Having a unique business that fits into a niche is a good formula for success. Frosty’s Fine Edges is a unique knife sharpening business on South Whidbey. Alex Nugent is seeing his business grow, and is now expanding his service to offer more items to be sharpened with new machines for Chainsaws, Circular Saws, Chipper blade, and Animal/Salon Clipper sharpening.
Alex grew up in Redmond, but moved around quite a bit – to Las Vegas, Lynnwood (where he attended Lake Washington Technical School), and then returned to Whidbey where his mother lives. At 19 years of age, Alex Nugent realized he enjoyed working with metal. He received a welding degree and a second degree in precision machining.
After receiving training working with metal in different ways, he became a machinist for a company called Manufacturing Design Inc., a small shop located in Mukilteo. He learned to program CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines and even owned his own Plasma cutting CNC machining business for a short time that Alex said “Cut through metal like butter in a short time.” He now is focused on using a small mill CNC to create folding pocket knives. He says “It’s my main goal for this year to get a folding pocket knife made.”
He created his sharpening business when he received the $2,000 stimulus check for Covid relief in early 2021. He says, “I love having a business that helps the community.” He was given the nickname Frosty from his first job at a snowboard/ski resort in Las Vegas. He fell on the bunny hill his first day and his nickname has been with him for almost 17 years now.
Currently, he offers sharpening services at Bayview Farmers Market on Saturday from 10:00 a,m, - 2:00 p.m .and at and the Tilth Farmers Market on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.. He also offers drop-off service at Casey Crafts or The Greyhorse Mercantile.
Alex says “I’m Really glad to see how far I’ve come with this business, and the community that supports it so much. I couldn’t ask for much more.”
Alex and his fiancé, Skylar, plan to marry in the future and will continue to make their home on Whidbey.
If you have any knives, chisels, axes, garden pruners, machetes, salon/groomer scissors, or fabric scissors that you need sharpened, and you aren’t able to visit one of the farmers markets to find Alex, you can give him a call and arrange a time when he can come to your home. Minimum sharpening costs for an in-person visit are $30 for Clinton to Freeland, $50 for Greenbank, $60 for Coupeville and $75 for Oak Harbor. Alex promotes getting some friends or neighbors together to meet the minimum cost requirement. Call Alex Nugent at 425-923-4358, or send him an email at frostysfineedges@gmail.com He has Pricing Listed on his website FrostysFineEdges.com
