Bonika Snowed In

We are snowed in. The main road to the office was officially closed down. Gene measured 5 1/2" of snow in the front yard. See him in the front yard with two of the grand children. Gene is on the left, that's the snowman on the right.

The phones are rolled to our cell phone and we are able to answer emails, but I don't know when orders can be shipped. I'm sure Kenchii Scissors is having the same problem since they are in an Atlanta suburb, too.

Cabin fever is setting in so hopefully we will be in the office on Saturday and Martin Luther King's birthday. We head off to the ISSE show in LA soon. We could use a sharpener at the show if anyone is interested. Frances London Dubose will be teaching an "Upside down speed cutting" class there at the show on Monday. She is pretty awesome. We are crossing our fingers that a TV network may be filming her at the class. We could use some models for a fabulous haircut at the class. Let us know if you are interested in sharpening or modeling.

Excerpt from the Hollow and the Honelecture by Casper Kiser Oster / Eickertat the 2010 Sharpeners Jam

Click screen to play short 8 minute video.

Excerpt from our new 2 part DVD. This is the most complete video presentation of the complexities of shear manufacture and function made to date. This 2 DVD set, each part 50 minutes will explore with clear illustrations the
honed and non-honed shears and how and why they are made and sharpened differently
the "twist" in shears, what it is and what it isn't
the importance of the hollow grind and how it affects the performance of shears
what correct and in-correct honing looks like and how it affects the cut
angle selection, the pros and cons of sharp vs strong edges
how and why shears are put back into correct alignment
and much, much more.This is one of those videos you will watch over and over and learn something new each time. This is an essential part of every scissor sharpeners library. You will have a new appreciation for the complexity of the beauty and groomer shears.Casper Kiser is the plant floor supervisor in McMinnville, TN for the Oster factory. He has had over 15 years experience in the manufacture of beauty and groomer shears with the Arius Eickert company. This lecture was presented to sharpeners at the 2010 Sharpeners Jam in Atlanta, GA. Here their questions and comments as Casper clearly shares with a small select group of sharpeners his years of experience. Call 1-888-290-3393 to order this DVD set or order from our website http://www.beautystoreworld.net/vhh.html (Use ID: sharpener Password: Guest)

Northeast Sharp N Shop Report

The Sharp N Shop in North Bergen became a combo meet n greet for sharpeners and a training.l Here is Ed Wozniak of Ultimate Edge, Chapel Hill, NC with a private training for three new sharpeners while we (Gene and Bonnie) conducted the Sharp N Shop in the meeting room downstairs. Like usual, everyone came and went throughout the day. Each had a specific thing they wanted to see, learn or buy and conducted their business, chatted with whoever was there and went their way. It's like a fluid open house and makes it easy for everyone to get complete undivided attention. I was really fascinated by Mr. Lee of Long Island who is an accomplished nipper sharpener and was wanting to modernize and update his equipment. I took some photos of his current sharpening equipment which he had made himself and installed in his mini van.

Big Joe Caladorci (I think I misspelled his last name) came by and Gene insisted I take his photo next to Joe so he would look small.

See all the photos here http://picasaweb.google.com/bonika/NortheastSharpNShop2009?feat=directlink

Shoto Sold at a Hair Cuttery

Jay Hunter, scissor sharpener and son-in-law extraordinaire sold a Shoto in a Hair Cuttey today. Way to go Jay! The customer asked what they would win if their name was drawn for the free Shoto at the Sharpener's Jam in July. I told him to tell her we would give her one of the new Shoto Thinners.