Edgepro or Sharpmaker?

BJE

BJE

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Apr 12, 2006
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I am wanting to get either a Sharpmaker or an Edgepro, which in your opinion is better? Does the Edgepro have preset angles or are they adjustable? I have alot of Kershaws with recurve blades, so I can't use my Lansky or DMT, does the Edgepro have that problem also? Please fill me in, because I can't find much info on the Edgepro.
 
EdgePro is better if you want different angles and different grit sizes (finer edge).

Sharpmaker is better if you want quick setup, easy storage, lower price, and predetermined angles (which work very well for most user knives).

I use both. The EdgePro does a better job because I can use tapes of very fine grit material to get an a really awesome polished edge bevel. That being said, for most sharpenings I use the Sharpmaker and just make a couple of quick passes on the 40 degree rod setting. The Sharpmaker is excellent for sharpening serrated edges also. I usually always finish with a pass on a strop/hone.

Here are some links that might be of help.

http://bronksknifeworks.com/Edge_Pro_Knife_sharpeners.htm

http://1sharpknife.com/

http://www.drsharpening.com/leatherhone.html

http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=26036

http://users.ameritech.net/knives/
 
BJE said:
I am wanting to get either a Sharpmaker or an Edgepro, which in your opinion is better? Does the Edgepro have preset angles or are they adjustable? I have alot of Kershaws with recurve blades, so I can't use my Lansky or DMT, does the Edgepro have that problem also? Please fill me in, because I can't find much info on the Edgepro.
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The easy answer is Sharpmaker and Edgepro. Sounds like you would be better served with the SM if you have a lot of recurve blades. If the Lansky and DMT won't work, the Edgepro will not either. The stones are much wider on the EP. I have both, I use both, you have many more angle options with the EP, a great sharpener for reprofiling, a bit of a job to set up compared to the SM. A lot messier than the SM. IMO, the EP is the better tool, you almost need both, but get the SM and you won't regret it.
 
I have both. As stated, the stones on the EP are twice the width of the Lansky and not to great for recurve blades. On the other hand, the SM will take all day to set the edge angle. Not all knives come with a 40 or 30 degree edge angle. I have the diamond sleeves for the SM and they work great for grinding down the bevel to match the SM. After that is it easy to touch up the edge when you need to. On the other hand, the EP is much better if you have the time to set it up and put a great edge on your blade.
 
I've had great luck with both systems with regular recurved blades. The EdgePro, with optional stones and tape blanks, cuts faster and can leave a finer finish than the Sharpmaker, but the price tag on those extras add up. While no one here does it, you can use the EdgePro to match the original factory or maker's angle (or very close) of your blades and get them very sharp with minimal steel removal.

The Sharpmaker will sharpen any shaped blade, sharpen tons of other edged tools (scissors, arrowheads, pet nail clippers, human nail clippers, potato peelers, and many others) and serrated blades.

The waterstones on the EdgePro can be messy and they change angles as they wear down (so 20 degrees with the 120 grit hone can end up 14 degrees with the 600 grit stone), so that's something to keep an eye on. Just dowse the blade and waterstone frequently with water (in the handy, included bottle) and all will be fine (tabletop excluded). I've found wrapping waxed floss near the pivot on folding knives helps prevent swarf from getting into the pivot. Some folks use diamonds with their EdgePros. More expensive, less messy, finish not as good as with waterstones. With high grit tapes on the tape blank, it shouldn't matter too much.
 
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I think the EdgePro change in angle vs stone wear is more like 0.6 degrees - but I'd be happy to shown otherwise.

MAT
 
I've used the Sharpmaker a few times now. I like the quick and easy setup but don't like the angle limitations. I enjoy using my Edge Pro but obviously it cannot handle all blade configurations like recurves as someone mentioned earlier but the Sharpmaker will. Fortunately I don't have any recurves and my Edge Pro will handle the majority of my sharpening needs. I will use the Sharpmaker on my general purpose knives though. So there is a use for both knife maintenance systems.

BTW, the coarse stones on the Edge Pro does wear down quickly but it doesn't take much elbow grease to get them true on my flat concrete sidewalk:). The other stones are quite durable.
 
the coarse stones on the Edge Pro does wear down quickly
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Get a diamond from EZE-Lap for the coarse work. They are nearly identical in size to the E/P stones. All you need is some double-sided tape and a stone blank, and you're all set.
 
I'd start out with getting a sharpmaker, and then getting an edge pro. I use both, along with various bench stones also, and I find both the SM and Edge Pro to be excellent products. Along with most everyone that uses both, I use the Edge Pro to set bevels and reprofile, and the SM for touch-ups. :thumbup:
 
TedGamble said:
Get a diamond from EZE-Lap for the coarse work. They are nearly identical in size to the E/P stones. All you need is some double-sided tape and a stone blank, and you're all set.
Click to expand...

Thanks TedG for the suggestion. I will look it up on the Internet and buy a stone or two.
 
Two different products for two different purposes. The Edgepro is a true sharpener, designed to grind metal at a consistent angle. The Sharpmaker is more like an abrasive steel (or pair of them to be more accurate,) designed to maintain bevels that were otherwise already ground. The Edgepro will do maintenance as well but is fussier and slower to set up and use.

I sharpen my knives to a mirror polish so I don't use the Sharpmaker at all since it would tend to dull my knives. I use the Edgepro sometimes, but only to grind new bevels on knives on which they have become worn. It is nice to have the angle locked in. It speeds up the process and removes some potential human error.

For people who are less anal about sharpening than I am, the Sharpmaker and other V sharpeners are a handy and quick touch up tool that I recommend. For people who want a true manual sharpener and have some time to do the setup and stone changes, the Edgepro is certainly more versatile and certainly capable of applying a better edge.
 
A lurkers first post...

I've been looking at the Edgepro for some time now, and am still hesitating.
The reason being that I on the internet haven't been able to find if it's also suitable for sharpening short, thin blades. Example: The gentleman SAKs, small size Laguioles, peanuts and the likes.
Any experience with this, anyone?
 
Karl,

I have used the E/P to sharpen a small SAK blade (1 1/4" long x 3/16" wide). It werx very phyne.
 
Thanks TedGamble!

As my regular EDC rotation normally contains smaller blades, these would be the ones that needs sharpening the most (apart from the kitchen knives, of course).
The EdgePro and the Sharpmaker are the sharpening systems I've been looking at, but not being able to decide on.
Now I know what to do:
First EdgePro, then Sharpmaker...
Being a terrible knife sharpener, I need all the help I can get...
 
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