Is the Edge Pro Apex really worth the Money?

S

soapboxpreacher

Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Messages
955
I'm sure this question has come up quite often but when you compare the cost of other sharpening system is this thing really the pinnacle of all sharpeners and more so the only one you will ever need? I do see some limitations with it, and which any guide system,It is limited for it can only do controlled angles so obviously it is worthless for Convex grind blade. And IMHO if all you are doing is kitchen knives I believe the Sharpmaker is more than adequate and a hell of a lot cheaper for results that arent as critical.

I currently have a Sharpmaker and a DMT Dynaguide Diafold (had a WorkSharp, didnt like it the more I used it). What I have found is the Sharpmaker does a great job on all my kitchen knives. And just an ok job on folders and outdoor blades. It seems to struggle with steels such as S30V and M390. But I am more than pleased with it for this task of kitchen knives. It handles short kitchen knives and long ones pretty well. I use my DMT for folders and smaller fixed blade knives that have set edge angles. But neither system can be used on any of my Fallknivens or my Bark Rivers. You would ruin the convex edges that make these knives perform so well. The DMT is far too small for my ESEE Junglas (which I am planning to trade, for it rarely gets used and isn't practical to carry during a hiking trip) or my Kabar Heavy Bowie. Obviously the Edge Pro Apex could easily replace both my DMT and the Sharpmaker with better result on somr knives namely my larger fixed blades for it is bigger and better suited for them.

I currently have around 120 bucks invested in these 2 sharpening system I could get into an Edge Pro Apex for 155 but I really need to bump up to the 199 version to really do it right. Is nearly double the cost worth it? Will I have edges like never before something I cant achieve with my DMT. I know I would be able to handle those large knives better but is this also easier. Furthermore, will I look no further? But also am I missing a system that might do nearly the same as the edge pro apex but at a better price..which is why I bought a sharpmaker...but then got a DMT...I am a little lost.
 
I am one of the few people on planet earth who could not get a sharp edge on a Sharpmaker. User error, no doubt. With the Edge Pro, I can slap a killer edge on a knife and look like a genius. So for me, it was definitely worth the cost of admission.

If one is simply looking for a workable sharp edge, a piece of sandpaper or inexpensive stone will do the trick. My dad somehow made it through life just fine on the farm, later as an Army motor pool mechanic in Alaska, and then as a tool and die maker without any sharpening "system". So its all what one is after, I guess. I'll take a mirror edge, thank you, because knives are one of my few indulgences.

:thumbup:
 
For me, it wasn't. I much prefer the versatility of the belt sander and favor convex edges. It's quite a bit faster, but there's a much larger room for error. I honestly hated my edge pro. I think I get good results with my kalamazoo 1x42 in about 1/5th the time it takes on an EP, if I want, I can hand strop after for a much more mirror edge.

satinbasic.jpg


edge1.jpg


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All from a kalamazoo 1x42 belt sander

In the end, if you find you really want a mirror edge/even edge and can't get it freehand, this is the system for you. For me, although it can give great results, I sold mine rather quickly.
 
wow 230...that is an unbelievable edge! I am very impressed! I had the WorkSharp and attempted a convex on it but with marginal results. I tried it on my Kabar heavy bowie. I dont think I would want to convex my kitchen knives but folders perhaps if they are thick enough, many of them I would not. Most of my knives that are of a fixed bevel they will more or less stay that way. As for my convex ones it would be more about maintaining them then anything else.
 
soapboxpreacher said:
is this thing really the pinnacle of all sharpeners
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Yes

and more so the only one you will ever need?
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No

It is limited for it can only do controlled angles so obviously it is worthless for Convex grind blade.
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Yes

And IMHO if all you are doing is kitchen knives I believe the Sharpmaker is more than adequate and a hell of a lot cheaper for results that arent as critical.
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True

I currently have a Sharpmaker and a DMT Dynaguide Diafold
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With the Sharpmaker, DMT, and EdgePro, along with some sandpaper and a mouse pad for your convex blades, you may never buy another sharpening system again unless you feel like experimenting. Between those three systems, you can put a great edge on just about anything, anywhere, and in quick time.


Stitchawl
 
I kinda think the Apex Edge Pro makes the Sharpmaker and the DMT unnecessary. Almost a graduation sharpener or if I was smart I would have just sprung for it to begin with. DMT is a small guided system so is the Edge Pro only it can do much larger blades. The Sharpmaker a fixed angle systems as well with less precision...once again good for Kitchen Knives something the Edge Pro can do better as well. Stitch I think many of us could skip the DMT and the Sharpmaker and be just fine with the Edge Pro...it really only lacks Convex which a mouse pad and some sandpaper can handle that.
 
soapboxpreacher said:
I kinda think the Apex Edge Pro makes the Sharpmaker and the DMT unnecessary.
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Well, there is no doubt that the EdgePro can sharpen with far greater flexibility than either the Sharpmaker or the DMT, and do a much more accurate job. But I wouldn't go so far as to say that it makes them 'unnecessary.' They each can serve in different ways that the EdgePro can't.

The Sharpmaker a fixed angle systems as well with less precision...once again good for Kitchen Knives something the Edge Pro can do better as well.
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Indeed, better, but not as conveniently. While I do sharpen my kitchen knives on my EdgePro, I only do it 2-3 times a year to re-set the edge. The rest of the year I use the Sharpmaker, taking 30 seconds every week to touch up the edges. The Sharpmaker sits on a kitchen shelf set up and ready for that 30 second tune-up. If I were to want to use the EdgePro I'd have to take it out of the cabinet, set it up, put the stones in water to soak for a few minutes, do the sharpening, quickly enough, but then clean the stones, clean and dry the platform, dry the stones, put everything back into the storage case, etc., etc., etc. No question that the edge would be tuned up, but certainly taking a lot longer than the 30 seconds on the Sharpmaker.

Stitch I think many of us could skip the DMT and the Sharpmaker and be just fine with the Edge Pro...
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Of course you could. But then, you wouldn't have a portable pocket sized light weight sharpener that you could stuff into the corner of a backpack that could use with sandpaper instead of stones, and you wouldn't have a 'quick and easy' sharpener for those times when a 'perfect edge' isn't so important.

If I were only to have one sharpener and wanted absolute perfection in my edges, my choice would be EdgePro. No question about it. Fortunately, nothing limits us to having only one. :)

Stitchawl
 
Great points stitchawl. Can the Edge Pro sharpen a Mora 2000 or 2010? The DMT Magna-Guide doesnt have the proper angle...it cant go that low. I sliced open my finger freehanding it...it was a good cut too! I guess I got it sharp!
 
soapboxpreacher said:
Great points stitchawl. Can the Edge Pro sharpen a Mora 2000 or 2010? The DMT Magna-Guide doesnt have the proper angle...it cant go that low. I sliced open my finger freehanding it...it was a good cut too! I guess I got it sharp!
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I've used my EdgePro Apex to sharpen every knife and every edge I have, and that certainly includes several different Moras, plenty of recurves of differing angles (including a couple of Kris that look more like snakes than knives) large and small kitchen knives, folders, machetes, sickles, kama, etc., even serrated blades. The only edges I don't use it for are convexed.

As for using the DMT for lower angles, just make an extension for the clamp. Two pieces of brass about 3" long, one end held in the clamp and the other holding the blade will do it. Drill a hole in the middle of the extension for a wing nut to tighten on the blade. :thumbup:

Remember, it's not 'what things will do,' it's 'what we can make them do!'

Stitchawl
 
I got the edge pro about two months back and love it. But I must say that I am an absolute noob when it comes to sharpen knifes. Could never get a real sharp edge on my kitchen knifes freehand. Maybe I am just too impatient and make lots of mistakes.
But with the edge pro I managed to have my dull kitchen knifes shaving sharp without a problem. I even managed to get a new edge on a dull Argentinean stake knife. That knife never had an edge, couldn't even cut butter.. I would say it took me about half an hour to get a perfectly new edge on it and polished it. It is shaving sharp now.
So for someone new to sharpening this is a great tool as I can see quick progress and I finally have some cutlery that actually cut something..

But as others pointed out, it is a rather large and heavy system. Surely nothing to carry along in your backpack. But as my days in the woods (or desert) are more of a one to two day thing I don't really care about field sharpening.

As I am now the proud owner of two Busse, I will have to also get some sandpaper and mousepad.. but with my use I guess I won't need that for a couple of months..
 
I have the pro.
I love it.
I also have the triangle sharp maker. never use it at all any more
Its edge pro or free hand. The comments about the convex edges are true but I LOVE the control you have with angles.
 
Mine is due here today, so here's how I rationalized it.

I ruined (well really just made a mess of) many knives' edges freehand with a stone. I just never did it enough to get well practiced.

I had a Lansky, which for the most part I liked o.k. but hated two fundamental things about it. The skinny and floppy guide rod system if reprofiling, it just wasn't solid enough. The blade clamp. The clamp works if you have a conveniently shaped and sized blade but gets quickly annoying with curved profiles or big heavy knives.

The EdgePro uses a stop and you hold the blade so you can rotate it to face 90 into the stone, perfect. The guide rods at least in video look much more substantial and should stay put when I start to fix the grind on the cheap Ontario 18" machete I have waiting to do.

The examples here of variation in finish that is relatively easily done with the EdgePro also sold me.

I just got the Apex 4, so we'll see soon how a n00b makes out with it. I'll be starting on my long neglected kitchen knives to get a feel for it.

I'll post back here actually with how it works out for me.
 
I've already sharpened four kitchen knives with it....well heh, they all needed to be taken down with 120 to have the bevel fixed on them first, so my hands are getting tired.

Takes practice like anything else, but the fourth knife already is coming along nicer than the first two junkers I did. I'm just leaving these at 600 for general kitchen duty and they are catching and slicing paper on the edge nicely at that.

I'm going to keep practicing on my junkers before moving to the nice ones, but it's already working a lot better than the Lansky ever did and certainly better than my unskilled hands on a stone.
 
I loved my Edgepro. I still have it. I now sharpen via paper wheels. The only reason I departed from the Edgepro is the amount of time it takes to get an edge I'm happy with. With the paper wheels I'm there in about 5, maybe 10 (at most) minutes. With the EP it took me about 20-30 minutes, depending upon the size of the knife. Sure, the edges I get with the paper wheels aren't perfectly symmetrical like the EP's edges, but I can get them sharp enough to whittle hair. I must be doing something right. I admit that if someone wants me to sharpen their knife I may consider the EP, depending upon a number of factors. However, for my purposes I now use paper wheels. I don't think I'd buy the EP again but it is the king of guided systems.
 
I just re-profiled the CRKT ringed razel I got yesterday. It was badly out of balance for the main bevel. Took a while with the 120 stone to get it down. Then I polished that up and put a secondary bevel edge on it. It is now indeed sharp.

Put a nice 1000 grit edge on the Benchmade 741 and ran three steps with the CRKT Crawford/Kasper and got that into shape as well.

This works very nicely. Cheap? No. Happy with it? Yup.
 
Splat said:
I loved my Edgepro. I still have it. I now sharpen via paper wheels. The only reason I departed from the Edgepro is the amount of time it takes to get an edge I'm happy with. With the paper wheels I'm there in about 5, maybe 10 (at most) minutes. With the EP it took me about 20-30 minutes, depending upon the size of the knife. Sure, the edges I get with the paper wheels aren't perfectly symmetrical like the EP's edges, but I can get them sharp enough to whittle hair. I must be doing something right. I admit that if someone wants me to sharpen their knife I may consider the EP, depending upon a number of factors. However, for my purposes I now use paper wheels. I don't think I'd buy the EP again but it is the king of guided systems.
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Can the paper wheel reprofile? Isnt it a wheel put in a grinder? More so it does a convex edge.
 
A lousy phone pic, but this looks better in person than in this image and it's only 1000 grit and my fifth or so blade I've ever done with the EdgePro. I had to totally reprofile with 120 grit to get the primary bevel even on both sides too.

It's not air bleeding sharp or a pocket mirror, but it's really freaking sharp. Takes teeny hairs off the edge of my desk and sheets of paper flee.

crkt_razel_sharp.jpg
 
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