SHARPENED by LEIGH

Leigh removing chips and sharpening a Deba, September 2022.

Japanese Whetstone

Hand Sharpening

Melbourne’s Premium Hand Sharpening Service for Japanese, European & Unique Knives


If you have an enquiry please send us a message through our form below.*Please tell us the best day, time and location for you according to our calendar and locations below.
(See Schedule Below)


SHARPENING EVENT
@ THE KING OF TONGA
ELWOOD
Sunday Dec. 3rd 2pm-6pm


SOUTHSIDE SCHEDULE DECEMBER

PETER’S MITRE 10 CAULFIELD
EVERY TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
(Until 20th of Dec.)
9am - 4pm
PETER’S MITRE 10 BRIGHTON
SATURDAY 2nd, 16th & 23Rd
9am - 3pm


NORTHSIDE SCHEDULE DECEMBER

ALPHINGTON FARMER’S MARKET
EVERY THURSDAY
7th, 14th, 21st

10am - 5pm
EVERY SECOND SUNDAY
10th & 24th

9am - 6pm
CARLTON FARMER’S MARKET
SATURDAY 9th
8am - 1pm
(Same day service cuts off at 11am SHARP!)


LOCATION INFO

LOCATIONADDRESS
Peter’s Mitre 10 BRIGHTON343 New St, Brighton
Peter’s Mitre 10 CAULFIELD95 Normanby Rd, Caulfield
Carlton Farmer’s Market60 Lee St, Carlton Nth
Alphington Farmer’s Market2 Wingrove St, Alphington
The King of Tonga ELWOOD164A Tennyson St, Elwood

ABOUT OUR PRACTICE

SAME DAY SERVICE ON KNIVES
For same day service we ask that jobs are brought in earlier in the day to ensure we can have your jobs and tools ready for pick up.
We usually ask that you allow us between 1 - 6 hours for your job to be turned around.During busy seasons like Christmas, we may need to extend service into the following day for your knives to be returned to you.NOTE REGARDING BOOKINGS
It is not necessary for most knife sharpening jobs to make a booking but if you have 10 or more knives of varying kinds or more than 5 Japanese Category A+ knives then please give us a heads up you are coming.
Feel free to let us know when you are coming in or to ask us any questions beforehand.ASSESSMENT & QUOTING
We assess all jobs in person prior to service and prior to quoting. You are welcome to send photos but please note: Photos and videos do not provide the entire picture and we will not quote from images.
GUARANTEED EDGES
We aim to provide the highest quality service and edges that remain sharp therefore we may refuse to sharpen some knives and garden tools if we believe the steel is not heat treated properly or they are too far gone to be restored. Please see our Knife Steel Categories below.
RESTORATION OF HEIRLOOM & ANTIQUE KNIVES & TOOLS*
In the case of Heirlooms and Antiques we assess things differently. We discuss the outcome of the item in question in consultation with the owner and we work out the best, most gentle method of restoring and bringing the best out of an old, fragile or unusual item so it can remain in your family and not suffer further deterioration.

Knife and tool restorations as well as chisels and scissors may not be same day jobs.


Carmen designs and makes these kangaroo leather strops that we recommend customer’s use to maintain the edges on their knives. We sell the 20cm Field Strop for $155 and the 45cm Kitchen Strop for $195. They come with compounds and we teach you how to use it.


Coming to Peter’s Mitre 10, Brighton, November 12th

Two knives from the knife collection of Chef David Ball sharpened by Leigh and handles and blades restored by Carmen, February 2023.


ABOUT US & JAPANESE WHETSTONE
HAND SHARPENING

Leigh testing a Benchmade pocket knife he just sharpened, March 2023.

THE ART & SCIENCE OF WHETSTONE SHARPENING
Our business is based upon the art and science of sharpening knives and tools on Japanese whetstones, which is a practice many thousands of years old refined by many cultures throughout the world including the Japanese, who are most famous for it.
OUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE
All the whetstones we use are 100% made in Japan and sourced from small local businesses. We have no secrets and there is no mystery to our work. We invite all our customers to watch while Leigh sharpens your knives by hand.
”We do not take shortcuts and cheat by secretly putting your knife on a belt sander, a Tormek or a large Japanese water wheel after you leave. This is our promise and our guarantee and it is the core of our methodology as sharpeners.” LeighWe take great pride in our work and offering this unique service so you can experience the difference in your knives.OUR PROCESS
We appraise each knife and tool individually and assess its requirements for sharpening, repair or restoration and discuss the exact process and expected costs with you.
”Our process is meticulous. Occasionally we may need to re-assess the progress of a job if unexpected issues present themselves in a knife or tool. We re-assess the work required and communicate with customers the options so they can make an informed decision. Our aim is that customers get the absolute best outcome and we do not compromise on the standard of our work.” CarmenQUALITY OF WORK ASSURANCE
We assure all our customers that their knives will be sharpened exclusively by hand on Japanese whetstones. We provide advice on ensuring the correct care and maintenance of your knife based on the steel type and/or previous damage or mis-sharpening your knife has endured.
If you have any questions or issues with a job we have done please don’t hesitate to contact us so we can work out a solution.We are here to support you and the ongoing care, maintenance and preservation of your knives.LIFE OF YOUR KNIFE
We know that a good knife should last many years and can even be passed down to the next generation.
Hand sharpening is the best way to ensure the maximum life of your knife.
Here are incentives for you to bring your knives back to us:- Damaged knives may need to return sooner than average (less than 12 weeks) for an additional sharpening service, if so it will be 30% less than the normal Category of steel fee it’s in (excludes Category A+-S Knives).- 20% Off the Sharpening fee on ANY of the same knives you have had sharpened by us the next time they come in for service. (Excludes thinning & re-profiling fees or repairs for any damage and mis-sharpening endured between services & any Category A+S knives).

SUPPORT A LOCAL LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT BUSINESS
We are a micro business operating out of our 1950s caravan rebuilt from repurposed materials in the Inner South Eastern suburbs. We specialise in Japanese whetstone sharpening and knife restoration which has a low carbon footprint and helps reduce demand for new knives.
A SERVICE FOR EVERYBODY
We aim to provide a premium hand sharpening service for knife enthusiasts, home cooks, chefs, gardeners, horticulturalists and tradespeople.
ITEMS WE SHARPEN
Our primary focus is on sharpening straight edge knives but we also sharpen bread knives, manual gardening tools, professional scissors, axes, hatchets and chisels.
We have also been known to sharpen less common items such as guillotine blades, plane blades, cut throat razors and carving tools.WE DO NOT SHARPEN:
- motorised garden tool blades
- power saw blades
- drill bits
- clipper blades
- non-professional scissors
- hand saws
A NOTE ON “PULL-THROUGH SHARPENERS”
We do not advise maintaining your knives on “pull-through knife sharpeners” no matter the brand or the price you paid for it.
”They are a sales gimmick and a form of forced obsolescence designed to reduce the life of your knife by knife companies. They go against our philosophy and our methodology.” LeighIf your knives have been used on a pull-through there will usually be an extra fee to repair them and sometimes the steel will be damaged long term.

Leigh sharpening a pair of Japanese shears for a local horticulturalist, March 2023.

LEIGH, OWNER, LEAD SHARPENER
SHARPENS STRAIGHT EDGE, SPECIALITY KNIVES & TOOLS
OVERSEES & ASSESSES ALL JOBS IN & OUT

Leigh has extensive knowledge of knives, steel types, manufacturing processes, sharpening methods and specialises in sharpening high carbon, super steel and niche knives correctly and thoroughly by hand to ensure they work for you at their optimum.
He applies the same rigour to everything he sharpens and believes the value of a tool is not in how much it cost to buy but in how well it performs it’s function for you.CARMEN, MANAGER
SHARPENS CHISELS, GARDEN TOOLS & SERRATED KNIVES
OVERSEES KNIFE RESTORATIONS

Carmen manages operations and sharpens serrated knives, garden tools and scissors. She uses her knowledge in jewellery making, fine timber work and vintage objects to restore heirloom, rare and fragile knives and scissors.
She understands the emotional and familial significance that certain objects hold in our lives and treats heirloom, vintage and sentimental knives and scissors with the same care she treats her own with.

Carmen hand sharpening chisels at Peter’s Mitre 10, Caulfield, June 2023.


KNIFE CATEGORIES

Leigh sharpening a Category S-A+ Yanagiba, October 2023.

SEVEN KNIFE STEEL CATEGORIES: S-A+, A+, A, B, C, D & R
AN EXPLANATION OF OUR KNIFE STEEL METHODOLOGY
Over the last three years and after sharpening and restoring thousands of different knives made of different steels with different heat treatments and with different sharpening histories, we have developed
Seven Knife Steel Categories: S-A+, A+, B, C, D.
Four of these Categories we will sharpen and will also guarantee our edges on.They are Categories:
S-A+ - Specialised Blade A+ Steel

$2.20 per cm + Time where required
SPECIALISED KNIVES MADE OF A+ STEEL
Category S-A+ covers Single Bevel Japanese Knives made of High Carbon steel start at a minimum fee of $2.20 per cm.
All blades are assessed individually according to the blade & steel type.
PLEASE NOTE: We have found that some Yanagiba are not made of A+ steel, if we find this on assessment of your knife steel we will advise you what your options are.CATEGORY A+
PREMIUM KNIVES MADE OF HIGH CARBON STEEL

Our A+ Category knives are all priced individually according to knife and steel type.
A+ - High Carbon Steel
(Commercial or Handmade, High quality heat treatment) - $1.80 per cm + Time where required
CATEGORIES A & B
REGULAR & COMMERCIAL KITCHEN KNIVES

We categorise the most common kitchen knife brands into three categories A, B & C. The prices are set according to steel type and length of time to sharpen. See category lists below for pricing on these knives.
A - Commercial Japanese (High Carbon or Similar, Consistent Heat treatment)
$1.50 per cm + Time where required
B - Commercial European (Sandvic or Similar, Consistent Heat Treatment)
$1.35 per cm + Time where required
CATEGORY C & D
DEAD KNIVES

There are some knives that we categorise as "Dead Knives" due to errors in the manufacturing process or due to severe damage or extensive wear and tear. If your knife is in Category D we will let you know what the best knife options are for you to purchase.
We still sharpen some Category C knives but do not guarantee our edges on these as the heat treatment on certain brands is extremely poor so we sharpen these with a note to each customer before we take them on.PLEASE NOTE: We NO LONGER sharpen Mundial, Scanpan, StaySharp or other extremely low quality or poorly heat treated knives.
We apologise in advance to you but we are happy to offer honest, unbiased advice on knives that we recommend if you need new knives to replace them.
If you are not sure about the quality of your knives we will assess them when you bring them in and explain to you what kind of steel they are in person. You may be surprised that they are better or worse than you think!The lowest Category of knife is D.
This category applies to knives that we reject to sharpen for some or all of the following reasons:
- extremely poor heat treatment on the steel
- severely mis-sharpened by previous "sharpener"
- severely damaged beyond repair from mis-use, accident or mis-sharpening
- worn out, over-used and no longer a functional knife due to age*
The final Category is:
*R - Restoration of Heirloom, Antique & Vintage Knives
Sometimes you or your family may have a knife in the family that is very precious. Not because it is a high quality knife but because it was your mother's or grandmother's main cooking knife, your dad's butchering knife that he used for 60 years or was found in a shed after a family member has passed and you just can't bring yourself to throw it away. And fair enough! We completely understand the need to keep objects in teh family for continuity, sentimentality and respect for the labour of those who came before us and the tools they used to help nurture, raise and earn a living from.And this is where we come into the picture to help you keep that item and restore it so it can be either used occasionally or maybe just restored in order to be part of a family heirloom display or put away carefully in respect of its fragility.For Restoration work the quality of the steel, the heat treatment and the damage or wear and tear is not considered. What is relevant is its importance to you and whether you would like us to help you preserve it. If this is the case we ask you bring in the item for a Restoration Assessment and we work out a strategy for restoring it. Sometimes it is straightforward and just involves some cleaning, other times it is more complex and involved.We charge $130 per hour for all Restoration Works. All work is timed to the minute. There may be additional fees for more specialised materials, which we will discuss in the consultation.If you are not sure which Category your knives are in or if your knife needs Restoration please contact us.

A set of Japanese chisels sharpened by Carmen, March 2023.


KNIFE SHARPENING PRICES


CATEGORY A+S
SPECIALISED KNIFE IN PREMIUM STEEL & EXCELLENT HEAT TREAT

SINGLE BEVEL, HAND-FORGED JAPANESE, HIGH CARBON & POWDER STEEL KNIVES
Eg, Yanagiba, Deba, Sobakiri, Premium & Hand-Forged Folding & Hunting Knives

COOKERY LEVELEXPERT
GOOD FORCHEFS/ADVANCED HOME COOKS
ADVANTAGEPRECISION SLICING & CUTTING
DISADVANTAGESCAN BE EXPENSIVE MUST BE LOOKED AFTER
MIN. $2.90per cm + TIME @ $160 Per Hr
Yanagiba, Deba, Takohiki + Other Single Bevel Category A+ Steel Knives
EG, KNIFE TYPE A+SPrice
Per Centimeter Rate$2.90
27cm Yanagiba$80 min fee
17cm Deba$50 min fee

CATEGORY A+
PREMIUM STEEL & EXCELLENT HEAT TREAT

COMMERCIAL & HAND-FORGED JAPANESE, HIGH CARBON, FOLDED & POWDER STEELS
Eg, Commercial brands: Kasumi, Yaxell, Mcusta Zanmai, Miyabi, Tojiro, Kai

COOKERY LEVELACCOMPLISHED TO EXPERT
GOOD FORCHEFS/ADVANCED HOME COOKS
ADVANTAGEHOLDS AN EDGE THE LONGEST
DISADVANTAGESCAN BE EXPENSIVE MUST BE LOOKED AFTER
STEELMIN. $1.80 per cm + TIME @ $130 Per Hr
Japanese SteelGyuto, Santoku, Petty, Other Common Japanese Knives
High CarbonHandmade or Commercially Made Western Chef’s Knives
Super SteelsElmax, 3V, Cruware, Magnacut, S30V & Other Powder Steels

CATEGORY A+-CW
COMPLEX WORKS ON CATEGORY A+ KNIVES

COVERS DAMAGE, CHIPPING, MIS-SHARPENING OR THICK BEHIND EDGE

CATEGORY A-CWPrice
Per Centimeter Rate$2.20
Eg, 20 cm Chef's Knife$44
Full Re-profile$33
Half Re-Profile$18
Full Blade Thinning$33
Half Blade Thinning$18

CATEGORY A
HIGH QUALITY JAPANESE STEEL & GOOD HEAT TREAT
Eg, Global, Shun, Jikko, Mac, Mcusta VG10

COOKERY LEVELCONFIDENT TO ACCOMPLISHED
GOOD FORADVANCED HOME COOKS/CHEFS
ADVANTAGEEASILY AVAILABLE JAPANESE STEEL
DISADVANTAGESREQUIRES MORE CARE THAN CATEGORY B
KNIFE CATEGORY APrice
Per Centimeter Rate$1.50
1 x 20 cm Chef's Knife$30
2 Knives (35cm)$52
3 Knives (50cm)$75
4 Knives (65cm)$97
5 Knives (80cm)$120

CATEGORY A-CW
COMPLEX WORKS ON CATEGORY A KNIVES

COVERS DAMAGE, CHIPPING, MIS-SHARPENING OR THICK BEHIND EDGE

CATEGORY A-CWPrice
Per Centimeter Rate$1.80
Eg, 20 cm Chef's Knife$36
Full Re-profile$33
Half Re-Profile$18
Full Blade Thinning$33
Half Blade Thinning$18

CATEGORY B
CONSISTENT STEEL & HEAT TREAT
COMMERCIAL/PROFESSIONAL BRANDS
Eg, Wusthof, Victorinox, F. Dick, Sabatier, Zwilling,
Furi, Baccarat, Masterchef

COOKERY LEVELBASIC TO ACCOMPLISHED
GOOD FORBASICALLY EVERYONE
ADVANTAGEAFFORDABLE/EASY TO CARE FOR
DISADVANTAGESNOT AS GOOD AS CATEGORY A
KNIFE CATEGORY BPrice
Per Centimeter Rate$1.35
1 x 20 cm Chef's Knife$27
2 Knives (35cm)$47
3 Knives (50cm)$67
4 Knives (65cm)$88
5 Knives (80cm)$108

CATEGORY C
LOW QUALITY STEEL
MIXED QUALITY BRANDS
Eg, Messermeister, Brazilia, Cutco

COOKERY LEVEL:BEGINNER
GOOD FORSTUDENTS/TEENAGERS
ADVANTAGEAFFORDABLE/EASY TO CARE
DISADVANTAGESWON'T HOLD AN EDGE
KNIFE CATEGORY CPrice
Per Centimeter Rate$1.50

CATEGORY D
DEAD KNIVES
Eg, Mundial, Scanpan, Wiltshire, StaySharp.
We will not sharpen knife brands due to their inability to hold an edge due to poor heat treatment/low quality. We also may inform you that your knives are Category D and not worry sharpening if they are severely damaged, mis-sharpening or heavily worn out.

COOKERY LEVELNONE
GOOD FORNO ONE
ADVANTAGENONE
DISADVANTAGESIT'S A BAD KNIFE

Types of Damage & Repair Fees

Damage TypePrice
RustFrom $10
Edge ChippingFrom $10
Broken TipFrom $10
Heel FixFrom $15
Knife Re-profileFrom $22
Thinning (Cat A & A+ ONLY)From $22

NOTE REGARDING WESTERN KNIFE RESTORATION
Damage to knives varies widely in terms of type and severity. This can influence the cost of edge restoration. The prices above are a guide only.
Types of restorations we do are: re-tipping, chip removal, re-profiling, butt re-shaping, scratch removal, tarnish and rust removal, timber handle repairs and restorations.Cleaning often involves removing built up grime and debris off the handle and blade and is done using soft brass brushes and eucalyptus oil.

*Pitting, mis-sharpen or pull-through sharpener damage is the result of a variety of factors. In the case of pitting it can be over-exposure to variations in heat, moisture and acid and in the case of mis-sharpening or pull-through damage there may be disintegration of the steel beneath the surface. These types of damage means the knife may continue splintering and fraying while it is being sharpened.

Close up of a Global knife with severe pitting (small black spots on a knife from extensive rust damage) and mis-sharpened by a previous sharpener, August 2022.

A Global knife set that came in with overheating from being put on a grinder so severe the metal folded over itself. Furthermore, the edge was so damaged it had cracks, discolouration and was not very sharp in the end for the customer who paid for them to be damaged. Possibly some of the worst mis-sharpening we have seen by a previous sharpener, October 2022.


GENERAL SHARPENING PRICES

Knife Categories
A+, A, B & C

A chef’s set of Wusthof knives. Straight edge knives sharpened by Leigh, bread knives sharpened by Carmen, March 2023.

Knife Category (see above for more info)Rate
A+$1.70
A$1.50
B$1.35
C$1.50
Knife TypeMinimum FeePlus Time
Bread Knife 20cm$25$110 per hr
Serrated/Steak Knife 15cm$15$110 per hr

Leigh sharpening a set of Wusthof knives, March 2023.


Knife Category A+: Japanese, High Carbon & Super Steel

A Mcusta that needed a fine edge before a road trip, sharpened August 2022.

Knife TypeMinimum Fee $1.70Hourly Rate $110
Gyuto (all rounder)  
Santoku (all rounder)  
Kiritsuke (all rounder)  
Nakiri (for vegetables)  
Honesuki (boning)  
Petty / Utility (paring)  
Specialist Knife TypesMinimum Fee $1.70Hourly Rate $110
Sujihiki (sashimi)  
Deba (thick filleting knife)  
Yanagiba - (fine fish slicer)  
Japanese Knife Restoration & CleaningMin FeeHourly Rate $110
Scratch removal$18 
Chip removal$18 
Blade thinning$18 
Timber handle restoration$25 
Cleaning$15 
Polishing$15 

Four knives from two different customers, two were complete restorations, two just sharpens. August 2022.

NOTE REGARDING JAPANESE KNIFE RESTORATION
Japanese knives vary in the thickness of the steel depending on the type of knife. This can influence the cost of edge restoration. The prices above are a guide only.
Types of restorations we do are: re-tipping, chip removal, re-profiling, scratch removal, edge thinning (POR), tarnish and rust removal, timber handle repairs and restorations.Cleaning often involves removing built up grime and debris off the handle and blade and is done using brushes and natural solvents.


Core Gardening Tools

Type - Mass ProducedPrice
Secateurs - Full Clean, Oil, Sharpen$35
Shears - Full Clean, Oil, Sharpen$45
Loppers - Full Clean, Oil, Sharpen$40
Axes/Hatchets/SplittersFrom $25
Rust Removal/Clean/OilFrom $15

A pair of curved shears, sharpened April 2022.

Type - Handmade/JapaneseFrom
Secateurs/Shears/Other$35
Timber Handle Care - Sand/clean/wax$25
Rust Removal/Clean/Oil$15

A beautiful handmade Japanese pair of secateurs for a local horticulturalist, sharpened July 2022.


Specialty Knives, Tools & Scissors

NOTE ON RESTORING VINTAGE & ANTIQUE SCISSORS & TOOLS
We restore and sharpen many vintage and antique knives, scissors, garden tools and chisels.
We ask our customers to understand that we do our very best to restore the items to the very best possible state that they can be but that is highly dependent upon the condition they come to us in.We also offer the best possible advice and will assess each item individually but may not always detect flaws or damage until the item is being cleaned and sharpened. So it is important for customers to understand that some items may not be able to be restored to an as-new or fully functional condition.Therefore, before bringing you antique or vintage items in we ask that customers seriously consider the items they want restored and what outcome they want for them.We ask that customers respect our efforts and time working on antiques and vintage items by paying our fees in full on pick up.

ToolMin FeeHourly Rate
Chisels/Plane Blades$25$130
Draw Knife & Guillotine$35$130
Scissors (Hair)$25$130
Scissors (Tailors 7 - 10cm)$25$130
Scissors (Tailors 10 - 18cm)$45$130
Scissors (Pinking)$45$130
Cut Throat Razors$25$130
Pocket Knives/Fishing/Hunting$15$130
All RestorationsPer hr$130

Leigh holding two knives with chipping he's repairing, a Deba and a Santoku, September 2022.


PREPARING ITEMS FOR SHARPENING

Leigh unwrapping a customer's vintage tailoring shears from a tea towel, May 2022.

KNIFE SAFETY IS IMPORTANT
For you, for your family, for the public and for us. Here is a 3 step process to follow to ensure no one accidentally gets hurt:
1 WRAP IN TEA TOWEL
Wrap all sharp edges in a tea towel and place them inside a calico bag.
2 PUT KNIFE BAG ON TRAY
When you bring them in to get sharpened in please allow Carmen to take them out of the bag.
3 PUT AWAY SAFELY
When we return your items to you carefully remove them from the complimentary calico bag and cardboard we wrap them in on a clear, flat surface at home and put them away in their correct spots immediately.
RE-LEARN TO USE YOUR SHARP KNIVES
When you begin using your freshly sharpened tools and knives go easy and slow to begin with to re-learn how much pressure to use.
Sharp knives cut more easily and require less force so stay safe and enjoy the learning process.A NOTE ON CONSCIENTIOUS COOKERY
Being present in the moment when preparing our food can help reduce injury, minimise damage to our knives and engage the mind and body in the physical and emotional act of nourishing ourselves and our family.
When it comes to high carbon, Japanese and super steels this becomes even more important as these knives require a higher level of care and commitment.


Leigh sharpening a vintage Sheffield machette, September 2022.