Edgepro?

Yvsa

Yvsa

Joined
May 18, 1999
Messages
15,395
:
Has anyone here had any experience with the Edgepro Sharpening system?
They put a conventional bevel grind on the edge, but I have seen a lot of good recommendations about them on rec.knives.

I wrote the company because it doesn't appear to have anyway to compensate for the point angle where the back end of the knife is raised up to prevent the point from being radiused instead of needle sharp.
They said they had no problems with the points and they come off needle sharp.
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They're sorta spendy running about $295.00 for the professional system with 5 stones and 12 3,000 grit polishing tapes and a ceramic "steel."
What I like about it is that it is possible to keep the same angle each time the knife is sharpened with out clamps!!! Gettin lazy in my old age an always looking for easier ways to do things.
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But I am gonna get a bunch more info before I spring for one unless there's a return policy if you don't like it.
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Anyone?
Or does anyone know anyone with this system?

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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Yvsa:

Try searching the Chris Reeve archives for a similar discussion within the last couple of months on Edgepro. The only negative I have heard is on smaller knives (folders) you might want to tape the thumb studs. I stopped by to see a local maker today and in his hands the Edgepro is a work of art. He does final sharpening on a 6.5 in. recurved blade. Up to that point his CNC machine does all of the work.

Mike in Seattle
 
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Thanks Mike!!!!!
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I will do that later on!!!!

The only problem I see is that it won't do the khukuris as I prefer the convex edge they come with, but for all my other knive's it could save me a lot of work.(Yeah as if they need sharpened that much.
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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Anybody know of any cheaper systems that can handle curved knives and give good control of the edge angle?

Mostly just wondering what the state of the art is. Doubt I'll give up my rod sharpener. Besides, sharpening is practically a meditative thing for me, don't know if I'd want too much "machinery" involved.
 
NDN,
I still like your original process with the DMT type folding steel!Seeing as how you are "retired" & have nothing to keep you occupied, except for meeting with Bill! I've
been thinking of sending"all" my K's to you for "the final touch"!LOL!
jim
 
Yvsa, I have the Edge Pro Apex with a stone upgrade kit, it's the same as a professional except with an ABS instead of aluminum frame. It costs a little less than the professional and gives the same performance, it just won't accept the scissors sharpener attachment. I personally couldn't be happier with it. While some may feel it takes the 'skill' factor out, it really doesn't. You still have to understand what you're doing, and it takes a good bit of practice till you get really good. I've read some of your posts about khukuri sharpening, and from what you've posted I can see that you understand the concept of sharpening very well. That makes the learning curve for the Edge Pro a lot steeper. I'll try to answer as many of your questions as I can.

- First, there is a return policy. I think it's 60 days or so. I spoke to Ben Dale about this and he says that he's only ever had one returned.

- You're right, it won't do khukuris well at all. It can help a little with reprofiling or sharpening the karda, but for the big blades the convex edge is a lot better. That's not to say you can't sharpen khukuris with it, just that it's a lot of unnecessary work when the convex edge gives such superior performance.

Also, Doc, I personally don't know of any system that gives comparable performance to the Edge-Pro at a lower price. And considering how well the system works, I don't find the system to be overpriced.

One other thing. A forumite named Johan did one or two reviews on the Edge-Pro a while back in the Reviews forum, you might want to do a search and check it out if you're seriously interested. It was a while ago though, so you might want to check in the Archives if it doesn't show up on the current forum.

If you have any other questions or need me to clear up something in this post feel free to e-mail me. Sharpening is my favorite conversational topic; unfortunately everyone I know is more interested in getting me to sharpen their knives than talking about how to sharpen them! If you just want my opinion on how well the system performs, I would very highly reccomend it to anyone with quality knives to sharpen. I'm extremely happy with mine, and it's a good company to do business with as well.
 
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Thanks RF and RR!!
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I didn't know that Cliff had an Edgepro. And as always Cliff posted a great review on it.

Cliff also mentions about the Edgepro reprofileng a knife although he did say it would take years to do so. I doubt that any I have would be reprofiled by me using the device due to my age and the eventual possibility for me not to be able to use my blades any longer someday,hopefully in the far future.
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I still am wondering how the Edgepro makes a needle sharp point without rounding the point over as seen by so many novice sharpeners.
It took me a long time to learn how to sharpen a point correctly and I feel the point is the hardest part to sharpen on any knife blade.
And since they do have a return policy I may get one when the funds build back up.
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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Yvsa:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I still am wondering how the Edgepro makes a needle sharp point without rounding the point over as seen by so many novice sharpeners.</font>
Click to expand...

The blade is not fixed on the platform thus you can rotate it to keep the tip perpendicular to the stone. In fact I rarely do this, as if you don't you end up with a grind that thins as you run out towards the point, which I kind of like.

You will however round off the tip of points that are not curved if you do this. On wharncliffe knives for example, if you keep the blade fixed you will grind the point right off so you *have* to rotate the blade with one hand as you grind with the other. It is not as complicated as it might seem.

In regards to reprofiling, yes the Edge Pro is slow, much faster than say the Sharpmaker, but still very slow. The only way to do this at any speed without power equipment is to buy a coarse Japanese waterstone (large green one, about 200 grit), and a small container of *very* coarse SiC powder. You should be able to get 80 grit or so, it is sold as a lapping compound to actually flatten your stones. But if you pour a small amount of it on the waterstone you can raise the cutting ability tremendously.

Using this method, I have even lowered primary grinds on very hard wear resistant stainless steel blades (ATS-34 at ~60 RC). Edge bevels are eaten very quickly. You can do this a little with the edge pro, but because the hones are upside down the grit tends to be wiped off. Nevertheless, it does speed up the cutting power of the coarse hone. Of course doing this wears the hones very quickly.

Ben Dale's customer service is also very high.

-Cliff
 
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