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Letter to the editor

D&H Tool Sharpening

By Christina K. Cosdon, Times Staff Writer
Published March 9, 2008

Harry Motter sharpens tools for Ace Hardware in Largo. He enjoys the work. "People are happy when they have clean, sharp tools," he says.
	[Atoyia Deans | Times]

Many of the folks Harry Motter works for have never seen him and don't even know his name.

Motter's specialty is taking apart, cleaning, oiling, sharpening and reassembling tools. Customers include restaurants, pet groomers, veterinarians and weekend gardeners.

"Harry takes pride in what he does. He wants it done right. That's what I appreciate about Harry," said Bill Gessert, who has used Motter's services since he and his family opened the Hammerheads Ace Hardware store in Largo in the fall of 2005 and before that when they owned an Ace store in Oldsmar.

Customers bring their items to the store to be cleaned and sharpened and pick them up the next week looking like new.

Motter, 69, hasn't always been in the tool-sharpening business. He was director of respiratory care at Mease Dunedin Hospital for 35 years and retired in 2000. Before that, he did a stint in the Air Force as a jet engine mechanic.

After retiring, "I knew I would need something to do," he explained. "I like working with machines and fixing things."

He planned to do woodworking but was fascinated by a friend's tool-sharpening shop and became his apprentice.

"That was the beginning of my learning and I don't think I'll ever stop learning," Motter said.

What kinds of tools do you work on?

I have 20 different machines in my shop and each machine does something different. I sharpen handsaws, carbide saw blades, chain saws, scissors, knives, garden tools like hedge clippers, pruning shears and loppers. I even do pizza cutters for the Pizza Hut in Dunedin. If I get a tool I'm not familiar with, I contact the manufacturer to find out how to sharpen it correctly.

What's the most unusual tool you have sharpened?

The big moon-shaped cutters for Pizza Hut.

How long does it take to work on each tool?

I may spend from one to three hours.

What do you like most about your work?

The satisfaction of accomplishing a job and making people happy. People are happy when they have clean, sharp tools to work with.

Christina Cosdon can be reached at cosdon@sptimes.com or 727 445-4154.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 22:17:22]