Announcing the 14th Annual Sharpeners Jam

July 23-25, 2011, Atlanta

Largest International Convention and Meeting of Scissor Sharpeners in the USA. Free event for sharpeners from all over the world to share their ideas. There is no charge to attend our two day meetings. However, there are charges for additional classes and entertainment. (see below)Location: Country Inn and Suites, Duluth, GA (just northeast of Atlanta)

FREE EVENTS

Saturday Night Meet and Greet in the Vendors Rooms Sunday Sharpeners Jam Session All sharpeners will share at least one idea that has helped their business. Caregories include sales, marketing, sharpening innovations, organization, increased efficiencies and more. Be prepared to share with the others. Vote for the best ideas. Prizes and awards for the top ideas! This is an all day event proceeded by a short Sunday Morning time of Praise and Worship. Read the ideas from last year's Jam

Monday Topical Speakers

Casper Kiser - T.E.A. Time with Casper (How to keep yourself out of hot water in sharpening by understanding the tension, edge and alignment of scissors) Casper Kiser is the floor plant manager of Oster Products, Jarden Industries in McMinnville, TN.

Harrelson Stanley – Modern Abrasive Technology Modern Japanese alloys present many challenges to today’s sharpener. Learn about hone line and edge creation on shears using Shapton’s technical approach and demonstrating live with a digital microscope. Harrelson is the president of HBS Enterprise, the master importer of Shapton for North America.

Jim O’Donnell – Making Money with Industrial Shears. Enlarge your income base by expanding your sharpening. Jim is the publisher at On The Edge Newsletter and is VP Marketing at Wolff Industries.

Workshops

• TLC Sharpening: How to Sharpen Texturizers, Leftys and Curves Learn from Casper Kiser
  
• Clipper Blade Sharpening Bob Schiessl from Nebraska Blades
  
• Clipper Repair Jason Sturm from EdgePro
  
• Knife Sharpening on a FlatHone Jason Sturm
  
• Equipment Tune-up with Frank Davis of Davis Sharpening
  
• Flathone Shear Sharpening Classes taught by Bonnie Megowan

Food and Entertainment



• Qzar Laser Tag
  
• Light lunch on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
  
• Group Dinner at a Local Restaurant Vendors The vendors will be available for your shopping pleasure during break times and before and after sessions throughout the week-end. Bonika bargain room will be set up and complete sharpening supplies and equipment from Bonika along with Bonika Shears. Other vendors include Nebraska Blades, EdgePro, Kenchii Shears, Kretzer Scissors, Hanako Shears, Lucky Hare Shears, Kudzu, Belson, Conair, Shapton Stones and more. See the website for the most updated list. There are some super JAM ONLY deals, so come prepared to shop.

First 30 who register get a their chocie of one of 5 Marketing DVD's

• Ron Ellis
  
• Ed Wozniak
  
• Doug Clark
  
• Gene Megowan or
  
• Chuck Bigelow

Certificates of completion included in all paid events.

Register and see details at http://www.sharpenersjam.com/

Born in the USA

Some things are still made in America. We saw that first hand when we were granted a tour of the Oster Plant in McMinnville, TN. The logistics were worked out in the spring through Casper Kiser, the plant superintendent of Oster. Gene and I have known Casper since 1997 when he was with Arius Eickert in Fremont, OH. We were delighted when we heard he was in charge of the shear production at the Oster plant facility. Frank Davis, Ed Wozniak and our Bonika staff, Harry, Jay, Mystie, Gene and I along with a handful wives were able to see the entire facility. This was made even more exciting since tours are rare and we had never seen photos of their operation since photography and videography are strictly forbidden.

What did we see? We saw skilled, efficient friendly Tennesseans each with decades of experience making shears and clippers. Stanley Gross, the business team leader of the blades department proudly gave us a tour of the clipper production area. The facility was enormous and all the Oster clippers are made right there with the exception of the screws and some of the newer small trimmers. The housing and parts were created from raw materials to the final product. We watched heat treat process and cryogenic freezing process of the clipper blades and individually hand sharpened, assembled and tested. Modern machines wound copper wire for the motors and lasers etched the name on each blade.

What did we learn? The comb or upper blade of the Oster clipper is ground flat and the lower blade or cutter is ground hollow at an incline angle on the plate that is a proprietary secret. We also learned innovations are coming based on feedback from the customers and clipper repair folks.

We ended our tour in the area of my interest, shears. Since Oster purchased Arius Eickert a few years back the scissor factory there went through a lot of changes and innovations since they were in Ohio. Now, only the finishing operation, the part that makes the shears cut is made in the factory. We were told the shears are coming in semi-finished from Asia (none from Pakistan). In other words, the 440C shears come with handles attached and polished before they reach the states. The hone, hollow and finishing is completed there in Tennessee. That means the part that actually does the cutting is in fact made in the US.

Although we were not allowed to see the actual clamping mechanism we had a general demonstration on how the hollow is put in the inside of the blade and how the so called “twist” is formed. I was impressed with the small size of the wheel (about 3” diameter), which is much smaller than those I’ve seen in other factories. The deeper hollow makes the ride or hone line easier to create and for us sharpeners to maintain. The initial convex shape was created free hand on a large flathone and the final edge precisely ground using a modified clamp on three smaller 6” stone flathones using progressively finer and finer grit. Final alignment tweaking was done with a brass bending block rather than hammers. Between each step of the operation, an inspector tests every shear before in proceeds to the next step on the production line.

Our observation of the shear making process impressed on us the importance of the hollow and the hone as well the skills and abilities of the scissor workers. Casper will be giving a more in-depth understanding of the process when he speaks at the Sharpeners Jam the last week-end of July in Atlanta.

How to Shop for Shears at Hair Shows

Hair and beauty shows can be one of the best places to shop for shears. There may be dozens of companies to choose from with several styles from each vendor. The choices can be daunting. Here are some tips to help you through your dilemma.

Do Your Homework
First, know yourself. Have an idea of the type of shear, price range and possible companies you want to explore. Your style of shear can be determined by your needs and cutting style. Previous articles in SalonSense addressed some of these choices. You can also order a DVD for $10.00 from Bonika Shears (1-888-290-3393 or www.bonika.com) called Shear Knowledge which addresses shear selection, not only on handle styles but on length and steel quality.
Second, know the companies. Go on the internet and read about the various brands of shears that you may see at the show and have some models in mind that you would like to try. If the show has a website with booth locations, map out a plan to visit the booths of the companies you plan to compare. Be skeptical of any company that is not large enough to have a professional website and toll-free number. A shear is only as good as the company that backs it up.

Test drive the shears
Shears are like cars. You can’t really tell how they operate unless you actually cut hair. Some shears will feel sharp and smooth but will pull, bend and rip the hair. Take pieces of hair extension with you in case the vendor does not provide hair for testing the shears. If they do not let you cut with their shears, do not buy them. Go to another vendor. After you select your shear for purchase, perform another test cut with the actual shears you are buying. Top quality shears are hand finished and will have small variances in the way they feel and cut. Palm the shears and maneuver them in a manner you would most likely manipulate the shears when in a salon. Test driving shears is the best way to determine the quality and the suitability of the shears.

Beware of Imitators
One of the disturbing trends in the beauty shear business is imitating. Sometimes the shears may be marked with a different country of origin. Sometimes the company may give their shears a similar name as a well known name-brand shear changing the word by only one letter or leaving a letter out. When you do your homework write the names of the brands of shears you researched in a notepad with the spelling double checked.
A third type of imitator is the most disturbing. There are at least 4 major well-known shear companies with knock-off of lower quality steel and inferior workmanship. It is hard for a stylist to recognize knock-offs, although a price that seems unusually low can be a tip. Be sure you purchase any name-brand shears direct from the manufacturer or authorized distributor. Most websites will list the authorized distributors for their brands.

Verify the Warranty
Most shears today have a life time warranty. Ask what their life time warranty really covers. Will they replace the shears if they are dropped and break in half? Are there warranty centers in your area? Can you use a local sharpener and keep your lifetime warranty?
Some manufacturers require you to use their company for sharpening in order to keep your warranty. Sharpening for these companies can be as much as $60.00 per pair plus shipping, and you must have a back-up pair while your shears are getting serviced. Some offer “Free Sharpening” but you must include $20.00 shipping and handling and $35.00 if the shears have any nicks. Once you add shipping your free sharpening can cost you nearly $50.00! If you buy shears that require you to use the “factory” for sharpening it is unlikely that they are actually sent overseas to the factory. Most have an hourly worker here in the US sharpening. In most cases personalized sharpening by a trained sharpener with modern update equipment can do a better job sharpening in your salon.

In general with a little planning, purchasing shears at a hair show can be a rewarding experience. Once you find a brand that you are satisfied with, it is best to stick to that brand. Many stylists come to identify themselves with a particular type of shear much as an athlete will use only brand of shoes and gear. In any case, shears are the most important tool on your station so make your selection carefully.

Written by Bonnie Megowan for SalonSense magazine. Bonnie is the owner of Bonika Shears and can be seen at most major hair and beauty shows. 1-888-290-3393 www.bonika.com