Bladesmith's comments on ERU sharpener.

Fred.Rowe

Fred.Rowe

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May 2, 2004
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Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
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"Mine came the other day.
Well packed with all the things needed to make it easy to use. The DVD explains what isn't intuitive.

I had participated in the original product testing of this device, and the improvements from the prototype are good. If you go where a set of stones or a belt grinder isn't going to be available, this will be the thing to take. Additionally, it will be just the right tool to touch up an edge during game dressing or filleting fish anywhere. I think the non-knifemaker folks can finally buy a knife with a good edge and keep it shaving sharp with an ERU.

Don't even think of comparing this to one of those small "key chain" carbide sharpeners or mini-crock stix fobs. There is no comparison. The ERU is to one of those as a TW-90 is to an HF1X30.

The above is my real feelings. Fred knows that I am not a huge fan of gadgets and jigs. These devices rarely take the place of learned skills. I have probably $10,000 in sharpening tools and supplies. I bough one of these ( yep, I paid the same price as everyone else) because it works when those big boy toys aren't with me. I put this right in the car. Next time I am at a friend's home for dinner and the knives need a touch up to carve a roast...out the ERU will come.

Final note. Grinding bevels and sharpening problems are where most new makers get disgusted and quit. I have seem pretty knives with lousy grinds, and good grinds with terrible edges. Fred's Bubble jig and now the ERU are two tools that will help anyone from novice to pro make and maintain superb bevels and edges. Neither will replace practice and skill ( and are not intended to). Both will make learning those skills faster and the results much more consistent."


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We have shipped just a hundred and fifty of these ERU sharpeners to date so there's not a great deal of feedback to date. We now ship them with a full set of degree wedges, to be used with a diamond plate or oil/water stone. The combination; using the flat plate to develop a flat edge, and then finishing the edge using the ERU is a very affordable way of putting a truly "flat" cutting edge on your knives that you can shave with.

Fred
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Congratulation Fred, I knew it is going to be a good tool and having a high level reference attached is even better. Way to go!
 
singularity35 said:
Where is the ERU sold at?
Click to expand...

We have a sales thread posted on the second page of Tools and Supplies knife makers.
We are within about two weeks of uploading a webpage so we can offer better and faster service.

PM me if interested, Fred
 
Fred.Rowe said:
We have a sales thread posted on the second page of Tools and Supplies knife makers.
We are within about two weeks of uploading a webpage so we can offer better and faster service.

PM me if interested, Fred
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, just asking for the moment because I have a friend who just started to get knife nutty. He needs a sharpener. This is a good one to recommend to him.
 
I too recently bought an ERU. It is everything Fred says it is. I now don't worry about removing a wire edge. A couple passes on the ERU at a slightly more obtuse angle takes care of it. Every knife I own will now slice phone book paper with and against the grain, something I've never been able to accomplish before.

I have a Wicked Edge and I use it for those blades that I want to maintain precise angles on. I also have a Work Sharp Ken Onion that I use for those knives that end up in the dishwasher despite my protests. Edges made on either device respond well to the ERU, both for touchups and for removing wire edges.

The only thing I wonder about is why I waited so long to buy one. ;)
 
Bimjo said:
I too recently bought an ERU. It is everything Fred says it is. I now don't worry about removing a wire edge. A couple passes on the ERU at a slightly more obtuse angle takes care of it. Every knife I own will now slice phone book paper with and against the grain, something I've never been able to accomplish before.

I have a Wicked Edge and I use it for those blades that I want to maintain precise angles on. I also have a Work Sharp Ken Onion that I use for those knives that end up in the dishwasher despite my protests. Edges made on either device respond well to the ERU, both for touchups and for removing wire edges.

The only thing I wonder about is why I waited so long to buy one. ;)
Click to expand...

What ever tool is used to make the cutting edge "flat" the ERU is great at removing the "wire edge" and it does it while maintaining the correct edge angle. A lot of people run into problems when trying to remove the wire edge. Stropping can round the apex when trying to remove the wire edge, paper wheels do the same thing. The ERU set with a matching angle to the tool used to grind the edge flat produces a polished flat edge bevel.
I got my haircut this week and I'm ready to shoot a new video on producing a "flat" edge using the degree wedges that come with the ERU as well as micro bevels and stropping using this simple tool. I'll post a link to the new website, here on BF, as soon as its up and running.

Thanks for posting Bimjo, Fred
 
I finally broke down and ordered one yesterday. I can't wait to try this thing out. :cool: Thanks again, Fred. :thumbup: I look forward to your new video too.
 
I got my ERU today. I'm gonna mess around with it later tonight, but first impressions are great. The unit and sheath both look and feel really good and high quality. Also, I ordered the unit on the 11th, Fred sent it out on the 12th, and I received it today. That's fast! Thanks, Fred. :thumbup::cool:
 
I am very interested in this product, something to throw in the truck and keep there.
 
Got a chance to use the ERU for the first time the other night. I used it on my CRKT Surf 'N Turf. I set the bevels at 18* per side, then used the ERU at 36* to make sure they were square. I then opened the ERU up to 40* for a few swipes to finish off the edge and do a little micro bevel. Woooo! Shaaaarrrrrp! :D Being such a thin blade (about 1/16" thick) that won't see any "hard" use, 36* secondary and 40* micro seem a bit obtuse, but I didn't want to do anything too dramatic right off the bat. I'll probably take it down further after a bit more practice. Great unit, Fred! :thumbup:
 
Suggestion: how about you put a link to your sales thread in your signature line like I've seen some other people do.
 
I have been watching things progress since it was first show.On my to get list in the new year.
 
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