Edge Pro Apex vs. Chinese clones.

[forblader]

Thing is that many people claim that Chinese stones glued onto their plastic blanks are often, if not deformed and detaching from their blanks right out-of-the box, than they get deformed and getting detached after water is applied to them.
So checking whether or not they are flat is essential in my view.
And procedure is fairly simple and doesn't require any measurements, just: a pencil, or a marker, a pinch, or two of the silicon carbide powder, a piece of a flat glass, or a mirror and a few teaspoons of water.

 

[forblader]

Music is music and a book is a book, a film is a film: their merits are not onto their price, or lack there off.
I doubt that people, who always reach for wallets when they want to listen to music, or read a book don't exist.
Oh, and these things: e-books, music and movies are not nonsense in any way for most of us.
May be with an exception of a selected few.

 

[forblader]

I can tell you that the stones provided with the Chinese knock-offs are pure junk.

That's certainly what I heard and not once.

 

[forblader]

@foreblader

I think, that if you think you have found a comparative "clone" of the Apex Professional, it would be my assumption that you have not really spent time investigating what the Pro version has to offer (specifically length of the draw stroke, the design that allows the stroke to extend beyond the stone resulting in more even stone wear and less potential flattening required, the size and construction, potential for shears attachment, overall build quality, etc.).

I "think"" I know the clone you are referencing (suction cup base ...?), and if so will tell you (from first hand experience) that it pales in comparison to the Pro version that Ben produces.

Regards,

After doing a fair amount of research, weighing all pros and contras of the clone vs original debacle.
Also, considering uncertainty of using the Russian Postal Service to order a less expensive than the original Apex Professional and far superior to anything, but probably the WE, the Russian system called: sharpener "Profile", or точилка "Профиль" in Russian (well worth checking out. It is simply gorgeous). It has a 180° turnable knife holder and scissors attachment. They have some youtube videos in Russian, but all is shown there and language in itself isn't that important.
Here is their latest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUoVp_-NBxc
Anyway, all things considered: I took advantage of the opportunity to purchase a used Pro 4 Kit of the Edge Pro Sharpening System on ebay: it was considerably less expensive than the new one. It is still coming via USPS. I also ordered a whole bunch of additional accessories directly from Apex, the main thing there was the stone leveling kit, which I would be also using to suction the sharpener to.
Thank you for your advice, Spey.
And have a good day, man.

 

[heefageLA]

Glad to see you went this route. (All American) :thumbup:

 

[Comedie]

well I sorta followed this discussion. I went with the cheapo clone off Amazon. Even noted there is an Edge Pro Apex 1 that looks identical in everything but price, with suction cups and all.
Can already see things that likely fail if not careful, like female threads in plastic for thumbscrews. And 2 of the stones it came with were damaged. One detached from the backing plate, and another one cracked across the center. Given the price, I wasn't expecting much.
But the whole thing is simple enough that I should have little trouble upgrading things as needed to get some life out of it. Bit of a hassle to some, but I kinda enjoy tinkering with things and have a bunch of tools that don't mind being exercised.
So far as the stones, I made up my own by cutting blanks out of a cheap strip of 1*1/8 anodized aluminum, and attached Congress stones to them.
Still planning to put together a magnetic strip with a skin of UHMW Poly to try that I can try out for the resting surface.

I will probably be getting a 1*42 belt sander also. Not primarily for knives, but will no doubt try some cheap knives on it. Mostly I need to replace a cheap 1*30 HarborFreight I've used for some years in light freehand grinding of metal parts. Bearings and motor are about shot in that old one, but it has proven to be useful enough over time that I can see going a bit more upscale in the replacement.

If the cheapo manual sharpener turns out to be a growing hassle, but I find utility in it during its life, then like the band sander I might step up to a higher plane in replacement. Simple as it is tho, I might just make something similar out of stainless scraps and/or delrin