Problem with EdgePro Clone and Japanese Woodworking Knife

F

FrankP999

Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
9
I have a new Edge Pro clone and cannot get it adjusted for a single bevel Japanese woodworking knife. The knife looks like this:http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product/156626/38-Left-Handed-Blue-Steel-Woodworking-Knife-Kogatana.aspx

The stone is hitting way up on the tool, midway approximately. I have the edgepro clone set for 15 degrees. I have to tilt the blade on the table up at a 30 degree angle to get the stone to hit the bevel of the blade at a 15-20 degree angle.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks
 
Thanks guys. I was hoping for more positive suggestions. By the way, it works fine on kitchen knives, folders, my one Kershaw, and a large kitchen cleaver.

I appreciate your time,


Frank
 
Hey Frank, welcome to Bladeforums. We generally have a helpful bunch of guys here, but most posters here (can't speak for lurkers) are not big fans of ripoff/clone products (hard to blame them really... most members here put a lot of stock in integrity), which makes it hard to get help about said products.

That being said, compare your edge-faux (couldn't help myself) to the real deal. Maybe it's missing a feature. Regardless, you could probably use layers of tape or something similar to shim the knife to reduce the angle of the chisel grind. Good luck and keep asking questions!
 
FrankP999 said:
I have a new Edge Pro clone and cannot get it adjusted for a single bevel Japanese woodworking knife. The knife looks like this:http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product/156626/38-Left-Handed-Blue-Steel-Woodworking-Knife-Kogatana.aspx

The stone is hitting way up on the tool, midway approximately. I have the edgepro clone set for 15 degrees. I have to tilt the blade on the table up at a 30 degree angle to get the stone to hit the bevel of the blade at a 15-20 degree angle.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Single bevel knives have all their angle on one side.... for example a double bevel sharpened at 15 ° per side = 30 °, with a single bevel the 30 ° is on one side. So you need to set the angle higher.

Clone has nothing to do with it (although the angle markings on the clone I tried were way off), where you really lose is the low quality construction, and the crappy stones you get.
 
Contact the manufacturer. If it really is a good clone, they will have excellent customer support (just like the original). ;)
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I am aware of that it is a faux Edge Pro. I wanted to try this type of guided sharpening on my single bevel bonsai knives before I spent $200. Sorry if I offended anyone.

The faux unit is pretty solid with a vertical support rod at the rear to hold the table solidly still. It has a suction cup mount to hold it on my kitchen countertop quite rigidly.
 
Just having some fun;)

I'd guess you are not using the right angle for the blade you are addressing.

Unfortunately, I can only suggest 2 possibilities:

1. User error (you are using the wrong angle and not properly understanding the geometry of the knife) or;
2. The item is adjusting itself to the wrong angle as you use it indicating it's inferiority (and it is therefore hopeless/worthless).

Honestly, none of us can tell for sure as we would only have experience with the genuine article, and obviously we know nothing about your abilities. (I mean no offense).

Unfortunately, unless I can sit down with you and assess the situation first hand, I cannot help (and unless someone somehow knows exactly what clone/source you have, AND is familiar with potential problems with it, they cannot help you much either, probably).
 
Guided systems do not like single bevel knives. Frequently a single bevel knife will sharpen weird because of the steep angle. I would suggest freehand if you can manage it, unless the bevels are set well on your knife as it is.
 
cbwx34 said:
Single bevel knives have all their angle on one side.... for example a double bevel sharpened at 15 ° per side = 30 °, with a single bevel the 30 ° is on one side. So you need to set the angle higher.

Clone has nothing to do with it (although the angle markings on the clone I tried were way off), where you really lose is the low quality construction, and the crappy stones you get.
Click to expand...

+1

Not knowing how to sharpen the cutlery in hand is a bigger problem than imitation tools.

Your dealing with a laminated single bevel blade, it should be sharpened by hand!

FYI, you probably ruined the shinogi line by grinding too high on the blade.
 
Freehand sharpening is easy with chisel blades; just lay it flat, then strop the other side when you have a burr.
 
Being tradition Japanese construction this blade likely has a Ura, which is a hollow grind on the backside. If you sharpen these like chisels then you will ruin them.
 
unit said:
Contact the manufacturer. If it really is a good clone, they will have excellent customer support (just like the original). ;)
Click to expand...

My friend bight one of these and lost a few screws. He contacted them and they sent a whole new unit with stones. I'm not supporting them but I don't think the original would do that.
 
FrankP999 said:
Thanks. What is the proper way besides "by hand"?

Frank
Click to expand...

By hand is the proper way. The sharpening is called kataba and should be done by someone with experience sharpening Japanese blades. This is not something you can sharpen with a jig.
 
Are you using a Sharpie marker to see where you are actually sharpening ?

DC
 
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