Edgepro

[razorsdescent]

Who here has one im currently eyeing the edgepro apex 4 package. im sharpening challenged and can never get a razor sharp edge on my knives with my gatco professional edgemate. i see guys here that v these amazingly polished edges that can split a hair, while i dont need that id really like to be able to put a polished edge that can shav ehair on my knives.

I use the marker trick i know im sharpening right im just noall that great and im sick of having a sub par edge on my knives.


so does anyone think that i could accomplish this with the edge pro apex 4?

thanks for any help.

 

[CarpScot]

I have the Apex 4 kit and I think it is an excellent choice. You should be able to get the results that you are looking for. I recommend practicing on a couple of cheaper knives. :thumbup:

 

[Splat]

I've owned my Edgepro Apex for about 1.5-2 months now and really love the results I get. I bought the basic kit and ordered an extra 120 stone and a 600 stone. Depending what you need you don't have to get the 600 grit. I've been stopping at the 320grit but recently tried the 600. I use my knives for general cutting: rope, cardboard, tubing, paper, etc.. and occasional camping trips. Honestly, I could stop at either the 320 or 600 grit and be able to cut everything I usually cut. I just made my own glass blank for using as a strop with the Edgepro and that's given me great results. Get the Edgepro. I highly doubt you'll regret it.

 

[Noctis3880]

It's a pretty good sharpener to be sure, though you'll still need to practice with it in order to get used to the lack of a clamp. The biggest problem is when resting the blade on a backbevel, which will change the exact sharpening angle to the one you set it to. However, it's only an issue when you want to change the bevel angle on your knife.

I've never been able to pop the hairs off my leg(arm hairs are too thin) using the EdgePro, from 120 grit to the 7,000 grit polishing tapes. I've only been able to reach that level of sharpness when stropping my knife on a leather strop loaded with 1 micron diamond polishing compound.

It's been rumored that the stones will have a different thickness when changing from a coarse grit to a finer grit, so it might simply be that.

However, I believe the EdgePro can definitely rival an edge put on by a professional freehand sharpening. Though I would say that freehand is a much more enjoyable experience, while the EdgePro is pure 100% practical use.

I use my DMT Benchstones to remove chips and when I'm bored. I use my EdgePro to sharpen my EDC folders. However, the polishing tapes should be unnecessary and should be substituted with precisely graded stropping compounds(micron specific aluminum oxide, CrO, or diamond instead of your usual Green Rouge bar from Sears, as I suspect the grit size is random in the bar).

 

[Splat]

It's a pretty good sharpener to be sure, though you'll still need to practice with it in order to get used to the lack of a clamp. The biggest problem is when resting the blade on a backbevel, which will change the exact sharpening angle to the one you set it to.

The sharpie/marker is your friend. I mark the edges of my knives at the start and between stone/strop changes. You can see where you're hitting the edge.

I've never been able to pop the hairs off my leg(arm hairs are too thin) using the EdgePro, from 120 grit to the 7,000 grit polishing tapes.

I have. As you said, it takes a while to get comfortable with holding the knife with one hand and moving the stone arm with the other. I got pretty damn good results with my first try and by the second knife I was wondering why I hadn't bought the EP earlier than I did.

It's been rumored that the stones will have a different thickness when changing from a coarse grit to a finer grit, so it might simply be that.

Yep. There are ever-so-slight variations that need to be acounted for. Again, a sharpie/marker will help with that. :thumbup:

Though I would say that freehand is a much more enjoyable experience, while the EdgePro is pure 100% practical use.

I know what you mean but it depends on the person. I get the whole Zen thing when I'm using my EP. It's still sharpening for me.

However, the polishing tapes should be unnecessary and should be substituted with precisely graded stropping compounds(micron specific aluminum oxide, CrO, or diamond instead of your usual Green Rouge bar from Sears, as I suspect the grit size is random in the bar).

In the long run it's cheaper to make your own glass blanks and pick up some CrO. It'll last you a good while. However, lots'a guys get desired results using the tapes. I never tried the tapes. I did try, and now use, Nexcare medical tape. I made my own glass strops for my EP and use the Nexcare tape on them. Some CrO on one strop, some Mothers Mag polish on another. All I can say is..... Wow! :thumbup::thumbup: Experimentation is fun.

 

[OldDude1]

Greetings: I have to agree 100 percent with Splat. I own and use a Sharpmaker, Gatco Diamond Hones and and Edgepro Apex #4. IMO the EdgePro is the easiest to use and most efficient for a sharpening challenged person like me. The sharpie marker trick allows me to concentrate on exactly where the steel removal is taking place so I can adjust MY efforts accordingly. Once the arm is adjusted and tightened, it's sharpening angle doesn't change much at all. It can only vary within the limits of the built in tolerances necessary in making the arm adjustable. If I see any variances, it is due to either an unequal side to side primary grind, a different left vs. right blade geometry or my positioning of the blade on the table. 98 percent of the time its' me. Whatever the cause, it is easy to see where the stone is removing the marker and since the blade is not locked in a clamp, you can instantly adjust it's position. Free hand bench stone users have been doing this unconsciously since the bronze age. It makes sharpening too easy. I'm running out of stuff to sharpen. Re-profiling several S30v blades was not hard at all. It makes it comparatively easy to put a hair popping edge on any decent blade. You could put an sharp edge on a license plate. The 1000 grit stone, which comes with the #4 kit makes quite a smooth edge. After a little practice, the Edgepro removed the fear I had of screwing up a good blade. It's results are satisfying, impressive and very repeatable. If you decide to spring for one, you may wish to order an additional 120 grit stone. Highly useful when doing a lot of re-profiling. I wish I had gotten the Edgepro sooner. OldDude1

 

[krazichinaman]

I have the Apex 4 kit as well. I use it for reprofileing. If you do more research, you'll see that many people use the Apex for reprofiling and use a sharpmaker for touching up blades.

I find that it just takes too much time for me to take out and set up the EP then it does to strop and/or setup the sharpmaker.


It is a great system, don't get me wrong. However, I just find that it shines the best (for me) for reprofiling.:thumbup:

 

[Knife Outlet]

I started using a Lansky about 30 years ago. When I upgraded to the Edgepro about 5 years ago I treated it just like I did the Lansky. With the Lansky, the angle is selectable, not adjustable so you need to grind the blade to one of the preset angles. I do the same thing with the Edgepro. It has little colored lines to indicate angles. I decide which angle I want, grind the blade to that angle and I never have to fool with it again. I just get the knives together that are ground to the same angle and sharpen them together. My preference is for efficiency in sharpening. This is a good way to handle it. It saves a ton of time. You only need to remember which angle you applied to the edge and then set the bar at the appropriate colored line.

 

[Ben Dover]

IMNSHO, it's the best manual sharpening system ever made! :thumbup:

Like everything else, there is a short learning curve, and you'll need a "sharpie" to ink the edge, to take full advantage of it's capabilities.

I use a 10X loupe to examine the edge after every stone change and/or stone arm adjustment. (It aint rocket science, folks, actually it's not difficult at all. Just requires a bit of patience)

It's not a magic device, and you've got to put a small amount of effort into learning how to use it properly.

But if you're willing to do that, you can have 10 inch Bowie knives as sharp as surgical instruments.