Best sharpening system?

Knife Outlet said:
Terrible. I can't imagine why anybody would want a convex edge, however, so it wouldn't affect my opinion.
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After using my EdgePro Apex for the last week, I'm beginning to understand this statement. My EdgePro has ended years of Sharpening frustration. I'm thinking about using it on all my Convex knives also.

AND Ben at EdgePro answered everyone of my basic questions as I was learning the first few days. Best Customer Service I've ever seen.

Bill
 
Knife Outlet said:
Terrible. I can't imagine why anybody would want a convex edge, however, so it wouldn't affect my opinion.
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Fred, it's great for cutting cheese... but a guitar 'B' string is better! :D
Works well for Play-Dough too.

Seriously, a lot of the bushcraft knife people seem to prefer a convex edge on their knives although I really don't know why. Could be the ease of getting a working sharp edge with a lot of steel behind it for strength when baton-ing firewood. It's a very easy edge to maintain in the field with lightweight equipment.

Stitchawl
 
stitchawl said:
Seriously, a lot of the bushcraft knife people seem to prefer a convex edge on their knives although I really don't know why. Could be the ease of getting a working sharp edge with a lot of steel behind it for strength when baton-ing firewood. It's a very easy edge to maintain in the field with lightweight equipment.
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I think that's the main reason. For a lot, if not most, folks ease of sharpening in the field is a helluvalot easier with a sheet of sandpaper on your thigh. I keep my Moras convexed for exactly that reason. All my other knives are V's.
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Splat
 
Splat said:
I think that's the main reason. For a lot, if not most, folks ease of sharpening in the field is a helluvalot easier with a sheet of sandpaper on your thigh. I keep my Moras convexed for exactly that reason. All my other knives are V's.
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Splat
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Wait a minute.... Moras are usually scandi ground, right?!?
How hard is it to lay a knife flat and rub? :eek:
Seems as if making it convex makes for MORE work, although I suppose it can be difficult to find a really flat surface in the woods sometimes. Yeah... I suppose it IS actually easier to convex them. At least the working edge.

Stitchawl
 
RxEnergy said:
Paper wheels work great for me...
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how did you post that video here?
 
The Wicked Edge seems like a variation on the Apex- but other than the 2 people who posted about it, it doesn't seem to be getting any love here- in fact, it got ignored. What makes the EdgePro so much better?

I am not trying to start a fight, it just looks like it has some advantages (diamond stones, knife held/both hands sharpen) and before I spend the kind of $$ either of them costs I'd like to make sure I get the better of the two.

Thanks all who have posted here for some really well thought out replies!
 
MVF said:
The Wicked Edge seems like a variation on the Apex- but other than the 2 people who posted about it, it doesn't seem to be getting any love here- in fact, it got ignored. What makes the EdgePro so much better?

I am not trying to start a fight, it just looks like it has some advantages (diamond stones, knife held/both hands sharpen) and before I spend the kind of $$ either of them costs I'd like to make sure I get the better of the two.

Thanks all who have posted here for some really well thought out replies!
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Personally I like Water Stones over Diamond and the Edge Pro has much more adjustment for angles. Plus for the same price as the Wicked Edge charges you only get a 100, 200, 400 and 600 grit Diamond stone as the finest.

For less money for the Edge pro Apex you get, 120, 220, 320, 600, 1000 grit water Stones and 2000 (15) and 3000 (15) grit polishing tapes.

Plus the Edge Pro grits are proprietary, not exact, but this is from what I remember. ;)

120 = 120 (That is a Silicone carbide water stone, cuts extremely fast)
220 = 400
320= 800
600 = 1200
1000 = 3000

2000 tape = 6000
3000 tape = 10,000
6000 tape = 18,000
 
MVF said:
The Wicked Edge seems like a variation on the Apex- but other than the 2 people who posted about it, it doesn't seem to be getting any love here- in fact, it got ignored. What makes the EdgePro so much better?

I am not trying to start a fight, it just looks like it has some advantages (diamond stones, knife held/both hands sharpen) and before I spend the kind of $$ either of them costs I'd like to make sure I get the better of the two.

Thanks all who have posted here for some really well thought out replies!
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Ease of use, customer service, ability for a monkey to put a hair popping sharp edge on. And, it's just plain cool to use.
 
eventer289 said:
Ease of use, customer service, ability for a monkey to put a hair popping sharp edge on. And, it's just plain cool to use.
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Which one are you referring to?

Ankerson, thanks for the comparison. I've enjoyed seeing quite a few of your edges.
 
MVF said:
Which one are you referring to?

Ankerson, thanks for the comparison. I've enjoyed seeing quite a few of your edges.
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No problem. :)

Here is a Busse Boss Street I sharpened today.

 
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Very cool- after seeing the "in hand" pictures I think I need one of those. What angle is that? I've always been a fan of convexes because it gets rid of the shoulder, but at least in that picture, it doesn't look like an issue. Do you ever lower the angle to get rid of or soften the shoulder? Kind of like the opposite of a microbevel.

I was also wondering if you use a bevel can you still use sandpaper to touch up in the field?
 
MVF said:
Very cool- after seeing the "in hand" pictures I think I need one of those. What angle is that? I've always been a fan of convexes because it gets rid of the shoulder, but at least in that picture, it doesn't look like an issue. Do you ever lower the angle to get rid of or soften the shoulder? Kind of like the opposite of a microbevel.

I was also wondering if you use a bevel can you still use sandpaper to touch up in the field?
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It's right about 26 degrees, 13 degrees each side. :)

Sometimes I will soften the edge like on kitchen knives.

Yes you can, but I take a ceramic steel with me. :)
 
The two advantages of the convex edge that I am aware of are these: 1. There is more meat behind the edge, so it resists chipping and deformation. 2: The geometry behind the edge allows you to change directions more easily when cutting. There is less tendency for the knife to run straight. A convex edge isn't the best for uniform slices of bologna. The extreme opposite of the convex edge is the chisel edge, which is best for running a straight line and making good slices.
 
I go freehand with full size bench stones. They work much faster than your average sharpening rig, and can be used anywhere.
 
stitchawl said:
I have some old Sharpmaker rods from waaaay back that I broke down and mounted on an EdgePro blank.

Stitchawl
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I have an extra set of old SM rods too. Exactly how did you cut/break them down to fit the EP's blanks? For the adhesive did you use the 3M spray stuff that's recommended for bonding the waterstones to the blanks?
 
Thanks for all the great info. Now I'm convinced that I need an EdgePro. Who offers the best deal on them?
 
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