Christopher Froehlich – christopher@deerhaven.io
We raise meat rabbits, and our boning knives were not sharp enough for processing last weekend (2024-10-05). I didn't want to take our good knives to Agway (they do knife sharpening, but personally I would not recommend them for kitchen knives. For pocket knives, mauls, hatchets, axes, spears, daggers, scythes, lawnmower blades, chainsaw chains, etc.--yeah, absolutely, maybe Agway might be adequate. For your finer instruments (imo), I would look elsewhere, ymmv). Yesterday (2024-10-07) morning I found this thread https://www.reddit.com/r/ithaca/comments/xg69gr/knife_sharpening_in_ithaca/, and I called Jeff straight away. It was just after 08:00 EST. He answered immediately.
I explained what I needed, and I asked if he could do expedited processing. Jeff said that was no problem. He gave me clear and thorough directions to his shop, and he texted me to let me know when he would be there. Since I was already getting a few knives sharpened, I threw in all of my cooking and processing knives. I packed 22 knives (included kitchen scissors, breadknives, cleavers, boning, paring, general cutting) and dropped them off at Jeff's workshop around 09:30 EST. He met me at the door, and I dropped off my knives.
Jeff called me around 16:30 EST (the same day, yesterday, 2024-10-07) to let me know that he had finished the job and my knives were ready to be picked up. He sent me an invoice via text message, which I paid using Google Pay(GPay/Wallet/whatever it's called these days--Google's put-some-of-my-fiat-currency-into-someone-else's-pocket app). The invoice Jeff sent uses SquareUp, which showed me options to use GPay, credit/debit or CashApp. Jeff said he also accepts Venmo, PayPal and cold, hard cash. It was just a single click to pay via the invoice website, so I used that.
I let Jeff know that my wife would pick up the knives on her way home, and Jeff set the knives on the porch in front of his shop so that we could just grab them. By 18:00 EST, we had 22 very, very sharp knives. Each of the sharpened knives was wrapped and oiled with food-safe oil. All of the nicks and imperfections were gone. Each blade is sharp enough to peel paper. Jeff says he tests each knife on his BESS test system, else he tests that the knife can peel paper (cleave a sheet in twain, decapitate some papyrus, shave a hamster's mustache, etc. etc.). Buoy are they sharp. Jeff says he uses a Swedish whet round stone, and he took the time to explain exactly what he did to each type of knife. His explanations were easy to understand, and I appreciate the attention to detail Jeff gives to each aspect of his work.
Jeff (aka To the Point Sharpening Services) is my new defacto standard in knife care, maintenance and sharpening. I won't accept anything less than the quality Jeff delivers. Most of my knives are sharper now than they have ever been before, and all of them are in better shape today than they were yesterday morning. Jeff is courteous and affable, and he's passionate about knives. I appreciate that Jeff was able to expedite processing my knives so that we can get back to processing. The price was very reasonable, and the results speak for themselves.
(Full disclosure: there's nothing to disclose. I am in no way associated with Jeff, To the Point Sharpening Services, or any other company or service [I'm a farmer. I farm. Goats. Poles. Goats on poles. That's it]; I'm just one very happy customer.)
It's rare for me to find a true craftsperson, and when I do it makes me very happy. Jeff is such a person. Please support him. You won't be disappointed. You'll be delighted. Your knives will thank you. They'll sing!
Amy D
Hamlet of Varna •
A shout out to Jeff Spada who owns and operates To the Point Sharpening. He sharpened a number of my kitchen knives and gardening tools. Wow! I know the beauty of a well sharpened knife and mine had long been neglected. That is no longer the case. I was nervous having a custom handmade knife that was gifted to me sharpened, but I had no need to worry. All of the knives came out beautiful and they are so lovely to use again. Jeff even provided before/after BESS (“sharpness”) readings. In addition, he disassembled the garden tools. Then, cleaned, sharpened and reassembled them. Service was very quick: I dropped everything off late Sunday afternoon and it was all ready to be picked up on Thursday. Pricing is reasonable and the customer service excellent. Jeff is so friendly and personable. Thank you for reviving this business. It is so great to have this service available in the area. https://www.to-the-point-sharpening-services.com
Arnaud G
• Dryden•
I second that! Love our knives again!!!
Amy D
Author • Hamlet of Varna•
Josh
talk to Jeff!! He’s fantastic and his work is outstanding. I’ve been looking for a place around Ithaca to have my knives sharpened for years and I’m so happy he started up his business a few months ago.
Jason K
• Ithaca/ Brooktondale•
Jeff Spada truly did great work sharpening multiple scissors for us.
Laurie S
• Hamlet of Varna•
I brought Jeff 9 pairs of scissors and 3 knives....he sharpened them beautifully and promptly! So glad to have this business is in Ithaca.