Help Choosing Stones (and maybe sharpening system)

B

BostonBull

Joined
Dec 15, 2007
Messages
154
Im looking to upgrade out of an original Lansky system that I've had for years now. Im leaning 75% toward the Edge Pro and 25% toward the KME.

Sharpen some kitchen knives and my EDC, thats it. Nothing major, might do it once a month, might not. I can say that I am not happy that the amount of time I put in on the Lansky isn't reflected in the finished product. Maybe I am using the wrong stones, who knows?

In terms of the Edge Pro, which stones do you recommend I grab? I see Chef Knives To Go offers several kits with different stones.

My EDC is a first gen Spyderco Gayle Bradley carbon folder collaboration. My main kitchen blade is VG-1. The other kitchen knives are CroMo15.
 
As for stones depends on the steel your sharpening. I have mostly super steel so SiC and diamond are my choice. The Venev Diamond stones from gritomatic.com a vendor here are my favorite for kme and edge pro. You won't need diamonds if you don't have steel that requires them.

Also if your going with edge pro you won't have a clamped system. This requires you to be a bit ambidextrous. Cause you have to hold the knaf on the stand with each hand and also do your pulls with each hand. It's alot different than the kme. I feel I get better end results for me with the edge pro but it's not easy like the kme is per say.

I'd highly recommend the hapstone. More add-ons including a clamp system plus use almost any stone and so much more. I think very 7 just released or will soon. Gritomatic offers it. In any case it's like the edge pro on steroids and well worth it.
 
My steel is listed above, which stones would be best? Would glass stones work well?

You have my attention with the Hapstone! What are the downfalls to this system? I've read it's out of stock in many places....
 
v7 has not yet been released to market. Moreover, the latest model appears to feature significant changes over the previous generation. Hence, it is impossible to determine any benefits or drawbacks unless one extrapolates from an older model.
 
Let's compare V6 to the edge pro apex. I can get an apex 1 with a couple shapton glass stones from kitchen knives to go for about the same price as the lowest level Hapstone model.

Is the Hapstone that much better than the edge pro?
 
FWIW, I looked at this recently (guided systems like Wicked Edge versus sticking with freehand), and I decided to stay with freehand. If you decide to go guided I won't try to talk you out of it. Just sayin, for me, it's so much simpler to just get some freehand stones, a really simple setup, focus on your sharpening skills, and spend your effort getting better. You can see progress and positive improvement in days, it doesn't take that long and the folks in the forum here will answer questions. Get a set of cheapo kitchen knives and a cheap folder or 3 off of big river, get a 1 or 2-stone combo with 2 to 4 grits ranging anywhere from 150 to 1000, and get started. It won't cost much for basic stones, even diamonds, and your skills are more important than the stones, for typical sharpening needs. You can get really good sharpening results with a single 2-sided stone for less then $40. I have a thread about a cheap 2-grit diamond stone for $32 that got good results, and others swear by the inexpensive 2-grit Norton oil stones like the Crystolon and the India. If you want to go simpler still and are just doing smaller knives like folders or moderate-sized fixed blades, get the 6" Arctic Fox field stone from Baryonyx, has 2 grits 240 and 400, you can literally do everything you need to do for most common knife sharpening needs with those 2 grits.

Get started with one of these simple low-cost setups, spend 100% of your focus on practicing and improving your technique, and get regular feedback from folks here in the forum. As you get better and reach a point where the STONES are holding you back from better results, you'll be ready to upgrade to fancier stones. :-) That's my 0.02, but good luck whatever you decide on.
 
Mo2 said:
More add-ons including a clamp system
Click to expand...
Apparently the v7 hapstone does not have the rotating clamp. And as mentioned above it's not currently out at the moment. V6 is tho.
 
THIS! Thank you for the great post! Its the learning curve and dedication to practicing that turns me away the most. Holding the knife at a constant angle and being diligent with my devotion.

For right now I think a system is the way to go for me, and look at honing my hand skills at a later date.

Im down to Shapton Glass stones and im trying to get feedback if the Hapstone system is worth the extra $100 over the EP system.....
 
My guess is that after reading and reading books and posts and blogs and YouTube and BF... a system also teaches you, anyone you choose, even a homemade system. I learned about how precious is keep the same angle. I’m learning listen the stone working on the edge...
Some systems almost all available let’s you see the bevel while scrubbing the stone on it.
I had chance to work on Apex clone and Hapstone. I suggest you look for somebody that have one or other or both and give a try.
 
BostonBull said:
Is the Hapstone that much better than the edge pro?
Click to expand...
I'm biased, but here are facts. Hapstone: 1) More precision due to technical solutions and used materials 2) Stable on any surface 3) Can use ANY stones 4) Heavy duty - no plastic 5) More angles 6) More easy to use due to magnet
 
I went ahead and ordered the Hapstone V7 with Silica Carbide stones.

Which Shapton stone should I buy as a high grit polish/finish stone to compliment this?
 
The full-sized GlassStone 8K. JIS standards for bonded abrasives stop at 8K.
 
Congratulations. My guess you did a excellent choice. I don’t know if you need shapton right now. Maybe just the sic stone. They also sell Venev Diamond stone bonded. I have excelent results just with sic and diamond stones for now. Isn’t the stone that make the job happen, is you. Of course, with time you’ll fell the need for new materials, but to start I think sic and diamond is enough.
You may need just a strop compound.
 
BostonBull said:
I went ahead and ordered the Hapstone V7 with Silica Carbide stones.

Which Shapton stone should I buy as a high grit polish/finish stone to compliment this?
Click to expand...

Congrats on your purchase, would like to get some feedback from you and your opinion as I have interested in this set up too.
 
Should have it middle to end of next week. I have a chipped chefs knife I plan on getting back in shape with the v7
 
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