Sharp Tools, Sharp Results

It All Started with Woodworking

I was in the high tech industry for ~45 years, and during that time I developed a number of hobbies which occupied my mind, encouraged my creativity and helped me decompress. Now that I have retired I am transitioning some of these hobbies into activities that will keep me busy and engaged with people.

Woodturning has been my creative outlet. In high school wood shop I turned a wooden salad bowl for my mom. Thirty years later I bought my first lathe and started turning wood as a hobby. A hobby which grew into a passion. I love the feel of the wood spinning and seeing the long curls and wood chips flying off my gouges. Over the years I have created hundreds of items – candle sticks, pens, bowls, ornaments, cremation urns, salt and pepper mills, tops, baby rattles, platters, hand mirrors, and more.

Woodworking requires very sharp tools. I grew up knowing that dull knives and dull tools were dangerous and that it was important to know how to sharpen them and keep them sharp. This lesson was from my father and he took the time to teach me how to sharpen and care for knives. Initially this was using wet stones and steels – a slow and effective technique. I have since upgraded to a very low RPM Swedish water wheel system. As soon as I got this my wood turning changed because a perfectly shaped and razor sharp tool improves the way the tool cuts through the wood, much more precise, smoother, and in a way softer cuts. I’ve turned out some of my best work in part due to having such precision tools.

Onto the Knives

After I the upgraded to the new sharpening system my wife suggested I “hang out my shingle” and start sharpening for our neighborhood. To inspire this she gave me my “Pete’s Sharpening” sign, which I have been putting at the end of my driveway at times when I was home working in the yard or shop. The first time someone came down my driveway was surprising and exciting – “Hey, are you Pete? I have dull knives…” And with that I was in business.

I have been sharpening at the Duvall Farmers market as well as out of my house for the past 5+ years, and the reception has been fantastic. Even with the corona virus lockdowns the farmers market thrived and my sharpening has remained very busy. I feel very fortunate.

In my spare time I also enjoy woodworking, home and landscaping projects, beer making, scuba diving, and long distance open water swimming. I enjoy swims all around the Puget Sound, British Columbia, Alcatraz, Boston Light, and for my 60th birthday I was fortunate enough to swim the English Channel as part of a US/Australia relay team.

I look forward to meeting you and your knives.