The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Iron sharpens iron
Man runs business from home, creating a sharp edge
A Sheffield Township man operates a full service blade-sharpening business from home.
“I started 19 years ago,” said Bruce Wohleber, who owns Bruce’s Tool Sharpening from his house at 4615 Broadway. “I was doing a landscaping business, Bruce’s Landscaping, and the person doing my lawn mower blades went out of business, but I was told I could do my own blades if I had a certain machine.
“There was then more I could do if I bought another sharpening machine, so thousands of dollars and more machines later, I had a sharpening business.”
Wohleber said he then went to a local tool sharpener to learn the trade.
“I bought everything and went over to Pro Sharpening (Elyria Avenue, between Broadway and North Ridge Road in Elyria Township) and the owner, Bud Baker, he had the patience of Job (in the Bible), and he taught me what I know today. I learned pretty quickly and got set up here at home.”
Wohleber said he has had a good time owning the business.
“It’s a good learning experience because you get to meet people who become friends for life,” he said. “I sharpen anything from lawn mower blades, to knives, scissors and chainsaw chains.
“I pretty much do it all. It’s mostly Foley-Belsaw, which is the grandparent of all sharpening machines. They really cover what I need to do.”
Wohleber said he has had less business with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“With COVID, there was a big drop off; it was probably a 75 percent drop off,” he said. “The governor (Mike DeWine) shutdown the state and no one was getting anything sharpened; they did not know if I was open.
“There was a period of time where it was pretty tough for people coming in. It then started to pick up around the fall because they realized I was open. A couple of scissors guilds here in the county and Cuyahoga County found me and I sharpened the scissors for a large group.
“The people that were making masks needed their scissors to be sharpened. There was also the holiday pressure. It’s not my fault if people butcher their Thanksgiving turkey because they didn’t come to me to have their knife sharpened. I get a lot of knives and scissors during the pandemic time.”
Wohleber said he has a fast turnaround on service.
“I can return your items within two days,” he said. “If people drop off an item on Monday, they can get it back on Wednesday or maybe Tuesday.
“Usually, my hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Lawnmower blades run between $7 and $6; it’s $7 for a mulching blade and $6 for a regular blade. That price is per blade.
“Knives are $3.50 for a large, $3 for a mediumsized blade, and $2.50 for a small, paring knife. I make it as sharp as it was when you first bought it. Chainsaw chains have different prices based on the length increments, so just give me a call and I’ll let you know the price.”
Wohleber said he also has drop boxes for client convenience.
“I have drop boxes, in front of my house and on my outside workshop, for if I’m not here,” he said. “They can just drop off their blade.”
The boxes have locks for security, Wohleber said.
“Folks can drop off all hours of the day,” he said.