KME sharpener vs the Edge Pro Apex (help me choose)

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drnoob

Joined
Aug 1, 2013
Messages
48
Hello all,
This is my first topic here! I plan on buying a knife sharpener soon but I'm torn between the KME or the Edge Pro Apex? I want to be able to get a mirror finish or close to mirror finish. Most my knives are s30v steel. I noticed that if I want to achieve the mirror finish, I have to buy extra stones and strops, since neither comes with all the stones needed.I'm looking for your ideas! Please help this noob (me) out on what other items I need to purchase on to of the kit that will allow me to get that mirror edge!
Thanks! P.s. I don't own anything that pertains to sharpening (starting from scratch)
 
Get the Edge Pro. And get a couple of glass blanks and lots of polishing tapes. You will destroy at least a dozen tapes larning how to use them. but they're inexpensive, so it's not significant. Be sure to include the F and SF diamond plates in the kit.

Later on, after you've become experienced with machine, you can add extras like Shapton, Naniwa, and Atoma (diamond) stones.

An angle cube is an ideal extra for precision setting of the table when changing stones.

Strops are nice, and you will eventually get them, but in the beginning, you can get excellent polishing with the EP tapes.:thumbup:

www.chefknivestogo.com

www.sharpeningsupplies.com

www.rockler.com

www.jendeindustries.com

There are many other suppliers out there, but these are businesses that I have patronized and come to trust.:)

And if you have any problems with the machine, or how to use any of the accessories, call Edge-Pro direct and ask for Ben Dale. (The CEO) He's always happy to help out.
 
drnoob said:
Should I get those stones or just the edge pro stones?
Click to expand...

Hmmm if I had to do it again, I'd get the choseras first. I would still get a set of stock EP stones to compare them with. The stock EP stones are also not nearly as pricey as the choseras.

I also wouldn't practice with the choseras. I'd save them for when I was a bit proficient.

Does that make sense? :D
 
One more thing, don't let oil get onto your stock EP or Chosera stones. Wash your knife with dish detergent before putting it on the EP. Oil will ruin the stones and even a little bit at a time will accumulate in the stones.
 
Flatten the stones too, it's easy, takes little time and makes little mess for superior results.

I've noticed that some of the stones won't cut well until I 'break the surface' of the stone, don't know why, but the 400 seems to be the worst, so I flatten it till the factory cut lines are gone and then the stone starts cutting like a dream.
 
Should I flatten all the new ep stones b4 I use them? And flatten after each knife or? And how do you guys flatten your stones?
 
I would use the stock EP stones and tapes until you get very proficient with the machine. You really can get a mirror polish, hair splitting edge on high tech steels with the stock stones (and yes, flatten them)

To start out, a 10X12 piece of 3/8 inch float glass and a pack of 3M 120 or 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper works quite well. If you wet the paper thoroughly, stickion will hold it solidly on the glass.

Later on, get Shaptoin glass or PRO stones. (Or Naniwa if you prefer them) I prefer Shapton Glass Stones, myself. Add Atoma diamond stones somewhere down the line.

and 4 or 5 yeqrs down the line, you will decide, as I did, :D that your son or SIL, really needs an EP badly. :rolleyes: Then, as I did, you give him your APEX and get yourself a PRO!:D:thumbup::D

BTW, the diamond F and SF fine stones that EP sells aren't bad at all. They're certainly not in the same class with Atoma, but they work well and they're relatively inexpensive.
 
Thanks for all the advise!
Would you guys recommend me to level the new stones b4 I use them?
 
Wicked edge Pro Pack 1 $390
http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/WE100PR1/wicked-edge-precision-sharpener-pro-pack-I-base-included

Wicked edge basic pack $275
http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/WE100/wicked-edge-precision-sharpener-no-base

The basic is perfectly capable of putting a crazy sharp edge on a knife but won't polish it to the mirror edge that i get from my pro pack 1

I got lucky in that when i got mine it was a special that came with 2 sets of ceramic stones and a set of leather strops, so i can get my knives to hair splitting sharpness with a mirror polished edge
 
But all of the accessories that you WILL add down the line are twice as expensive. The WE works quite well, and I really liked the one I had, but the Edge-Pro was so much more precise, and the aftermarket accessories are half the price.

In the final analysis, it would be impossible to go wrong with either.
 
I went with the apex and I've got about 30 knives under my belt now! I never knew a knife could get this sharp!
 
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