be active in the organization in order to advance the art of sharpening. Members who attended the 2016 Sharpeners Guild ConventionCurrent Board of Directors: Dayna Schleufer, Jason Sturm, Dennis Brooks, Lou Gean, Craig Swanson, Loren Della Betta, James McGrew, Bonnie Megowan and Eddie Noakes (not pictured) Mystie Hunter is the secretary / treasurer

Are Your Shears Sharp? How to test the Sharpness of your shears.

What is the best way to test and see if your shears are sharp? As a sharpener, I put shears through more than one test to see if they are performing. As a stylist, your first test is strangely enough, to check the tension. Many shears will seem dull and will not perform because the tension is too loose. Sometimes the scissors will feel sharp when they are really dull because the tension is too tight. There are several great videos that show how to adjust the tension.

• Video on how to adjust the scissor screw tension if you have a knob type adjusting screw 
• Video on how to adjust the scissor screw tension if you have a regular screw 
  
• Video on how to adjust the scissor screw tension if you have an odd “UFO” type screw  

Once you are sure your adjustment is correct my suggestion is to give your shears these three test:

1. Cut hair. Is it pushing, snagging, folding or requiring more pressure?
2. Cut some dry tissue with your scissors using as little side pressure as possible. (Yes, I know you are told not to cut paper, but this is just for a test and it is thin, clean tissue.) Let the shears slowly close together. This may find problems to the hair cutting may miss such as tips that pull, nicks and more.
3. The final test is to cut single ply wet Puff tissue or similar product. If it tears instead of cuts this is the first indication your shears need sharpening.

I find that as a sharpener a shear may seem to cut hair but fails on of the other tests and vice versa. Each test is looking for something different.

Cutting hair tells me how thin an angle is on the shear. Is the edge still crisp or has it rolled over?

Cutting dry tissue tells me if there is a consistent edge all the way down the shears or have some of the blade ceased to perform.

Cutting wet tissue indicates if there are nicks or burs remaining on the edge. Roughness of any kind will cause the cut to be ragged. The shears may cut hair with a straight cut sufficiently but will drag when attempting to slide cut.

If the shears are quiet this indicates if the inside ride area was sharpened correctly. If they are noisy they will probably fail the wet tissue test but pass the hair cut test. If the shears are quiet but push hair they may cut the wet tissue perfectly but the outside edge was not sharpened to a crisp sharp angle. Testing by shaving the hair on the arm, catching the edge against a plastic pen and feeling the grab or testing by gently touching with your thumb can indicate the small angle of the edge but will not tell you if the burs and nicks are gone.

As you see there are several methods needed to determine whether shears are sharp. The responsibility of the stylist is to be sure that shears are kept sharp and are honed correctly before they get to the point where they are chewing the hair and causing frizz and split ends. Test your shears in these manners every 2 – 3 months to see where your edge is and after a sharpening if you feel your shears are not performing as expected. Before calling a different sharpener, give your current sharpener a chance to see what the problem is. Most reputable sharpeners, as does Bonika Shears, gives a warranty period of up to 30 days on their sharpening even if the problem is due to something that happens to the shears after the sharpener leaves.

New shears and freshly sharpened shears often need a 2 – 3 haircut break-in period for smoothness but a shear that has been sharpened incorrectly will usually be recognizable right away and will fail one of these sharpness tests. 

Custom Fitting Shears - How to Select the Right Shear

Custom Fitting Shears - How to Select the Right Shear:

I made a discovery. After years of buying a size 8 shoe, I discovered I should be wearing a 9! I have more toe room, the heel doesn’t wear blisters and the arch falls in the right place. Guess where my new favorite shoe store is? It’s the store where they took the time to correctly fit my shoe. It’s the same with stylists.

Maybe you have always cut with a 5” but a 5.5” is a better match. Or perhaps you cut with an even handle shear and an offset handle will relax your hand and shoulder more. It’s important to custom fit shears.First, hold your current shears like you typically would when cutting hair. If you cut in a “palm to palm” position with your thumb toward the floor you are going to be happier with an “offset” handle shear like the Bonika Jazzy since this will put your elbow and shoulder in a lower more comfortable position. If you put the back of your hand toward their client’s head with your wrist bent and your thumb in an up position, an even handle or regular handle shear like the Bonika A55 Silk may feel best.

For those of you hold your shears in a multitude of positions, try a swivel thumb like the Bonika Twister or the new Bonika Rocker.

Next, lay the shear on the palm of your hand. Place the thumbhole in the fleshy part of the thumb and lay the shear along their longest finger. The tip should fall somewhere in the last unit of their longest finger (or “traffic” finger). A shear that is too short will cut their knuckles; a shear that is too long will cut them between their fingers. This is the right measurement for the shear you use in interior cutting and basic cutting. Other techniques like scissor over comb, trichology cuts and texturzing may require longer or shorter shears.

After the style and length of the shear has been established, decide on your most common cutting habits. If you slide cut, you will need a shear with a Japanese style convex edge rather than a German style bevel edge. If you slide cut on hair extensions or very coarse hair, you need a convex edge made with high quality hard steel. You will most likely be satisfied with the cheaper scissors and German bevel scissors if you are just cutting straight across the hair shaft such as a barber. However, a blunter, coarse scissor blade can cause damage or split ends. The initial results may be satisfactory, but the future health of the client’s hair can be in jeopardy.

If you are attempting any advanced techniques, you should probably upgrade to a more expensive style shear. Cutting ability is only as good as the tool. Investing in a good shear is investing in yourself.Remember, one shear does not fit all hands and techniques. Just as your closet has many different shows for different purposes, your shear case should have a variety of shears in order to save you time and add to your repertoire of creativity

Written by Bonnie Megowan of Bonika Shears. www.bonika.com 1-888-290-3393.

Understanding the personalities of hair cutters

Every cutter has a style of cutting that is all their own. But within those styles certain personality characteristics emerge that will influence that best shears to select to match your cutting traits. I’ve chosen to describe these as the Gorilla Cutter, the Lion Cutter and the Eagle Cutter.

The Gorilla Cutter is the innovator in the industry. You will spot them at hair shows cutting fast and furious. They choose their hair designs based on the clients face and body shape and their own mood that day. They never repeat a haircut. They usually do not apply good body positioning when cutting, their partings (if they have them) are wide and often uneven, hair is unswept and their station and tools are messy and disorganized. They cut with freedom and abandon.

The Lion Cutter tends to be fearless and attacks the hair with gusto. They like to experiment with new tools and techniques to increase their speed. They have the most shears, razors and tools in the salon. They are a little more organized and neater than the Gorilla and will develop ways to take the Gorilla’s designs and make them repeatable. The Lion is the peacemaker in the salon and should be positioned between a Gorilla and an Eagle.

The Eagle Cutter tends to have fewer shears, but what they have is very expensive and carefully selected. Eagle Cutters have a light touch and with a very graceful movement, holding their body and hand in the healthiest positioning. Shears that are not balanced and don’t perform perfectly for them drive them crazy. They create the classic cuts with perfect precise partings. They are the slowest cutters in the salon and their station is free of clutter and their tools are well cared for. Most cosmetology instructors and celebrity stylists are eagles.

Most cutters will find that they are a combination of these personalities but will fall more in one category than another. Knowing your cutting personality will help you in when you when you have conflicts with your instructors and other stylists in your salon.

This is an original observation I made based on my background as a high school biology teacher. I came up with the three personalities in 2010. There is a full DVD detailing this that can be order on line at http://www.bonika.com/cutting-personalities-dvd/

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Perfect or Your Money Back Guarantee from Bonika Shears

Perfect or Your Money Back Guarantee from Bonika Shears: STOP! So your new shear is not perfect, for whatever reason. Don’t panic. Give Bonika Shears a call at 770-972-4332 and tell us what is wrong. We want you to be perfectly happy and in love with your shears.
What does the “Satisfaction Guarantee Policy” mean with the Bonika Shears family? This means if a Bonika shear you purchase from us is not perfect for whatever reason you can send it back for a refund or exchange. This applies to both the stylists who purchase our shears from us directly, stylists who purchase from our distributors and the wholesale distributors and sharpeners themselves. For all three, there are a little different rule to govern these returns.

• For a stylist who purchase from us directly at a hairshow, their school or salon or in our shop, they have 30 days to return the shear. They must return the shear in “like new” condition. If they are local, we will attempt to come to you to pick up the shear or you may be asked to send it back by insured mail. We request that you call for a RA (Return Authorization Number) because we would like to talk to you before you send them back. However, if you return shears in 30 days without the RA we will still honor the satisfaction guarantee agreement. Any refunds are based on the actual purchase price of the shear with quantity discounts taken into consideration. 
• For a stylist who purchase from a distributor we cannot return your money since you did not pay us directly. However, the distributors usually have their own satisfaction policy which can be 2 weeks to 30 days. Please call them first if you are unhappy. If you don’t receive satisfaction from them, contact us here at Bonika and we can at least give you credit for the returned shear toward another purchase. Call us, we can often reason with the distributor and reach some sort of agreement that makes everyone happy. That’s what family is all about.
• For a distributor or sharpener please check your shears when you get them. We check them in-house but sometimes a shear slips through that is less than perfect. There have been times when we were bringing in shears from a specific factory and their quality suddenly switches. It is interesting how identical shears can come from different factories but cut and perform very differently. We have to be alerted when things change in the performance of shears so we can react accordingly. 

What is the distributor return policy?

• Shears can be returned for a refund within 30 daysShears can be returned with a 20% restocking refund after 30 days
• Shears can be returned for full credit exchange for an unlimited amount of time as long as the shears are new and a current model. 
• Shears can be returned for exchange at any time even if not new and resharpened if a defect is discovered. Example is a screw that will not remain tight.
• Any refunds are based on the actual purchase price of the shear with quantity discounts taken into consideration. 
• Please call before you return shears for an RA (Return Authorization) number. After discussion, you may be given permission to attempt to fix the shear and Bonika assumes the responsibility. 

For all returned under our satisfaction guarantee policy there is one cardinal rule…DO NOT RESHARPEN A SHEAR BEFORE THE RETURN WITHOUT PERMISSION TO DO SO. If you have a shear resharpened without permission, we will have no idea of what the original problem was to correct future problems and we cannot and will not accept the return. (This excludes our usual manufacturer defect issues) Additional note. This policy covers all Bonika brand shears, but may also apply to other shears we carry based on our relationship with the company. Just call, email or Facebook Message… don’t panic. Your family is here.

Review of H-42 Products

I just added a new product on our Bonika website today which I like very much. It is not a new product to me. Back in 1988 when I began sharpening shears I
discovered this disinfecting oil and used it to oil shears that I sharpened and
sold their product to my customers. I especially liked the jar of H-42 for
cleaning clippers. I had noticed many of my customers who used the cooling
spray made by various manufacturers would cause their clippers to rust and also
rust the shears if they sprayed them as well. There was a lot of water in these
products. The H-42 was old-fashioned barber shop looking, but worked so much
better on their clippers and shears since it was 100% oil based. Also, the fact
that it was anti-bacterial and killed HIV was a boon.

Over the years, I stopped selling these products but
continued to use them in oiling shears, cleaning clipper blades when sharpening
and in other uses in our shop. Then last month I had a call from Michelle at
H-42 out of the blue. She is the daughter of Ronald Hampton Sr., the chemist
and owner. I was more or less re-introduced to a product I have always
respected. I was surprised to learn H-42 is an Atlanta manufactured product,
which renewed my interest.

Yesterday, I was at an Atlanta
area school where all the students were using an aerosol cooling disinfecting
spray on their clippers and shears. I noticed all their clippers were noisy and
the shears that I sharpened were very rusty in the pivot area even those of
high quality brands. I introduced H-42 products to the teachers and was
surprised they were unaware of the oil based disinfectant. We followed the
directions as seen in the Youtube video below to clean a clipper and immediately
could hear a difference in the sound of the motor. Then as an experiment as I
was sharpening, I dropped the rusty screws into a small cup with about a
teaspoon of H-42. After sharpening when I retrieved the screws, they were
shiny, clean and rust free with a slight silky oily non-greasy feel that made
the pivot area feel really smooth as the shears opened and closed.

H42 Jar

Today, every barber, groomer and stylist who came to
our shop to have clipper blades sharpened, I was able to sell them a jar of
H-42. It was an easy sale and a little extra profit for the day.

So, I will be adding the H-42
products to my sharpening kit and salesman bag from now on when I visit the
salons and mention it in my Shear Knowledge Classes at the schools. I am so
glad Michelle gave me a call.

Bigger selection and more accurate measurement for washers for Scissors

Bigger selection and more accurate measurement for washers for Scissors: Welcome to the bizarre and confusing world os beauty shear washers. There is no standardization on screws for beauty shears and scissors. Because screws are all sorts of sizes, the washers are also various sizes to fit the scissors. Washers wear down, are lost or break and must often be replaced. Here at Bonika Shears we stock some of the most complete sizes of washers available on the internet for scissor sharpeners but this has been a formidable task. We often have to order washers from several companies and several countries to get our large selection. Even doing that, the washers which we order by the same part number may vary up to 5 mm in size. therefore, we measure each batch of washers that come in and organize them accordingly. this is why sometimes your favorite washer may or may not be available. We then sort them and count them one by one into little bags, often using little people (grandchildren) to do this. As in the photo here, not all of the holes are perfectly centered in the washers. sometimes there is a little rough edge on a washer. This can not be helped nor can each washer be inspected. Please understand the difficulties we face with this.At the time of this writing we have 9 sizes of washers. The product code will tell you the washer size. For instance a washer code of #WWAD55H4 is a white washer with a outside diameter of 5.5 mm and an inside diameter of 4 mm. Measurements are very difficult. You see me in the photo below using a micrometer to measure the inside hole. If the plastic washer stretches it can affect the measurement up to a couple of mm. Please refer to our website for ordering washers at http://www.bonika.com/custom-white-washers-bag-of-... Notice the photo shows 6 washers, but we now have 9 and very likely more sizes in the future. The current sizes are 7, 6, 5.5, 4.6 and 4 mm with various hole sizes. There is no longer an assortment, but there may be such sets in the bargain room of our Sharpeners Jam when we sweep the floor once a year and pick up all the loose washers.Here at Bonika Shears we will strive to stock more and more parts as we are able to obtain them to make the life of the scissor sharpener and those of their customer happier.

​How to Sharpen and Sell Beauty Scissors at a Local Beauty Shows

​How to Sharpen and Sell Beauty Scissors at a Local Beauty Shows: Tips for sharpeners on success at hair and beauty shows.

Where and How to Bend Scissors and Shears to Correct the Set, Alignment or Curvature of the Blade

I am constantly asked, "Where and How do I Bend Scissors and Shears to Correct the Set, Alignment or Curvature of the Blade?"

The most requested workshop and information asked for by experienced shear and scissors sharpeners whether beauty shears or pet groomer scissors is in regards to correcting the set or curvature of the blade. Thanks to one of our California based sharpener's phone call today, I decided to share some diagrams that help me. I actually had these illustrations and referred to them when I passed and received the top score when certifying for Master Shear Sharpening at the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild a few years back in St. Louis. these diagrams are courtesy of Casper Kiser when he worked at Oster Products and are drawn by the Arius Eickert company. He gave me permission to use these on our DVD's and for instruction. 

If you want to learn more about how to bend or set shears I would recommend the following DVD's

• Bending Scissors with Ed Wozniak DVD

• To Bend or Not to Bend - 2 Part DVDs with Casper Kiser

• Be a Tweaker Not a Breaker DVD by Dennis Brooks at the NBTSG

  I would also suggest that you look into workshops at the Sharpeners Jam or the Sharpeners Guild Convention. 

Here are the diagrams that have been so helpful to me in setting shears. 

Report on the 2015 Sharpeners Guild Convention - National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild

What an exciting week-end of the sharpeners and vendors and the NBTSG convention in Newark New Jersey DoubleTree hotel! Much was accomplished in "Advancing the Art of Sharpening" from workshops to certifications to information shared.

The keynote speaker was Michael Torgau from Jaguar Shears. Sharpeners enjoyed his German accent as he carefully explained metallurgy with the help of powerpoint photos. It was video taped and will be available soon to all sharpeners everywhere.

In addition to Michael Torgau, Dennis Brooks from Sharp Edges answered some questions concerning clipper blades and correct set of the blades. Once again, this was video taped and will be available soon to the sharpeners.

Workshops were attended in small groups by the sharpeners and included classes on shear sharpening, clipper blade sharpening, clipper repair, dental tool sharpening, razor sharpening and pivot screws. Workshop instructors included Bonnie Megowan, Dennis Brooks, Jim Odonnell, Steve Pailet, Michael Torgau, Jason Sturm, and Dayna Schluefer.

On Friday the board of directors met and made changes for the future. Scott Bornea of Sukutto Scissors was nominated for replacing Jim ODonnell who asked to rotate off the board due to church commitments. Scott was also appointed by the board as the new secretary to replace Jesse Hockett who will stay on the board but step down as secretary. Jason Sturm will head up a benevolence committee to help sharpeners in need and Lou Gean will explore a Chicago location for the convention in 2017. The 2016 convention was decided for Kansas City, Mo again with Craig Swanson as hotel liaison since he lives in the area.

The statistics and numbers on the convention are as follows.

1. 11 vendors
1. 10+ types of sharpening machines for shears, clippers, knives & dental tools
2. 5 shear companies and 1 knife company
2. 5 people attempted blade certification
3. 4 different brands of clipper sharpening machines were used
4. 3 of the 5 certified with all 3 at Master level
5. 19 points spread between 1^st and third place for blade certification
6. 60% of those who attempted blade certification passed
7. 9 people attempted master shear certification
8. 5 different machines were used in the shear sharpening certification
9. 7 of the 9 certified with 4 at master status
10. 6 points spread between 1^st and 3^rd place for Master Shear Sharpening certification
11. 78% of those who attempted shear sharpening certification passed
12. 11 Friday workshops
13. 60 attendees
14. 1 person attained Grand Master meaning they reached master status in shears and blades

Final Certification Results for 2015

Shear Sharpening

Certified Level: Steve Gross, Joseph Poole, James McGrew

Master Level: Robert Miller, Loren Dalla Betta, John Kuipers, Dayna Schleufer

Blade Sharpening

Master Level: James McGrew, Dayna Schleufer, Steve Gross

Top Scores

Shear Sharpening: 

• Robert Miller 1st place Millers Sharpening Service, New Castle, PA
• Loren Della Betta 2nd place DB Shears, Pittsburgh, PA
• John Kuipers 3rd place, Wicked Sharp Shears, Jupiter, FL

Blade Sharpening

James McGrew 1st place On Point Sharpening by James, Arlington, NE

Dayna Schleufer 2nd place Scissor Mechanix, Charlotte, NC

Steve Gross 3rd place Sydney, Australia

Grand Master - certified Master in Blades and Shears

Dayna Schleufer Scissor Mechanix, Charlotte, NC

Official certificates, ID cards, and photographs of the show will be coming soon. Look for a new updated website by the end of October. 

Stress Free Tax Calculations for the Sharpener

If I had chosen my favorite idea, Pat Henley's presentation of this way to back out the sales tax in order to sell items with a nice round number would have been my top choice. As promised, this is the link to get the calculations and formula for his device. Pat figured this on Microsoft Excel but I am sharing it on Goggle Drive. Let me know what you think of this little gem!

Google Drive Link for Stress Free Tax Calculations

2015 Sharpeners Jam Winning Idea - Sharp Edges Transport

 The ideas from the 2015 Sharpeners Jam ran the gambit from sharpening, organization and marketing. The Jam this year, like every year, had a different flavor than any other year in the attendance and the ideas presented. Although the numbers were down slightly this year, there were more new sharpeners and more participation in all the events from the workshops to the Guild Certification to the Braves baseball game outing. The votes for the different ideas were closer than at anytime we have shared ideas. Every idea received a vote as a great idea from somebody and I was impressed with the additional ideas shared in off-hand conversations after the formal presentation for competition.

For the first time, Dennis Brooks of Sharp Edges garnered the most votes with his idea for a Blade Transport Bag. Dennis gets a large zippered student pencil holder bag, the type that is used in a 3 ring binder and labels it with his taped on business card. He sometimes gives these to the stylist to collect their shears and clipper blades and marks their name on the front. This system helps them to set their dull equipment aside and to be ready for him when he calls. With his business card visible on the front, the groomer / barber or stylist can easily contact him with they see their bag is full. The large zippered bag will hold long groomer style shears as well as clipper blades.

The zipper bags take up very little space and make it easy to transport blades to a van or home sharpening shop. They can also be used to safely bring the blades back to the customer.

One twist on this idea is to use the plastic pencil boxes. This was an idea presented two years ago at the Jam which we have been using ever since. Long the zippered pencil bags, the plastic covered zipper boxes are on sale now during back-to-school sales. We also tape our card onto the box and will give this to the client. The plastic pencil boxes take up more room and hold less than the pencil bags, but work well for our purposes since we normally deal with shorter shears at Bonika.

Another suggestion given after the Jam by a new sharpener as an add-on to this is to also buy chalk, sidewalk chalk or regular board chalk when you are hitting those back-to-school sales. A piece a chalk put into the pencil bag or box will absorb moisture keeping the blades nice and dry. 

Dennis also puts a trouble shooting card in with sharpened clipper blades. He has had fewer complaints from his customer since including the card.