Hapstone guided angle sharpening system - anyone tried both R2 and V8 who could share pros/cons and experiences?

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r172eg

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Hapstone guided angle sharpening system - has anyone tried both the current R2 clamping (standard 2 angle clamp or other types of clamps on a rotating module) and V8 magnetic with the "wide" extendable table? What are your thoughts pros/cons of the two compared to each other, and other guided angle systems?

My use would be for German type kitchen knives, so, blade lengths 3" length narrow blade for paring or petty knives (less than 1/2" width), to 12" length and 4" width for chef's knife.
 
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I own the Hapstone M2. Very basic, but it does have the magnetic table, not the outer finger. I have sharpened knives up to 6" but no longer. If I were to do it over I'd get an R2. Granted, it wasn't out when I bought mine, but I want a jawed sharpener.
 
r172eg said:
Hapstone guided angle sharpening system - has anyone tried both the current R2 clamping (standard 2 angle clamp or other types of clamps on a rotating module) and V8 magnetic with the "wide" extendable table? What are your thoughts pros/cons of the two compared to each other, and other guided angle systems?

My use would be for German type kitchen knives, so, blade lengths 3" length narrow blade for paring or petty knives (less than 1/2" width), to 12" length and 4" width for chef's knife.
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777 Edge 777 Edge is your man. He is the go too for Hapstone.
 
The V8 will do just about anything you need, and is cheaper than the R2. The magnetic platform of the V8 will even do axes and other tools. Just remember to compensate for the grind angle of a knife if it's mounted flat on a magnetic platform (especially if full flat ground). If you want the V8, make sure to get the latest version with the vertical adjustable blade support. Some sabre type grinds rock over magnets while sharpening, and works better with a vertical support under the blade.

The R2 with angled clamps, on the other hand, will also work with just about any knife to throw at it - as long as you clamp the knife correctly.

The great thing about the Hapstone modular platform, is that it's interchangeable. If you get the V8 and you also want the R2, then all you need to do is purchase the rotating clamp module and a set of clamps and you'll then have the R2 also.
 
Had an R2 and then found the TSPROF blitz360. TSPROF is the way to go IMO. I've used KME, Hapstone, and TSPROF is the winner for me so far and they continue to innovate and also release new product and accessories.
 
Bluemantra said:
Had an R2 and then found the TSPROF blitz360. TSPROF is the way to go IMO. I've used KME, Hapstone, and TSPROF is the winner for me so far and they continue to innovate and also release new product and accessories.
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In the TSProf range, I have the Blitz 360, Blitz 360 pro, Kadet, Kadet Pro and K03. All great machines but my Hapstone keeps being my go-to and one of my favorites.

The Blitz 360 is a cool sharpener and a good piece of engineering, but is very limited with clamp options and has no magnetic platform option (which sometimes comes in very handy with some knives and tools). It does have a scissors clamp option but not a chisel sharpening option.

What bugs me with both TSProf Blitz and Kadet models, is how much you have to fiddle with them to set your angle 100% perfectly. Because of the design being based on the knife clamp assembly moving up and down in an arc of movement, only a very specific width of blade gives you the center of it's circular arc of movement. This means that if you swap stones or adjust your angle and want to be perfectly accurate on your angle, you have to go back and forth between zeroing your angle cube and setting & measuring the angle. As soon as you change the angle, the zero reference changes because the blade edge moves up and down ever so slightly...so you go back and forth and back and forth until you have the exact angle.

With sharpeners where the blade is stationary and the angle is adjusted on a vertical arm (Like Hapstone, TSProf K03, Kazak, Leading Edge, KakBritva and many more) adjusting the sharpening angle is much quicker, simpler and the blade width does not affect the zero reference at all.
 
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I like the extra precision offered with the Blitz 360 in angle adjustment. I also like the digital angle holder. I'm not sure if you've seen the new blitz pro upgrade kit that improves the clamp options. I was never a fan of the magnet option and preferred clamps. The Hapstone is definitely capable, but I preferred using clamps and I prefer the precision adjustment capability of the blitz that the Hapstone just didn't have even after purchasing their fine tuning adjustment tool.

Also the Blitz360 folds up and stores much easier on my bench and the Hapstone was massive in comparison.

Not sure if I'm understanding exactly what you were trying to say in regards to the width of the blade.

Each set-up has some pro's and cons. I guess in general I prefer the TSPROF product line which is probably just my preference.
 
Bluemantra said:
I'm not sure if you've seen the new blitz pro upgrade kit that improves the clamp options. I was never a fan of the magnet option and preferred clamps.
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Yes, I currently have a Blitz Pro upgrade kit installed on my Blitz 360. The bar and adjustability of the clamps is a huge improvement, but it is still very limited with clamp options though. The Blitz clamps are great, some of the best around but you're still limited to only one available set of clamps.


Bluemantra said:
Not sure if I'm understanding exactly what you were trying to say in regards to the width of the blade.
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Both Kadet and Blitz systems are designed with the clamp bar and knife being movable for large angle changes in a rotating motion (up and down). This adjustment arc of motion is centred around a mid point of a circular path. This mid point is designed around an exact point in space slightly in front of the clamps (where the blade edge would be). If you install a knife with wider or narrower blade, the edge does not align with this point and it causes problems when setting your angle after zeroing your angle cube.

Try it out with different width knife blades on your Blitz and you'll see what I mean. Install the knife, install a stone in the holder and place it on your knife. Zero your angle cube as you would normally and leave it in position on your stone holder. Now make a large angle change - using the geared knobs on your blitz. You'll see that your zero point changes quite a lot on the angle cube. This means that every time you want to make an accurate angle change you need to zero the cube, then place it on the clamp bar and adjust the angle, then place it back on the stone and zero it again, back on the clamp bar to make a small adjustment, back on the stone to zero it again, back on the clamp bar to adjust....and so on until the angle is perfectly set.

With a system like the Hapstone where the knife is stationary, this is not a factor at all. That's one of the many reasons why the TSProf K03 is still the top of the range for TSProf - It uses the same concept of angle adjustment as the Hapstone R2.

That said, they are both great systems, no doubt about it. :)
 
r172eg said:
Thank you everyone for this helpful info. I will hopefully be buying in a month or two, and will share my experience here if I get one.

To help others who come across this thread, after I started this thread, I also found these two related threads:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/what-version-of-the-hapstone-to-buy.1860820/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/another-guided-system-thread.1860620/
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That is a good way of doing it, don't rush, spend as much time as you can reading and looking at YouTube reviews of all the systems.
 
777 Edge said:
Yes, I currently have a Blitz Pro upgrade kit installed on my Blitz 360. The bar and adjustability of the clamps is a huge improvement, but it is still very limited with clamp options though. The Blitz clamps are great, some of the best around but you're still limited to only one available set of clamps.




Both Kadet and Blitz systems are designed with the clamp bar and knife being movable for large angle changes in a rotating motion (up and down). This adjustment arc of motion is centred around a mid point of a circular path. This mid point is designed around an exact point in space slightly in front of the clamps (where the blade edge would be). If you install a knife with wider or narrower blade, the edge does not align with this point and it causes problems when setting your angle after zeroing your angle cube.

Try it out with different width knife blades on your Blitz and you'll see what I mean. Install the knife, install a stone in the holder and place it on your knife. Zero your angle cube as you would normally and leave it in position on your stone holder. Now make a large angle change - using the geared knobs on your blitz. You'll see that your zero point changes quite a lot on the angle cube. This means that every time you want to make an accurate angle change you need to zero the cube, then place it on the clamp bar and adjust the angle, then place it back on the stone and zero it again, back on the clamp bar to make a small adjustment, back on the stone to zero it again, back on the clamp bar to adjust....and so on until the angle is perfectly set.

With a system like the Hapstone where the knife is stationary, this is not a factor at all. That's one of the many reasons why the TSProf K03 is still the top of the range for TSProf - It uses the same concept of angle adjustment as the Hapstone R2.

That said, they are both great systems, no doubt about it. :)
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Ah I see exactly what you mean now and yes that makes sense. The TSProf K03 is a great system and may get that one day, but the blitz360 is definitely space saver.

I guess what I'd say to any beginner is that is takes time to master a system and that only comes through sharpening a bunch of knives.
 
OK, I wound up buying the Hapstone V8 Black (adjustable magnetic) with a pair of Universal Angled Clamps - thus also making it an R2 Standard for the clamps, with the Black spring assisted stopper rings, and fine-tuning adapter.

Bought it from Hapstone Ukraine, perfectly packed, and the build quality is astoundingly good.

Sad to say it is far superior to a couple of US-made systems at the same price that I looked at (sorry, USA) that relied on plastic for too many components and slipped around the table. I don't want to say which because both companies were very kind in answering my pre-sales questions / handling returns (opened but unused - I hadn't even sharpened there was so much flex evident in the base and table / mount).

With the Hapstone I now have two angle guided sharpening systems for only slightly more than the price of one, and the accessories like a scissor adapter and chisel adapter, and stone sets, were inexpensive compared to other manufacturer's accessories.

Haven't had time to sharpen much yet with work, but I am very impressed with the Hapstone's heft and build quality. I think the magnetic table mount will be perfect for retouching several knives quickly with a single stone, and the angled clamps perfect for secure clamping and precise, easy rotating of a single knife - so best for taking a single knife through a series of stones of increasing grit and a thorough sharpening.

The ease of the modular system is ingenious with so many clamp options as well as the magnetic tables. And the adjustable magnetic table and adjustable width clamps, and angled clamps for adjusting the pressure - again just very impressed. Will be interesting to see how well it holds up but it looks like it is built to last.

Also surprised Hapstone answered all my questions patiently in great English and even more surprised they are operating and shipping quickly in the middle of a war!
 
r172eg said:
OK, I wound up buying the Hapstone V8 Black (adjustable magnetic) with a pair of Universal Angled Clamps - thus also making it an R2 Standard for the clamps, with the Black spring assisted stopper rings, and fine-tuning adapter.

Bought it from Hapstone Ukraine, perfectly packed, and the build quality is astoundingly good.

Sad to say it is far superior to a couple of US-made systems at the same price that I looked at (sorry, USA) that relied on plastic for too many components and slipped around the table. I don't want to say which because both companies were very kind in answering my pre-sales questions / handling returns (opened but unused - I hadn't even sharpened there was so much flex evident in the base and table / mount).

With the Hapstone I now have two angle guided sharpening systems for only slightly more than the price of one, and the accessories like a scissor adapter and chisel adapter, and stone sets, were inexpensive compared to other manufacturer's accessories.

Haven't had time to sharpen much yet with work, but I am very impressed with the Hapstone's heft and build quality. I think the magnetic table mount will be perfect for retouching several knives quickly with a single stone, and the angled clamps perfect for secure clamping and precise, easy rotating of a single knife - so best for taking a single knife through a series of stones of increasing grit and a thorough sharpening.

The ease of the modular system is ingenious with so many clamp options as well as the magnetic tables. And the adjustable magnetic table and adjustable width clamps, and angled clamps for adjusting the pressure - again just very impressed. Will be interesting to see how well it holds up but it looks like it is built to last.

Also surprised Hapstone answered all my questions patiently in great English and even more surprised they are operating and shipping quickly in the middle of a war!
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Solid choice! Now you have one of the best systems around. :cool:
 
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