Edgepro Gets a Go.

[jemelby]

Much to my beautiful wife's chagrin, I tend to buy things on impulse. Often times, for no other reason than to test them out. Low were I a bit less scupulous, I'd send back or return most of it. But alas, I have a fair collection of unused bricka-brack littering my "had to check it out" closet. Perhaps I shall finally open an E-bay account and off load some of it.

But I pontificate needlessly. The point of the post is that I finally sent off for an Edgepro Apex. Don't ask me how I resisted the Profesional model (that is another failing of mine: Overkill).

I really enjoy freehand sharpening, and after doing it for 30 years, I've gotten pretty good at it. Or so I would have thought. As per a previous thread on this forum, I went down to the radio shack and got one of the illuminated pocket microscopes. What I found when I examined my knife edges was disturbing, in the extreme.

As in diagram A, my knife edges had all developed a lopsided, convex shape. In retrospect, this was caused by a rolling wrist motion, and favoring one side of the blade over the other. I also found that the edge angles tended to be directly proportional to the thickness of the knife handle. They ranged from an estimate of 18° to 25°.

I was able to get into the swing of the EdgePro pretty quick, and had most of my knives whipped into trim in no time (like in B). For the first time, I was able to dress the angle of my blades to match the thickness and steel type. I even got a razor edge on an old Kershaw ATS-34 that has been eluding me for decades. Bravo, EdgePro.

I don't expect this one to clutter up the closet. I'll take it with on my next gulf tour, and will ensure that every troopie within 5 miles has a razor sharp knife.

Now, who wan't to buy slightly used "Abdom-in-izer?"

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Welcome to the dark side.

 

[edb]

Coincidentally, I received a RazorEdge catalog yesterday in the mail (I asked for one on their website). I already have a Gatco and a Sharpmaker.

My point, though, is that John Juranitch (RazorEdge) has always advocated not using anything on the stones (i.e. no oil, water, etc.). Yet, in other posts I've seen regarding EdgePro units, there is usually mention of using water, using the right amount of water, etc.

So......Jemelby - are you using water with the EdgePro, or sharpening with just the hones (i.e. no water, oil)?

And, for anyone else out there with EdgePro units, have you tried using them without water? What were the results? Pros/cons of each approach?

 

[jemelby]

Water is definitly part of the equation with the edgepro. I have also always used water with hones, diamond stones, and (amazingly) japanees water stones

In the video, the only time water was not used was when removing the burr from the back of the blade. The video stated "drying the stone and blade dramatically reduces the cutting ability of the stone..." or something close to that. For this particular step, a less agressive cut was desired.

If I'm not mistaken, the Razor Edge system is centered on disposable sandpaper-like hones? This is very similar to a system I use for woodworking tools, and it gets them insanely sharp. Water, however, is not part of that system.

The main function of water and oil is sharpening is to suspend the cut particles of stone and metal. There is also a lubricative quality. Most stones will work fine with out it, but with the exception of paper and electric (duh) systems, I have yet to hear a convincing reason not to.

 

[Nosmo]

Its great to have another convert, especially one that used to sharpen free hand. I am an old timer that can sharpen free hand and consider myself to be quite proficient.
But jemelby,.....I entirely agree with your findings as I experienced exactly the same thing and now use the Edgepro all the time.
Sharpening by hand is a useful ability, but in practice today ,2005.....forget it.

However this secret is only know to Edge Pro users.
It is a complete waste of time to try to convert the 'hand' guys. They will never believe that there is something else out there that can do a finer job in edge balance, appearance, equal angle down whole blade, sharpness etc, etc.

 

[KeithAM]

Great post. Your illustration is worth 1000 words, and your words aren't bad either!

I'm still waiting patiently for the local knife store to get an Edge Pro in for me. In the meantime I've refrofiled 2 knives with a Sharpmaker. Talk about time consuming. And the edge bevel still doesn't look perfect.

 

[edb]

I'm very much in agreement with the sentiments. The ability to sharpen freehand is great! .. But if one can use tools which basically almost guarantee edge angles, etc. , why not use them?

So, the real point of my post: Isn't using water a PITA? Or not really...

Also, I wasn't under the impression that the Razor Edge hones are "disposable". I mean, I guess after they wear out, but that is presumably after a lot of sharpening..!

 

[jemelby]

My mistake. I browsed around their site, and finally happened across the item that had planted the subliminal suggestion of "disposable" in my head:

I found no indication that the "Razor Edge" system was in anyway disposable. These are just one product that they sell on the site that is disposable.

 

[cpirtle]

I'm still waiting patiently for the local knife store to get an Edge Pro in for me....

Unless you're deliberately waiting just to support your local dealer (a noble thing to do), why not order one direct from the Edge Pro crew?

I don't know what others experience has been, but I would order 1-2 additional coarse stones right off the bat. For me, that's the stone I go through the most because 90% of the first sharpening on any knife is done with that stone. If you have a large number of knives to reprofile you'll find out pretty quick a backup coarse stone is good to have handy.

 

[spyken]

I ordered mine from Ben direct a coupla years ago. And reordered more stones along the way too.

 

[Boink]

I live in an apartment and long for the day that I can leave my Edgepro out on a table somewhere so that I can go in and sharpen at will. Now, I always pack it up after a session.

 

[tim8557]

This forum created another obsession with me...sharpening. I've read everything I can get my hands on and there are as many thoughts on the perfect system as there are "experts" writing about it.

Here's my personal experiences over the last 6 months.

1)Threw away our Henckels steel (rough) and purchased a smooth stainless steel butchers steel and use it according to the Razor Edge book's instruction...very light touch at the exact same angle.

2) Bought the Lansky system and pitched that within a week or two.

3) Bought Diamond Hones, fine and coarse and tried to freehand with mixed, generally crappy results. Gave those to a guy at work.

4) Bought the highly touted (at least on this forum) Sharpmaker and am not all that impressed especially if trying to reprofile. I suppose if I went the coarse sandpaper on the grey rods I may get better results.

5) Bought the EdgePro Apex thru www.Bronksknifeworks.com and think that this is gonna be the beast that finally gets me those damn "scary sharp" edges you all continually refer to. Once you get the hang of it, it does a very nice job though its a little cumbersome to just set it up. In conjunction with the Sharpmaker once I get everything with a double bevel of 30 degrees then 40 I should be set for life.

Here's what really worries me though.....I just joined the yahoo Tormek Users forum. My wife will kill me if I ever smuggle that baby home.

 

[RobbW]

Your illustrations clearly show another reason I LOVE my EdgePro: Since the blade is always worked at the exact same angle, you remove a minimum of metal with each sharpening. The blades last longer. My EdgePro is worth several dozen custom knives to me, because I can keep what I have in the condition I want. My knives are all scary sharp, all the time.

 

[KeithAM]

Unless you're deliberately waiting just to support your local dealer (a noble thing to do), why not order one direct from the Edge Pro crew?

You guessed it -- I'm trying to support my local knife store -- River's Edge -- in Columbus, Ohio. They've given me excellent service and reasonably competative prices ($10-40 over NKG prices). My son even won a free Camillus Dominator from them. It's made a huge difference to me to be able to handle and inspect knives before buying them.

Yesterday I got a set of Old Hickory kitchen knives that need reprofiling. Last night I did the two small paring knives on the Sharpmaker, but the three larger ones are going to have to wait for the Edge Pro.

 

[edb]

So, it sounds like there isn't anyone here (at least who's read this thread) who has used the RazorEdge system.

If anyone has used it, are there opinions to pass along?

I ask because I also am somewhat underwhelmed with my results with my Sharpmaker. Set up time would be a factor, and dealing with water and/or oil sounds like a real PITA to me...

On the other hand, it sounds like one can get almost exactly the same angle each time with the EdgePro (re: minimal steel removal each time)...

 

[cpirtle]

The thing about the EdgePro is that you don't have to use it every time you sharpen, so the pita part is minimal.

What I do is whenever I get a few new knives I set aside an evening of sharpening and gather the knifes I want to profile. Then I sharpen all of them at once.

I finish the edges on the Sharpmaker and from then on out touchups are done with the Sharpmaker not the EdgePro. (Unless of course I have a major job to do on a badly damaged or worn edge)

I may use my Edgepro 1-3 times a month max.

It's really not that messy either, I just keep a bowl there and when I wash the stones with the bottle everything runs off into it. When finished I empty the bowl, wipe the area once with a towel and wipe off the sharpening base and that's it. Cleanup is 1-2 minutes max.

 

[jemelby]

I've been playing with the EdgePro for a couple days now. I've sharpened/re-profiled all my knives, and pretty much everyone elses as well.

I have the complete kit with all the extra stones up to 600 Grit, as well as the 3000 grit tapes. I have to admit that after the 600 grit stone, I can pretty much go to my trusty leather strop with green chromium oxcide.

With some of the 440A knives I have, I think I will be able to keep them in trim with nothing more than the strop for some time.

I've gotten some of knives so insanely sharp, I have to gasp at them. I was always proud of the edge on a knife after I finished with it free-hand (pre-edgepro), but the edgepro has certainly opened a new dimension of sharp. As an example, I have a Leek with me ATM that when the blade is set on the edge of a post-it, the weight of the knife alone is enough to pass it cleanly thru the paper.

I'm reminded of that scene from "Bodyguard" where Witney Houston drops the silk scarf on Kevin Costners ninja sword and it's cut in half.

Sharp sharp sharp, and all of them at just the right angle.

 

[cbwx34]

So, it sounds like there isn't anyone here (at least who's read this thread) who has used the RazorEdge system.

If anyone has used it, are there opinions to pass along?

I ask because I also am somewhat underwhelmed with my results with my Sharpmaker. Set up time would be a factor, and dealing with water and/or oil sounds like a real PITA to me...

On the other hand, it sounds like one can get almost exactly the same angle each time with the EdgePro (re: minimal steel removal each time)...

I've tried both..... IMHO.... the Edge Pro is better. I get a better, much sharper edge with the EdgePro. I also think the EdgePro is more versatile - will handle a wider variety of knives, and (believe it or not) easier to learn and use. My opinion, the clamp RazorEdge system is more limiting than the EdgePro. For one, you're limited on angle adjustment, and have to change it by moving the clamp around on the knife. And you're limited on the knife size... too small, the clamp won't work... too big, you have to move it around. I think between the two, you'd be happier with the EdgePro.

I look a lot at how my first knife comes out. With the Razor Edge system... after reading the directions, setting up, using etc. I got an OK edge. Work with it over time, and it has improved. But the first knife I did with the Edge Pro.. my reaction was 'Holy @#$%'. It came out very nice and very sharp.

Don't know what else to say... if you have specific questions.....

 

[edb]

Thanks cbwx34 - that was the direct answer I was
looking for! I'll probably discard that RazorEdge paperwork
(or, leave it in the water closet library for idle reading.. )

 

[Roadrunner]

I've gotten some of knives so insanely sharp, I have to gasp at them. I was always proud of the edge on a knife after I finished with it free-hand (pre-edgepro), but the edgepro has certainly opened a new dimension of sharp. As an example, I have a Leek with me ATM that when the blade is set on the edge of a post-it, the weight of the knife alone is enough to pass it cleanly thru the paper.

Sounds like you're really getting the hang of it. Congratulations! One really impressive-looking display is to slice a sheet of copy paper in half, so one half falls to the floor while you hold the other. That never fails to raise eyebrows. Just be careful not to take off a finger!