Well……. I was en route to Portsmouth to get the ferry for France when Tony rang to ask for re-Training. He described his previous training has “not being good” with some company ( (I don’t know who) in the South West. So as he was only some 40 miles or so from the Ferry terminal I decided to go and help him. He has my AF/CAN honing machine and the Ookami that he purchased on some website. They were second hand but in super condition after I had replaced his damaged honing plate. Also he has a knife grinder.
His wife Yasmeen grooms up to 18 dogs per day with some eight employees at Cannine Cuts in the New Forest. Tony and I spent two and a half hours together sharpening/servicing Andis and Oster clippers. We “got on ” great together, good chat, good coffee etc
Tony purchases a few attachments which will be very useful to him: especially our cutter on comb pressure gauge- this enables one to re-assemble the cutter on the comb at the correct pressure of 3 to 3 1/2 lbs per sq inch.
Good Luck Tony you know how to contact me if you need me. I left him with 1 kg of White 220 grit honing powder THE BEST for the job.
For two days this week I truly enjoyed my work. I was training Peter Thorley – Peter also has a home in Doncaster but plans to set up his business for most of the year in Torreveja . Apart from business we have similar pasts-he was a Chief Petty Officer (Medical Branch) and I was a Acting Leading hand same branch. He is a bright, happy man , quick learner -his wife grooms her own dogs so clippers are not unfamiliar to him. His new business is “baptised” Xtreme Edge- phone number in Espania is 00 34 642101890. Peter was trained how to sharpen and service Groomers, Hairdressers and Barbers scissors and all types of Clippers- for Horses (plenty in Spain) Vets, Sheep , Dogs & Hairdressers.
I wish Peter Buona Fortuana ! So keep in touch Peter – I am here to help as the “”Agony Uncle” of the Sharpening world ! Hasta la vista !
I was asked by Ella of Simply Debonair only yesterday if I could come and sharpen all her Wahl and Andis dog clipper blades and scissors. As I have only just returned from my Poland business trip I was going to stay in the office today, but, I much prefer to be with a customer – I love my work and as some people know I like to talk ! Ella works sometimes with her lovely daughter Amy and Becky her new assistant- truly three lovely welcoming , genuine people. Bearing in mind Ella grooms some eight to ten dogs per day, she had a lot of work for me to do, in fact eighteen clipper blades “combs and cutters” and four scissors. I was offered good coffee each hour and at 12 ish they brought me two excellent salad and ham sandwiches ” on the house” Ella would not take my money! I shared part of the ham sandwich unknown to them with Romeo her giant poodle and another dog ( a rescue dog) . Some of the best groomers I have noticed have their own dogs -Ella was no exception. I presented my bill and Ella paid me including a tip !! Aren’t I lucky doing something I love doing and getting this treatment. Will see Ella in approx 2/3 months and present my new Japanese Groomers Scissors and our Clipper blades. A great day and tomorrow more of the same with Alison at the Dog Room in Eccles, Manchester.
Today-Tuesday 19 July was for me – a pleasure day. Everybody knows I love my work. Robin recently purchased from me three sharpening machines for Professional Scissors, Clippers and Knives. I spent some time teaching Robin how to sharpen these tools but this man is perfectionist and needed more time on the subject of Hairdressers Clippers. A pleasure teaching this “hands-on” man. There is a precise method of setting up barbers /hairdressers clippers to quite exact tolerances. Two hours later I put Mr Knife Guy to the test and he sharpened more clippers just about perfectly.
Come back anytime Robin I want you to be #One in your area- and I think you will be !
I have just returned from a one week (too short) visit to Poland. I stayed in Polkowice and briefly Kraków. Was met at Poznan Airport by Mrs & Mr Bukała , who had visited me in England some 2 months before and had been trained on our machines to sharpen Scissors, Clippers and Knives. Izabela and Wojciech met me at Poznan airport as it was approaching midnight. Two and a half hour journey to their factory in Polkowice. Very kindly driven by Wojciech and his wife. These two people are the nicest people one could hope to meet. We visited one particular hairdresser with some eight or nine stylists and as luck would have it , he is one of the examiners for first and second year apprentice hairdressers. His salon was like Buckingham Palace !! He gave us the finest quality clippers blades and scissors to service. He really liked our new professional scissors. Ice Tech bought every single scissor from my stock subsequent to this visit. Emelia & Christian will run this new business to resell my machines and scissors. We will probably take part in a Polish Hairdressers show soon. Poland is without any doubt the cleanest country I have ever visited. No litter anywhere. Polish people are kind, dignified despite earning a small percentage of what we English earn. I WANT TO GO BACK ASAP.
Carl arrived again from Crook in the Lake District today in the pouring rain to have his Japanese Chefs knives sharpened.
Carl, who works for the Gilpin Hotel wrote these actual words” It is the second time I have used Frankland Grinding to sharpen my Japanese chefs knives. I have driven especially from the Lake District in the rain to Accrington because Arthur is the best in the North West”
I would love to meet the other chefs at the Gilpin Hotel and do all their knives. Another happy customer.
Beautiful weather in West Lancashire. Paul last came to me in November last year- he passed his City & Guilds and all the other training with flying colours and then started his new Grooming business early this year. His grooming salon is rather like an Operating Theatre inside…… Sparkling clean everywhere ! Packed with all the latest equipment.
I Stripped down ten clipper blade sets, cleaned, sharpened, cleaned again , oiled and reassembled them. Tested them- they were Perfect as usual. Then I serviced five scissors- cutting, texturising and chunkers. Replacing one new bumper between the handles.
Drank two great cups of coffee- Paul happy- Arthur happy. A la prochaine
These are just a few of the packages containing amongst other things: KNIFE GRINDERS , PROFESSIONAL SCISSOR GRINDERS AND ONE OF THE WORLD’s BEST CLIPPER HONERS.
These are going out to Poland, more goods to Flemish speaking Belgium, United Arab Emirates & Ireland. These are going to Ice Tech Polska for resale (to our new Distributor) and direct to their daughter who may be starting her own sharpening shop in Polkowice. We have a pretty healthy turnover now in the Middle East. Arthur is taking off soon for Poland to teach new “apprentices” sharpening skills. Domestic market sales are also buoyant.
Let’s see how things pan out after the referendum…..
Heather Brockbank responsible for Dog Grooming called me to go and sharpen her Andis Clippers and her Roseline Professional Scissors. This was my first visit to Paddywacks – my pleasure to meet Heather and some of her colleagues and the dogs !
As usual I asked her to test the instruments on the dogs, she did this and said she was happy. I mentioned to Heather that I have excellent quality Scissors made from Japanese Cobalt and a variety of Clipper Blade sets. I am pretty sure Heather will use my services again.
Sue Johnson the owner of this beautiful Hairdressing Salon had waited some two weeks for my visit. Thanks for your patience Sue.
She has a team of Stylists including Rachel and Becky- A most loyal customer having bought my titanium blue scissors on previous visits. They needed all their scissors servicing today. One of the scissors had lost the bumper-I replaced it, balanced, sharpened , honed and oiled each scissor. I asked the ladies to test each scissor before I left- they were happy. Drank a coffee prepared by the “boss” it was perfect.
Everybody happy, I await their next call when Sue said I can sharpen their clippers.
Sharpening Scissors, Clippers and Knives for the Hairdressing, Dog Grooming, Equestrian & Catering Industry
