Knives and Garden Tools Stacked Up in the Out Box!

Last Sunday at Gene's Fine Foods in Pleasanton was a busy knife sharpening day! I try to finish what is brought to me so that the knives or garden tools are sharpened and ready when the customer leaves the supermarket.

This last Sunday I was busy — and when I was all caught up I took a moment to stand up and stretch. Once I stood up and looked around I saw the full tray of finished knives and garden tools awaiting their owners and thought they made a nice photograph!

Sharpened Knives Awaiting Pickup

This picture shows two bundles of knifes. Once I sharpen a knife it is wrapped carefully, for two reasons — for safety, so nobody gets cut; and also to protect the sharpened edge of the knife. Knives are brought to me all manor of ways, these knives were wrapped in towels — and I wrapped them up in the same towels for the ride home.

Sharpened Hedge Clippers, Loppers, Pruners and Pole Pruners

One person brought all of her garden tools to be sharpened. This picture shows two pole pruners, two hedge clippers, one lopper, and there is a hand pruner or two under the pile.

When I sharpen a garden tool such as a pruner it is dissembled, sharpened, cleaned, oiled, reassembled and adjusted.

Also visible in this picture is a pair of scissors. These are owned by a 92 year old lady who inherited them from her mother! They were in great shape, and now freshly sharpened ready for many more years of service!

Sharpened Garden Tools

Here is another picture of the garden tools. Perhaps it does not add anything — but hey, I like the picture so might as use it! And it actually does show the pole pruners. The pole pruner closest is a Fiskars that is chain and belt actuated and I thought it a good design.

Solar Powered Knife Sharpening

And PS: All the above was done solar powered! Here is a view of the knife sharpening booth at Gene's Fine Foods in Pleasanton showing the solar panels and the equipment box.

The solar panels are one set of two hinged 40 watt panels — complete with stand and charge controller. The black box to the left has a deep cycle AGM battery, a inverter and also extra cables and supplies. The panels supply DC current to the battery, the charge controller controls how much current actually goes into the battery, and the inverter converts the DC to 120 AC which is used to power the knife sharpening equipment. The 40 watts from the panels has always been sufficient. The battery stores any energy that I am not using — and since even on a very busy day the equipment is not on constantly — I  have plenty of juice!