EdgePro Scratches up Side of Knives ?

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pratzert

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Dec 1, 2005
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I have been drooling for an EdgePro Pro model for a while ( still don't have enough saved up).

But the one complaint I've heard ( and I've heard VERY few complaints about the EdgePro), is that it scratches the sides of the knives due to the run-off slurry that's created from the sharpening process.

One solution I've read about is to tape the sides of the knives with painters tape. I'm about as unlucky as they come, and want to take any and all precautions to assure that my nice new shiny knives don't get scratched.

How has "your" experience been and what have "you" done to prevent this kind of scratching to the sides of your knives?

Thanks for your input and ideas.

Tim
 
Yeah if you don't use tape you may end up with scratches. I didn't use it on one knife and it is scratched. But it is my EDC anyway and gets scratched in normal use. For other knives I definatly tape the blade. Steven
 
Perhaps people with better coordination don't get scratches, but I get scratches up and down the side. An application of masking tape solves that.
 
Another option is to take a quick swipe of the blade table when you flip the knife over. Seems to keep it clean enough to avoid scratching. Usually this is only needed on the coarse stones (120 / 180).

cbw
 
When I bought the Pro model from Dale when I was at his shop last fall after he did a complete demo on a few of my knives, before he gave me mine he put some blue painters tape on the shelf in front where the knife lays when you are sharpening. He said it was to keep the blades from scratching.
Well after I got it home, an not thinking I should have changed the tape frequently, and didn't, and scratched the blade on a brand new Brian Tighe custom I had just received in the mail which I was reprofiling:grumpy: It had the new abstract coating so partially black, and spotted like design. It did not hurt it much but enough to realize what happened.
So what I am leading upto here is if you tape the shelf ..........change it after every time you sharpen so as not to scratch the blade or do what you others said, and tape the blade.
Other than that the unit is trouble/problem free just a lack of common sense on my part.

Larry
 
cbwx34 said:
Another option is to take a quick swipe of the blade table when you flip the knife over. Seems to keep it clean enough to avoid scratching. Usually this is only needed on the coarse stones (120 / 180).

cbw
Click to expand...
This has been my experience exactly, in addition to using the painters tape.
 
Yes to all of the above.

The tape on the ramp helps, but the tape on the flats of the blade are key. Cover as much as possible, and wipe as often as you wet, which is very frequently. Be very careful when you lift and move the blade on the ramp. Its not that big of a deal, just practice with knives that can get scratched up and by the time you get the hang of the sharpener, you'll be able to do it (with tape) without damaging your knives.

I use duct tape. It seems to hold up to all of the wetness better.
 
Hmmmm.....

Interesting that some of you put tape on the Ramp part of the EdgePro.

Doesn't the slurry still lay on top of that tape?

Seems like putting the tape on the flat part of the blade and wiping it off frequently is a good solution.

Now, If you DO manage to scratch the shiny part, is it superficial enough that it could be buffed out ?

Thanks, Tim
 
I also tape the handles of my knives when I use the EdgePro. Either I am very sloppy or paranoid, but my knife is sharp and unscratched.
 
Tape is your friend with the Edge Pro. It also helps to keep the blade still when you are sharpening and to wipe the base where the blade sits between flips. Most of the scratching seems to occur with the course stone. It isn't near as noticed with the others but the 220 and 320 can cause some but much finer. I've completely skipped the taping step on the base of my sharpener. I just focus on taping the blades and that works fine for me. Its also handy to write down what angle or color you used for each knife. I write that on the inside of the boxes they came in for my folders but for the kitchen knives I don't really have any system. I also don't much care if my users and beater knives get scratched up. Writing the angle you used on your good knives is nice though so you don't have to experiment all over again with the marker trick when time comes to resharpen.

STR
 
Like I mentioned Dale who makes the Edge Pro is the one who put the painters tape on the unit I bought from him, and told me it was to keep from scratching the blade but nelgected to tell me to change the tape often. I now use tape on the shelf, and the blade so it does not slip or scratch. Funny thing like mentioned above if you use some knives you don't care about first you will notice that the blades will scratch BUT in my case I had already sharpened some other blades wint no scratches but then again they were not polished blades or had no blackened areas on the blade like the abstract design of the Brian Tighe knife so did not think about it..........my bad:grumpy: And yes on blades without black or some sort of coating you can buff the scratches right out but just a valuable lesson I learned with the Brian Tighe.
On the same subject of the Edge Pro I also ordered some extra blank (plates) pieces from Dale, and then called Eze Lap, and ordered some 1" X 4" diamond stones in coarse, medium, and fine, and use spray adhesive to put the stones on with, and use them a lot instead of having to worry about the water mess, and work very well but must be careful as it really takes metal off fast but great for profiling edges fast. Even used a plate, and put leather on it to use as a strop. Best sharpner I have ever owned although pricey as I now have over $400 in it but will last a lifetime. I even have the Apex Pro to carry in my truck when on a trip on away from home. Made up the same Eze Lap stone for it as well. Best of both worlds:D
Sorry for the long post just got a little carried away with my setup.

Larry
 
If you are using the rough ass stones put tape on the ramp and after each session on one side wash the ramp off with the squirty bottle and all will be fine.

There is a learning curve with the Edge Pro, we should probably have a sticky here.

One thing I noticed is that if you are reprofiling some hard carbon steel and are using the #120 there is usually a lot of mess, this mess and water can cause the masking tape to roll up a little like a booger and raise the angle of dangle on the blade and FUBAR the grind, best bet is to just wash everything down each time you change sides, you are going to wipe the blade and wet the stone, a little squirt on the ramp isnt going to take much time.


I get my 3yr old to help, 'Squirt!' and he re fills the bottle himself. :)
 
I have found that black PVC electrical tape is excellent to coat the ramp ( blade table edge) and the blade itself.
It helps the blade to stay still and not rock and being waterproof, will not wash away.
It's use has completely eliminated all scratches.
Just remember to change the tape on the ramp from time to time especially if you are breaking in a new diamond hone or using Ben's really coarse hones.
 
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