Knife and tool sharpening right here in the Inner North.
Professional sharpening for precious kitchen, EDC and outdoor tools in Ainslie, ACT
Get an edge at INKS
How it works
I offer convenient drop-off in Ainslie by appointment.
Your knives will be sharper than new with edges that last.
1. Book a drop-off
2. I sharpen your knives
3. They’re ready within a few days
Book here.
Services & Pricing
Knife Sharpening ($25): Creating a razor-sharp edge on your dull but undamaged straight-edge knives.
Edge Reprofiling & Repair ($50): Fixing chips and broken tips, or improving performance by reprofiling edge geometry.
Garden Pruning Shears ($50): Service and sharpening - disassemble, clean, sharpen, grease, and oil to return your pruning shears to better-than-new performance.
Axe Sharpening ($50): A shaving-sharp edge on your Swedish axe.
Frontline workers and community groups ($Free): Keep an eye on my Instagram for free sharpening slots for teachers, nurses, emergency services, defence force members and community groups.
What I sharpen
I sharpen straight-edge knives that are used for good - knives designed to be used in the kitchen, in the outdoors or carried in the pocket for everyday tasks.
I don’t routinely sharpen serrated knives.
I do not sharpen ‘tactical’ knives - unless you’re a serving member of the defence force.
My Process
I use a Swedish-made Tormek T-8 water-cooled sharpening system. This professional-grade machine operates a stone wheel at slow speed in water. This keeps the steel cool and preserves the temper of your edge. I use a range of specialised jigs to lock in exact bevel angles for a consistent, symmetrical edge.
After establishing the edge on a coarse-graded stone, I refine it on higher-grit stones and then on a leather honing wheel loaded with diamond paste to achieve a polished finish and remove any remaining burr.
Finally, I verify the results using a high-magnification digital microscope and the cigarette paper slice test. This quality control step allows me to visually and physically confirm that the edge is super sharp, crisp and consistent before the knife is returned to you.
Turnaround Time
My standard turnaround is 48 hours though this can vary with availability. If you require a loaner knife while yours is being sharpened, or you can’t leave your knives for long - just let me know.
If you have any further questions or would like to arrange a drop-off, please email adam@innernorthknifesharpening.com or call on 0400 316 458.
A nice set of kitchen tools refreshed and ready for action.
One of the interesting collections I've had through during the pre-christmas rush. This customer made the knife at the top of the stack with local knifemaker @kevinslattery_artisan and purchased the next two down himself in Japan.
Very impressed with this Miyabi at 10 degrees per side. A beautiful knife with a naturally finished birch handle and now with a fresh, ridiculously sharp super slicey edge.
Saved from the bin with a sheepsfoot blade, rounded spine, reprofiled bolster and a razor sharp 16 degrees per side edge.
My personal trio of Kevin Slattery knives, used daily for three years now, sometimes put away wet and always laser sharp.
A Tharwa Valley Forge Japanese style Petty. Love that flowy damascus.
A grandfather's bone handled pocket knife after edge restoration by INKS.
Titanium scales showing a decade of use on this Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza 21 in S35VN.
A full knife block, now super sharp and ready for xmas - same day turnaround 🎄🍗🔪✨
This Chris Reeve Nyala has seen some belt time in the bush and its fair share of venison. I took the edge angle down slightly from 18 to 17 degrees each side for a little more slice when mindfully deployed.
The classic ESEE Izula with removable micarta scales. This light little fixed blade is ideal for bushwalking and bikepacking.
The humble Victorinox Cadet's little drop point blade is infinitely more useful with a shaving sharp edge and needle like point.
This Jenna Builds compact fixed blade is tool and treasure. The Kurouchi forge scale has nights in the Tasmanian wilderness in it. The pinned timber scales and the blade stock's rounded edges make this a knife to hold and behold - and I'm holding on to this one.
Love this Shiro Kamo gyuto. The blade is a Blue Super core clad in stainless. It's light, balanced and now extremely sharp.
This Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 21 has been carried daily for 13 years. It now has a razor sharp 17 degree edge (each side) and a perfect needle point for unpicking stitching, resetting routers and splinters too, if you're game.
A small very sharp knife is almost always enough. This Spyderco Ladybug with an ergonomic lanyard and grippy G10 scales is a coin pocket lifesaver.
A little Chris Reeve Mnandi, now with a mirror like edge that'll handle the tasks that a gentleman encounters.
An ultra compact Spyderco McBee sharpened by INKS to a laser like edge, making it a practical tool for daily use.
A 30X jeweller's loupe view of a sharpened edge. I'd just sliced through some paper - the tiny white dots are paper dust 🔍✨
A Shun, now very sharp!
Another Wusthof in for an edge repair and bolster/heel reprofile.
Now the sharpest Global in Hackett.
James is an ecologist and works in the field across NSW with his Spyderco Delica. He dropped it into INKS today for a complete refresh and spine mod.
This Furi had a pretty nasty chip right in the best bit of the blade. Now all sorted with a gentle grind on the linisher and a new 15 degrees per side edge on the tormek T-8. Better than new.