Edge pro tips?

mark greenman

mark greenman

Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
662
I'm still not getting the type of results I want (shaving or better) with my edge pro sharpener. I can run the thing from 200 to the 3000 polishing tape, but the blades never end up as sharp as they should. I've seen what there capable of, I just cant get mine to get past cutting paper sharp.

Does anyone have any suggestions/ tips for better results? Its kind of depressing when I can't get shaving sharp with an idiot proof, $200 sharpener :(
 
Reduce the pressure that you are applying to the stone holder arm. Especially when using the ultra fine stone and the polishing tapes.

Spray the stone and the tape with water after EACH pass, and use only the pressure of the weight of the stone holder.

Use the tapes in reverse. That is, draw them TOWARDS the edge as you would with a strop.

And USE LESS PRESSURE. You should be getting hair whittling edges with a 3000 grit tape! If you do these, and still aren't getting good edges, think about changing knives. The steel is no good!

Stitchawl
 
For a regular EDC pocketknife, I like to go to #320 and then finish on a 10K strop. I've messed around with Dale's finer stones and polishing tapes, and can certainly get good results with them, but I think the strop is quicker and easier. It's also easy to maintain the edge on the strop, as long as you keep up with it. Next step down from the strop would be a ceramic rod. I only go back to the EP when I want to re-establish the secondary grind... maybe once every 10 or 12 months.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I think the EP is a great tool for establishing the secondary bevel, but I find it easier to finish and maintain the edge freehand.

Should also add that I am not whittling hair with my EDC knives. I like to get them to the point where they shave really well... so hair just sort of falls off my arm, but that's plently sharp enough for me. For the 'sharpness olympics' sort of stuff, I would work my way up carefully through a series of finer stones, to fully refine the edge.
 
Greetings Mark Greenman: The EdgePro is and excellent system but it is not perfect. It is NOT IDIOT proof, at least when it came to me. A minor variance in how tightly the blade is held on the table edge or a substantial change in the downward pressure of the stone arm can change the angle of contact on the edge being sharpened. This is not noticeable when
re-profiling or when removing a lot of metal. When getting down to the finer grits on the final edge precise repetition of stone arm pressure and blade position are IMO substantially more important. The target area (the cutting edge) is tiny. You may wish to use the sharpie trick each time you change to a higher grit stone. If the contact angle of each new stone, relative to the edge is not just about exactly equal to the angle and contact point of the previously used stone you may wind up with less than stellar results. While familiarizing myself with the Edgepro, I would get a great edge with one stone but wind up removing it with the next stone of higher grit. Stitchawl's advise about using less pressure is right on the money. Less pressure and higher consistency of repetition were the key for me. The EdgePro is very easy to use but because of this I was getting sloppy with doing my part. You can put a good edge on a license plate. It won't last but it can be done. On the other hand I'm old and senile. OldDude1
 
Thanks everyone, that sounds like it will do the trick. When I get some free time I'll give it a test out and report back with my results.

Take care,
Mark
 
What he said. Mine wasn't idiot proof either but once you get used to the nuances it's great!! My biggest issues were impatience and too much hand weight on the finer stones.
 
Good points Angle Iron, assisted systems aren't power tools, they still take time, finesse is the other thing, I think one guy said something like going fast IS going slow and in this case also light, once you get past 600 grit it's time to start reducing pressure from full arm weight to less, by the time you get to 3000 grit there should be no extra weight whatsoever! if there is the tape will fail OR you'll jack up the job and have to restart.
 
With smaller knives, I find it helps to remove the plastic styp on the blade holder.

I also re-ink the edge every time I change a stone or glass mount.
 
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