Recommendation? Guided Sharpening

SC_Dave

SC_Dave

Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
187
I have a co-worker who asked me for a recommendation on which guided sharpening system he should buy. He wants nothing to do with freehand. He said he will be sharpening pocket, sheath and kitchen knives. I don't have any guided systems. Is their a consensus on which is best? He never gave me a budget so lemme have it. Then I'll let him decide. Thanks in advance!
SCD
 
ive tried a lot of them, my next one to get will be an edge pro or hapstone because im not very happy with the ones i have. KME is the one im currently using, its a good kit and i recommend it, but until i try an edge pro im not sure which ones better "for me".

what steel will he be sharpening, as that will be the deciding factor of what stones to get.
 
Mo2 said:
ive tried a lot of them, my next one to get will be an edge pro or hapstone because im not very happy with the ones i have. KME is the one im currently using, its a good kit and i recommend it, but until i try an edge pro im not sure which ones better "for me".

what steel will he be sharpening, as that will be the deciding factor of what stones to get.
Click to expand...

To be honest, he doesn't know. But, I do know the folder he carries is Elmax but that is all I know.
 
KME is a clamp system. you have a clamp that holds the knife. this is similar to other systems like wicked edge and a few others (just the fact that they clamp the same). the clamp holds the knife while you sharpen with one hand.
the KME does not have any bump stop for the sharpening arm, so you have to be in control of the sharpening arm and be some what precise. plus the clamp needs a flat surface to clamp onto... knives with strange shapes might not work as well.

edge pro is a system where you hold the knife in one hand on the system and then sharpen with the other hand. there are addon's for a magnet so that holds your blade to the system if you want to make it easier. the hapstone is an edge pro on steroids. it has multiple different addon's and an assortment of stone additions, and even has a clamp system addon as well.

Lansky and a few others like DMT aligner are really cheap guided systems. not particularly great but affordable and will get knives sharp.

do you know what type of system he would prefer in that respect? What is his budget?
 
I recommend the Edge Pro Apex system. I'm producing Mirror finishes on all my bevels (with provided stones). Just make sure your friend practices on some kitchen knives to get the muscle memory down before moving to say his favorite pocket knife and he should be golden.

Also I'm not sure if you know about the "sharpie trick" to find out what degree your bevel is already set at but if you buy a 5/16" drill stop collar and put it on the "degree arm" of the Edge Pro it's elimantes the need to use the sharpie trick every time you go up in grit as over time the Edge Pro stones tend to be different thicknesses. So let's say your establishing a 15 degree bevel with a 120grit stone(which is 4mm thick for simplistic sakes) ..then move up to say 400grit which is..(6mm thick)so without the stop collar the Edge Pro will say your sharpening at a 15degree bevel but really with the thickness change between the two stones you'd actually be hitting a 17degree which is no bueno!If you don't adjust your angle to compensate the change then your angle isn't perfectly consistent which is key as you may know when sharpening a knife (the stop collar eliminates you having to sharpie trick your bevel throughout the grits) I've got no experience with any other system but the Edge Pro but I've not heard about any other system being as precise as it is for the amount of skill needed to use the system.

Sorry for the rant man but I hope this information helps. I'm sure any system your buddy ends up getting will do him well.
 
Mo2 said:
KME is a clamp system. you have a clamp that holds the knife. this is similar to other systems like wicked edge and a few others (just the fact that they clamp the same). the clamp holds the knife while you sharpen with one hand.
the KME does not have any bump stop for the sharpening arm, so you have to be in control of the sharpening arm and be some what precise. plus the clamp needs a flat surface to clamp onto... knives with strange shapes might not work as well.

edge pro is a system where you hold the knife in one hand on the system and then sharpen with the other hand. there are addon's for a magnet so that holds your blade to the system if you want to make it easier. the hapstone is an edge pro on steroids. it has multiple different addon's and an assortment of stone additions, and even has a clamp system addon as well.

Lansky and a few others like DMT aligner are really cheap guided systems. not particularly great but affordable and will get knives sharp.

do you know what type of system he would prefer in that respect? What is his budget?
Click to expand...

Just asked him: No preference as he knows nothing about guided sharpening (neither do I). He said his budget was around 150.00 so that eliminates some of the better systems like Edge Pro I guess.
 
SC_Dave said:
Just asked him: No preference as he knows nothing about guided sharpening (neither do I). He said his budget was around 150.00 so that eliminates some of the better systems like Edge Pro I guess.
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Aww man that's a shame ...lol. Get the Spyderco Sharpmaker and tell him to buy the Ultra Fine ceramic rods and he should be good ..
 
KME with the base (which is recommended imho) is just over $200 and that comes with 4 diamond stones (base is not included unless you add it iirc). http://www.kmesharp.com/kmeknshsy.html

the starter kit with only two water stones for edge pro starts around $165 and goes up with more additions to it.
http://www.edgeproinc.com/Apex-Model-Edge-Pro-System-c3/

hapstone v6 is still pre-order and only comes with 3 stones for around 220

the KME is slightly better deal because of the diamond stones, but both are over your friends budget.
 
Just tell your friend to drop another 100 for the Edge Pro or something in that realm..trust me I started on the Sharpmaker and quickly realized that I needed something better as I bought higher quality steels/knives. If you think about it..the better the Sharpening system the better the knife.
 
Aquaholicc said:
I recommend the Edge Pro Apex system. I'm producing Mirror finishes on all my bevels (with provided stones). Just make sure your friend practices on some kitchen knives to get the muscle memory down before moving to say his favorite pocket knife and he should be golden.

Also I'm not sure if you know about the "sharpie trick" to find out what degree your bevel is already set at but if you buy a 5/16" drill stop collar and put it on the "degree arm" of the Edge Pro it's elimantes the need to use the sharpie trick every time you go up in grit as over time the Edge Pro stones tend to be different thicknesses. So let's say your establishing a 15 degree bevel with a 120grit stone(which is 4mm thick for simplistic sakes) ..then move up to say 400grit which is..(6mm thick)so without the stop collar the Edge Pro will say your sharpening at a 15degree bevel but really with the thickness change between the two stones you'd actually be hitting a 17degree which is no bueno!If you don't adjust your angle to compensate the change then your angle isn't perfectly consistent which is key as you may know when sharpening a knife (the stop collar eliminates you having to sharpie trick your bevel throughout the grits) I've got no experience with any other system but the Edge Pro but I've not heard about any other system being as precise as it is for the amount of skill needed to use the system.

Sorry for the rant man but I hope this information helps. I'm sure any system your buddy ends up getting will do him well.
Click to expand...

Which Edge Pro Apex did you go with?
 
DMT Aligner clamp and a DMT coarse and fine stone, 6 or 8 inch. A 1200 fine and more can be added later. A Norton 8 inch coarse/fine India or King 250/1000 grit would be OK too, though I've not tried these on Elmax.
 
I have an EdgePro, KME, Sharpmaker (x2), and some assorted pocket stones. My favorite for full bevel sharpening is the KME. For touch-ups on knives with with clean, even and accurate bevels, I keep a Sharpmaker out and ready. And on the odd occasion, I pull out the EP for very large blades, odd shaped knives, or complex grinds.

All systems have a learning curve (although some longer than others). All have their own set of pros/cons. Some have better materials, stones, tighter tolerances, etc. But with that, I think most all systems can be used to achieve better edges than many, if not most factory edges. Assuming the user is willing to learn the ins and outs of chosen system. Personally I think the best bang for the buck is the KME/Sharpmaker combo. If the person really wants to take on sharpening as a new skilllset. Unfortunately many people I speak with about sharpening, want to do it, but want it to work like an office copier. Put it in, then just press the green button. For those people I have no idea what would be "best".

IMO, most factory bevels are usually off enough (for my tastes anyway), that I want to reset the bevel. I'm a bit OCD about the bevel being even from end to end, and side to side. It also makes it MUCH easier to touch-up and keep sharp for a longer period. YMMV
 
Honestly, I would say get the cheap Edge Pro-the Chinese copy. Spend money on the STONES! The machine is not doing the work. It's the stones that are!

Think I'm wrong?
Ok, take a Hapstone with all the bells and whistles and use CRAPY stones!

Now, use one of the cheap copy machines, but with GOOD stones.

And finally, compare the results! What do you think they would be? I can give you hint.....
 
DavidHoback said:
Honestly, I would say get the cheap Edge Pro-the Chinese copy. Spend money on the STONES! The machine is not doing the work. It's the stones that are!

Think I'm wrong?
Ok, take a Hapstone with all the bells and whistles and use CRAPY stones!

Now, use one of the cheap copy machines, but with GOOD stones.

And finally, compare the results! What do you think they would be? I can give you hint.....
Click to expand...
The replica copies are really bad imho. im sure you can make them sharp. edge pro did a video showing the differences and its staggering how bad the clones are. but anyways, im sure it will work.
 
Oh I'm there with you. They are cheap, and much more fragile than their name sake. (Although I think the Edge Pro is a bit fragil! I fixed that with the one I built!) I tell people to make their own. If nothing else, make it from wood! It's the stones that should NOT be overlooked.
 
DavidHoback said:
Honestly, I would say get the cheap Edge Pro-the Chinese copy. Spend money on the STONES! The machine is not doing the work. It's the stones that are!

Think I'm wrong?
Ok, take a Hapstone with all the bells and whistles and use CRAPY stones!

Now, use one of the cheap copy machines, but with GOOD stones.

And finally, compare the results! What do you think they would be? I can give you hint.....
Click to expand...
Could you please source the best such stones , priced within reason ? Not that I'd dream of having anything clonish ;)!
 
Hi,
Mo2 said:
The replica copies are really bad imho. im sure you can make them sharp. edge pro did a video showing the differences and its staggering how bad the clones are. but anyways, im sure it will work.
Click to expand...
Hi,
Hehe, that video is the best advertising for the clones I've seen,
sharpening is a lot like tying shoes, it'll work if you don't try to make your fingers/feet bleed :D

Probably the most common comment about these its that they're crap or fragile ... and still bodog: if you call this crap
lyPBpWl.jpg


DocJD said:
Could you please source the best such stones , priced within reason ? Not that I'd dream of having anything clonish ;)!
Click to expand...
Hi,
Consider the ~$4-5 diamond plates from 80 to 3000 grit/mesh,
followed by the ~$8 diamond paste,
after all the edge pro is a light force system,
and diamonds stones like light "force" to last a long time
 
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