For those who have ever struggled with dull knives, the frustration is palpable. But what if there was a way to make knife sharpening a breeze? Meet Kelly Lewis, the owner of The Traveling Sharpener, a professional knife sharpening service that visits locations around Green Bay, Door County, Appleton, and the Fox Valley.
The Dangers of Store-Bought Sharpeners
According to Lewis, store-bought sharpeners can do more harm than good. She stresses that these inexpensive, hand-held units are not a suitable replacement for professional sharpening.
- Damage to knives: Store-bought sharpeners can damage the blades of knives, making them unusable.
- Inconsistent results: The sharpening process is not consistent, leading to uneven edges and poor performance.
- Risk of injury: Using a store-bought sharpener can pose a risk of injury, especially if you’re not familiar with the process.
On the other hand, professional sharpening offers a range of benefits, including:
- Consistent results: Professional sharpening ensures that your knives are sharpened to the correct angle and edge, resulting in a sharp and durable blade.
- Long-lasting: Professional sharpening can extend the life of your knives, making them last longer.
- Customization: Professional sharpening allows for customization, so you can get your knives sharpened to your specific needs.
The Equipment and Training Required
Professional knife sharpening requires specialized equipment and extensive training. Lewis’s equipment, for example, includes a tower with three motors, a mounted grinder, and belts and wheels, which cost around $13,000.
| Equipment | Description | Cost |
| Tower | A vertical stack of three motors, a mounted grinder, and belts and wheels. | $13,000 |
| Grinder | A device used to sharpen knives to a precise edge. | $1,000 |
| Belts and wheels | Used to power the equipment and sharpen knives. | $1,000 |
Learning how to use the equipment required extensive training, which Lewis completed in California. She trained with a combination of watching and hands-on practice, under the guidance of experienced professionals.
“I trained in California and it was a combination of watching and then hands-on training to learn the skills. We had someone watching over our shoulders and correcting us. There is a lot involved — how to angle vertically and horizontally and being in the right spot. There is muscle memory involved to know what the correct process feels like.”
— Kelly Lewis
A Business Born from Frustration
Lewis’s journey to becoming a professional knife sharpener began when she was frustrated with her own knife sharpening experience. She had tried store-bought sharpeners, but they did not meet her expectations.
- She began practicing with cheap knives to improve her skills.
- She gained confidence and developed the skills needed to start her own business.
- She eventually started The Traveling Sharpener, a professional knife sharpening service that visits locations around Green Bay, Door County, Appleton, and the Fox Valley.
Lewis’s story is a testament to the importance of learning and adapting. She began as a store manager at Cooks Corner, but after the store closed, she turned her frustration into an opportunity.
A Business Plan and Loan
To start The Traveling Sharpener, Lewis wrote a business plan and presented it to lenders. Despite the slow process, she eventually secured a loan from her parents.
- She wrote several business plans during college to prepare for the process.
- Her parents stepped in with a loan, providing the necessary funding to get the business started.
Today, The Traveling Sharpener is a successful business that offers professional knife sharpening services to customers around the region.
