New Edge Pro to be delivered today!!!

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Jul 28, 2016
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Had the KME rig and it did a good job sharpening knifes but I wasn't crazy about the clamping system.
I sent it back and am going with the APEX system, watched lots of video's on it and am just ready to put it into action.
I hope it meets my expectations.

Any tips and tricks you would care to share would be appreciated.
 
First is use some cheapies to get the feel of it.
 
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Take the time to watch Ben's videos (Edge Pro Inventor), if you haven't already. They're full of hints and tips... easily the best out there.

Pay particular attention to how lightly he holds both the knife being sharpened and the handle of the stone arm. A light touch in both areas leads to much better results. (I think one of the biggest mistakes made is putting a strong grip on the knife... which actually makes it harder to control).
 
If the knife doesn't want to lay flat, experiment with finding a position that will- don't worry about the angle. Then use the sharpie trick to find the angle. I see people complain about that, but most (if not all) knives can be made to hold steady.

I usually start with a coarser stone than I probably need, but it gets the job done quickly.

Watch Ben's videos (as cbwx34 just said).
 
Had some good results so far not shaving arm hair quite yet but getting some good edges.
Just need more practice and to refine my technique.
 
Good tip to start with cheaper knives. The EP is good even better with Shapton stones. Here's few done on the EP.


 
If your doing BM grips removing the thumb studs helps a lot. I also tape the very end of the scales.
 
I usually start with a coarser stone than I probably need, but it gets the job done quickly.

I will second that.

I would add : get the stop collar if your set does not come with it. Then you only have to do the sharpy once maybe twice for one knife sharpening. If you don't use the stop collar then one has to use the sharpy on every stone change.

Proabably worth biting the bullet and getting the small knife adapter. I keep telling my self that is exactly the sort of thing I can make and so should just make one but I never take the time to make one. Not enough time off these days to do all the things I used to enjoy in my work shop.

Flatten the stones on a diamond plate / forget the glass plate that's BS.
If you sharpen the super hard steels go for Shapton stones for the Edge Pro; that is what I ordered with mine from the git go. Diamond for reprofiling; I still need to get those.

Keep the stones well rinsed; I take them to the sink under the faucet (I have never used the squirt bottle in the kit). When reprofiling on a wide(ish) bevel I will rinse after doing just one side or even DURING one side. When ever the stone gets pretty blacked up.

For the fine stone, around 4000 and finer, I recommend getting and using a Nagura stone to clean the surface of the Edge Pro stones. Use it like an eraser to get the black off the stone but use it wet. Not all Naguras are created equal; I suggest tracking down a "natural" one rather than man made. Getting rare and are twice the price I paid for mine a decade ago but they last and WORK WELL ! Forget making "slurry" with the Nagura just use it to clean the fine stones then wash off all the muck rubbing with your fingers to help clean it all off.

Here is mine; I have others but this is the real deal. Yes you can use cleanser but then you have to rub it in with something and that something is going to get in the pores of the stone. Nah I prefer the Nagura.

 
my tips.

1. find somewhere you won't be disturbed and make sure the edge pro is stuck down firmly, and well lit.

2. make sure you are hitting the edge properly

3. be gentle


watch Ben's videos, and grab a few cheap good blades to practice on to start with - Victorinox does a nice paring knife that can be picked up for a few bucks (they are $12-15ish here in Oz)
basically you want something you aren't worried about messing up, but is a decent steel that will actually take an edge
 
Comet works well to get the slurry stuff off.

Do you just rub it on with your thumb or use a brush or rag ?
I find too much thumb rubbing and I start to loose too much skin off my finger(s).
 
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