Knifenut, I'm glad you chose to stay. I spend a lot of time reading on this forum, and value your input (even though you may not think so). It's because of that, that I started this thread.
I think a lot of good points have been raised so far. I too, like to sharpen freehand for a lot of the reasons given. Mostly the satisfaction when the blade comes out sharp. I'm definitely not a contender for the sharpest blade contest, but I practice and try to improve.
When I first seriously got into sharpening, I approached it with an open mind. I can bet that I've tried, and in some cases still have more sharpening equipment than most people here. From clamping devices to some high dollar grinders, and every book I could find on sharpening, to try and learn as much as I could.
For a while I sold some sharpening equipment (to support my habit). This included: Edge Pro, Sharpening Wheels, DMT products, and Razor Edge Systems kits. I looked for quality products that for one reason or another I used. Razor Edge is an example. I think their kit, while a bit dated, is one of the best ways to learn freehand sharpening. And I don't believe that the EdgePro, or any device is the "be all end all", although for most, one method is really all that is needed.
I'll disagree with what Bill said about freehand. For many people, myself included, freehand sharpening is not an easy task. When something comes easy to a person, they often find it hard to understand why everyone can't do it.
I'll tell you what sold me on the EdgePro. To me, sharpening is more than just grinding two angles to intersect. There's learning about burrs, finish levels, different angles for different uses and steels, and many other factors. Also, I believe what Juranitch (Razor Edge Book of Sharpening) and others wrote: that angle control is the most dificult aspect of sharpening to learn. When I was trying different methods and equipment, and got to the Edge Pro, I almost immediately got some of the best results I ever got in sharpening. Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve, it's not plug and play. But the results were impressive. But the other thing I liked is that, the more I learned about sharpening, I could apply what I learned while using the Edge Pro. It allowed me to study levels of finish, different angles, etc. Also, the freedom of not having a blade clamped into the device. This allows me to manipulate the knife, the side to side movement and rotational movement of the stone arm, to match about as close as possible, what happens freehand sharpening, while still maintaining angle control.
The cost is comparable to what most other sharpening methods are. Yes, it's possible to buy a $5.00 stone at the hardware store and put a sharp edge on a knife, but to really accurately compare you need to look at other factors. In the end, most come out pretty close.
Now to a few specifics. So-Lo, your experience with the EP, has got to be one of the farthest from the norm I ever read. A lot of your points: the EP flexing, excessive stone wear, stones breaking, etc. lead me to believe that you were using way too much pressure sharpening. None of that I've ever experienced. Also stones don't get waterlogged and seperate, I soaked stones almost constantly for a couple of years, so I know this isn't the case. The regluing instructions are for stone replacement, not stone repair. Two things you brought up are accurate. The tapes don't last a long time, although from a practical standpoint, they're seldom used. (The tapes were actually developed for scissor sharpening, not knives). But they are fun to play with. The scratching of the knife on the blade table can also be a problem. I reduced it considerably when I quit soaking the stones, I now use just enough water to wet the stone and keep it from clogging, but avoid creating a slurry. This pretty much eliminated it, but I'll still tape a blade if I have any concerns. And I always tape the blade table.
Setup time to me is not an issue. It just takes a few minutes to be up and running. Most sharpeners, regardless of how they sharpen, usually have an alternate method for blade maintenance: steel, ceramic rod, leather hone, etc., so you're not setting up the EP everytime a blade needs touched up. This is even covered in the instructions.
Stichawl brings up some good points, but I'll disagree with his point of view of making it a contest of which is better and/or faster, the EP or freehand. A good freehand sharpener can turn out results every bit as good, if not better. I do think the EP helps overcome the biggest issue I mentioned earlier... angle control, and it helps a person who might otherwise not be able to invest the time to get really good at this, to still become a good sharpener.
Knifenut, while I appreciate your point of view, I still don't quite get it. Your one example of "not detecting a recurve" I understand, but to me, this is a problem that should be found by the sharpener, not the device. That could just have easily been missed on a wide stone if the edge had been moved across as well as up, which many freehand sharpeners do. I'm guessing you knew before you ever put that knife to the stone... that there was a problem? You can tell me if I'm right or not. In many cases, the angle control will actually show problems... mainly uneven grinds, that might not be picked up freehand.
You mentioned the thickness of the stone being an issue. Believe it or not, this doesn't matter. I say 'believe it or not' because I can't totally explain it. There is just under a 1 deg. difference between a new stone and a worn out one, so it's not much. But I've marked a number of knives with a Sharpie between stones, and regardless of the stone thickness, the bevel is consistently covered. My opinion is there's just enough give in the system... primarily because the knife is not clamped, to accomodate the slight differences.
You also mentioned an issue of precise bevels showing more wear and chipping in use, then, I assume, a freehanded sharpened blade? Not something I've ever seen, and I've sharpened a lot of knives both ways. But, if this is true, then why do you recommend the Aligner?
I am glad that you and others have presented many points of view on this. I don't think there is, or ever will be a winner in the freehand vs. _________ debate, nor do I think it's really a contest. I too, like to sharpen freehand, as well as use other methods to sharpen. But I do think the Edge Pro is a solid device, probably the closest to bridging the gap between freehand, vs. using a method that controls all the factors, and will allow a person to put a very good edge on a blade.
cbw
It does require that one uses it correctly, as does any method of sharpening.
