One-Inch Grinder Course
The practical workhorse setup for a residential, drop-off, or small commercial sharpening service. Most students start here before expanding into larger machines or additional business modules.
$600
Course Structure
Online Course
Before booking the hands-on practicum, students must complete the online portion of the course. It generally takes one to two hours and covers core sharpening theory, safety, machine setup, belt progression, edge geometry, apex formation, and the basic workflow used in the Cove Blades sharpening process.
Hands-On Practicum
Once the online portion is complete, students can book their in-person practicum. The practical session focuses on supervised sharpening practice using one-inch machines. You will work on training knives provided by Cove Blades, and once you’re comfortable, you’re welcome to bring some of your own knives to practise on as well.
We use a sharpness tester and microscope to verify that you can create and consistently repeat a commercially viable apex. The goal is not just to “get a knife sharp once,” but to understand how to repeat the process with confidence.
Your practicum may be recorded so you can refer back to the lesson later as you continue practising.
Onsite or Mobile
The hands-on practicum is available either at our home shop in North Vancouver, or we can come to you if you have suitable level parking for our Sprinter van.
Expand Your Path
Two-Inch Grinder Module
For students who want to expand into larger blades, higher volume, or a bigger belt platform.
Business Process & Automation Discussion
A two-hour discussion covering how Cove Blades operates, including drop-off, pickup, mobile logistics, inbound calls, texts, and automation.
Recoup in One to Two Months
Many students are able to recoup their tuition within one to two months, depending on location, effort, practice time, and how actively they market the service.
Students who already understand social media, local marketing, Google Business Profile, or paid ads often see a faster path to paid work.
By the end of the course, you should have the foundation needed to offer sharpening as a billable service, with the potential to generate strong hourly revenue once your skill, speed, reputation, and customer base develop.
Start Lean
I’ll guide you on which small machines and basic startup equipment make the most sense. Amazon is usually the easiest place to source the main machine.
Consumables, mainly belts, can be purchased through Cove Blades at below-market rates because we source directly from the manufacturer. You’re also welcome to buy your own supplies elsewhere.
Startup costs can be kept very lean. My usual recommendation is to begin with one small machine, operate from your garage or home shop, and grow the business using profit rather than overbuying equipment on day one.
Sign Up & Get Started
Secure your spot — we’ll send you access to the online course right away.
Tuition is non-refundable. Additional modules can be added separately.
Want to Talk First?
Happy to jump on a call if you’d like to talk through the setup, course format, equipment, and whether this is the right fit for your goals.