Edge Pro tips

Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
27,837
I've had the Edge Pro for a little while now, although I've not always been home to be able to use it, but getting better at it.

I recently picked up a couple of folders that had small coping blades that needed sharpening, quite narrow blades. I have the 1/2" stones but was able to sharpen with the regular sized ones.

But the tip I wanted to make note of is the back support where the knife's spine rests against, even with the white plastic removed, the plate is still kinda thick and the stones could rub against it before reaching the blade.

So, I cut some tongue depressor type sticks, I have them for gluing leather, and made one so it was just about as wide as the deck.

Then placing the stick against the metal slider, and the knife's spine against the stick, I moved both until the edge was just up to the end of the deck.

Then I tightened down the metal slider and taped down the stick in front of that.

Worked great, although with water the tape does come up too quickly, can't find strong enough adhesive that will also pull off too, will keep looking for that.

anyone else with tips please add them to this thread,
G2
 
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Maybe you could make a plate out of thin kydex or something to match the stop plate including the extra length for the stick, plus a bit.
I've never run into the problem, but I've got a model several years old. Could be something has changed...
 
I'll try to get a photo of that setup tonight, the blades are quite narrow and I'm sure others may also run into this as well.
Don't have any kydex but that'd be handier to have than the wood!
G2
 
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That is one of the annoyances about the E.P. and smaller thin blades. You might be familiar with Ben's videos- he mentions cutting out a profile of the blade from thin scrap wood for use as a riser block.

The other thing with those small blades is that a much larger proportion of the mass is now concentrated in the handle which makes it easier to pivot and lift the blade off the table.

Can't really think of a solution other than using a riser block, at least for the moment.
 
I had a Lansky a long time ago, didn't like the clamping part of that, otherwise pretty fool proof device.

This is a pretty small and narrow blade, the other knife has an even smaller sized one.

I would tape the stick down before using the system

edgepro.jpg


Provides a very cleanly made bevel, mirror polished, cuts very nicely :)

edge.jpg


G2
 
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Frank Hillary said:
Use Lansky. For small blades vry good

Frank
Click to expand...

Eh, not the biggest fan of my Lanksy sharpeners. However, that just reminded me- I remember a thread from not too long ago about someone simply clamping their blades to the E.P. blade table and sharpening that way.
 
Gary W. Graley said:
I've had the Edge Pro for a little while now, although I've not always been
home to be able to use it, but getting better at it.

I recently picked up a couple of folders that had small coping blades that
needed sharpening, quite narrow blades. I have the 1/2" stones but was
able to sharpen with the regular sized ones.

But the tip I wanted to make note of is the back support where the knife's
spine rests against, even with the white plastic removed, the plate is still
kinda thick and the stones could rub against it before reaching the blade.

So, I cut some tongue depressor type sticks, I have them for gluing leather,
and made one so it was just about as wide as the deck.

Then placing the stick against the metal slider, and the knife's spine against
the stick, I moved both until the edge was just up to the end of the deck.

Then I tightened down the metal slider and taped down the stick in front of that.

Worked great, although with water the tape does come up too quickly, can't
find strong enough adhesive that will also pull off too, will keep looking for that.

anyone else with tips please add them to this thread,
G2
Click to expand...

Great idea! I have had my Edge Pro for a couple of weeks now and haven't had a chance to do any shorter blades yet, but this looks like a easier way to sharpen than using a riser block to me.
 
Gary W. Graley said:
Worked great, although with water the tape does come up too quickly, can't find strong enough adhesive that will also pull off too, will keep looking for that.
Click to expand...

I have used painters duct tape with some success, although not perfect. You can find it in the paint department of your local Lowes Depot. It's water repellent and pulls up clean. The negatives are that it's thicker, softer, and not very abrasion resistant.
 
thanks I'll check them out, this other tape doesn't hold up very long at all but then, I might be keeping too much water on the stones too.
G2
 
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The Lansky wont go down enough in angle to suit me for small blades.

Great idea Gary! Thanks for sharing!
 
BladeChemist said:
Eh, not the biggest fan of my Lanksy sharpeners. However, that just reminded me- I remember a thread from not too long ago about someone simply clamping their blades to the E.P. blade table and sharpening that way.
Click to expand...

Yep, that was me. I don't find it necessary for every blade shape, but when I run into one that just doesn't and to sit where it's supposed to, the clamp works quickly and well. I use something like this:

images


Repositioning the blade takes 5-8 seconds, and it quite secure.
It's small and light, a one-handed operation, and the throat is just large enough to fit perfectly while the clamp pad is narrower than the width of a spey blade on a small pocket folder. I think I paid the equivalent of about $2.95 for at at the Home Center. They had all different sizes, but I think the smallest was the one that I use.


Stitchawl
 
wow, can't quite picture that in use, could you get a snapshot of it being used with the edgepro??
G2
 
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stitchawl said:
Yep, that was me. I don't find it necessary for every blade shape, but when I run into one that just doesn't and to sit where it's supposed to, the clamp works quickly and well. I use something like this:

images


Repositioning the blade takes 5-8 seconds, and it quite secure.
It's small and light, a one-handed operation, and the throat is just large enough to fit perfectly while the clamp pad is narrower than the width of a spey blade on a small pocket folder. I think I paid the equivalent of about $2.95 for at at the Home Center. They had all different sizes, but I think the smallest was the one that I use.


Stitchawl
Click to expand...

Hey, I have a few of those mini clamps which I will now try.
 
Gary W. Graley said:
wow, can't quite picture that in use, could you get a snapshot of it being
used with the edgepro??
G2
Click to expand...

Gary, I'm out of the country right now, and won't be back for a couple of weeks. No access to my gear. But if you can imagine, visualize a fixed blade (just because it's easier) sitting on the platform. The clamp comes from 'behind' the handle, off to the side of the unit, with the free arm coming down onto the blade. This keeps it out of the way of the stone arm, but still putting pressure down on the blade and platform. The clamp has to be moved 2-3 times during the sharpening process on smaller blades so that you can make contact with the entire edge. Sometimes I need to put a small flat piece of wood under the platform to help stabilize the clamp.


Stitchawl
 
Gary W. Graley said:
I've had the Edge Pro for a little while now, although I've not always been
home to be able to use it, but getting better at it.

I recently picked up a couple of folders that had small coping blades that
needed sharpening, quite narrow blades. I have the 1/2" stones but was
able to sharpen with the regular sized ones.

But the tip I wanted to make note of is the back support where the knife's
spine rests against, even with the white plastic removed, the plate is still
kinda thick and the stones could rub against it before reaching the blade.

So, I cut some tongue depressor type sticks, I have them for gluing leather,
and made one so it was just about as wide as the deck.

Then placing the stick against the metal slider, and the knife's spine against
the stick, I moved both until the edge was just up to the end of the deck.

Then I tightened down the metal slider and taped down the stick in front of that.

Worked great, although with water the tape does come up too quickly, can't
find strong enough adhesive that will also pull off too, will keep looking for that.

anyone else with tips please add them to this thread,
G2
Click to expand...

I just open up the blade rest and clamp the riser underneath it - would work fine for the tongue depressors. I use paint stir sticks for my risers and clamp them underneath the rest.
 
Great idea and thread, Gary. Your method for sharpening small, narrow blades is pretty much spot on with what Ben does. Come to think of it, he recently put up quite a few training videos on his website. The method that you use is demonstrated in one of the videos.
 
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