Reasons not to buy Edge Pro?

C

coffeecup

Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
329
OK, here's the deal. I want to be able to hone several similar blades (sodbusters, for the most part) to the same angle to compare edge-holding of different manufacturer's steels. It looks like an Edge Pro should give me the consistency and selection of angles I'm seeking. Am I overlooking anything? Are there other options I should be considering?

(Yeah, I know--get a rock--but I'm just not certain I can accurately sharpen multiple blades and have them consistent within about 1 degree of included angle.)

Thanks,
Jim
 
I had an edgepro and, at the risk of getting flamed, I'd say for consistency (and ease of use) get a Wicked Edge. I am much happier and getting much better results with less work. For me there was too much room for error- having to rotate/move the blade to accommodate different parts of the edge, bevels (as on a saber grind) making it hard to keep a stable angle, and even if you do all that right, you get to deal with the stones being different thicknesses and having to redo the angle for each grit. I know thousands of people swear by their EdgePros, just wasn't the one for me. YMMV
 
coffeecup said:
OK, here's the deal. I want to be able to hone several similar blades (sodbusters, for the most part) to the same angle to compare edge-holding of different manufacturer's steels. It looks like an Edge Pro should give me the consistency and selection of angles I'm seeking. Am I overlooking anything? Are there other options I should be considering?

(Yeah, I know--get a rock--but I'm just not certain I can accurately sharpen multiple blades and have them consistent within about 1 degree of included angle.)
Thanks,
Jim
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Just curious but, why would you need to have such exacting angles on your knives?
 
RevDevil said:
Just curious but, why would you need to have such exacting angles on your knives?
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coffeecup said:
OK, here's the deal. I want to be able to hone several similar blades (sodbusters, for the most part) to the same angle to compare edge-holding of different manufacturer's steels. It looks like an Edge Pro should give me the consistency and selection of angles I'm seeking. Am I overlooking anything? Are there other options I should be considering?

(Yeah, I know--get a rock--but I'm just not certain I can accurately sharpen multiple blades and have them consistent within about 1 degree of included angle.)

Thanks,
Jim
Click to expand...
Sounds like someone inspired by Ankerson.

I would think that the Wicked Edge would provide better consistency(because it clamps the blade rather than having the blade rest on the table, which can be complicated on FFG, high hollow grind, convex, and high flat ground blades) as well as less maintenance without having to flatten the stones. The downside is that you'll pay a considerably higher price as opposed to the Edge Pro Apex with everything. Though if you get the full sized Edge Pro system, you might as well go for the Wicked Edge instead.
 
Thanks guys.

As Noctis3880 pointed out, the need for consistency/accuracy/repeatability is solely to enable comparisons. I'd ruled out the Wicked Edge for a number of reasons, primarily the angles (it looks like 30 degrees is the lowest included angle you can set to) and lack of availability. On the Edge Pro it looks like you set the angle with the fixture and move the blade position; I suspect this will let me get better knife-to-knife consistency.

For day to day use I don't really know or care what the exact edge angle is on my pocketknife. Edges, really, since these days I'm carrying a stockman with 3 different grinds.

I had to go look at what Ankerson had to say (I'm terrible with names). Definitely not inspired by him, but possibly coming from a related starting point. Back in the late '80s I spent a lot of hours road-tripping and discussing "sharpness" with a couple of knifemakers. We basically outlined the experiment back then, but I never went further with it.
 
The edge pro repeats perfectly if one records the distance from the sliding knife rest edge to the end of the table. Make a record. Also record the exact setting of the arm elevation. Then as long as the hone thickness is all the same, then you should be able to match the angle perfectly.
 
One of the forum members contacted me and offered me a great deal on a slightly used Edge Pro, so I should have one to play with late next week or early the following week. Thanks for the thoughts guys (and all the past threads that helped me narrow down the selection and understand what I'm looking at). I really appreciate it!
Jim
 
Captain Ron said:
The Edge Pro is greatly over rated:) Never did like mine:grumpy:
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It's not over rated at all. It does exactly what it is advertised to do. Now, whether or not someone can be patient to overcome the learning curve is a whole other matter entirely. I mauled my first knife, good thing it was a cheap kitchen knife.
 
If you decide to get the Edge Pro, you will not be disappointed if you give it a chance. It has a learning curve like any other sharpening system. It took me alot longer to get to where I could get a decent edge everytime with a SharpMaker than it did the Edge Pro. I did a para2 the first time I ever used the EP and promptly cut myself several times:) Also, there are alot of great guys here that will be happy to help you with any questions. Ben Dale promptly answer emails and will help you figure out what to do when you just can't figure out what you are doing wrong.
 
Tell me of another knife sharpening system that after you sharpen your knife you have to use a ceramic rod to get it sharp. Or one scratches your knife while using it. I'VE had one of the first ones that were made was bought in 1991 or 92 I know a lot about the Edge Pro and the edges it makes. Some do not like the truth. For the time and money they are better ways of getting a sharp knife.:p
 
MVF said:
I had an edgepro and, at the risk of getting flamed, I'd say for consistency (and ease of use) get a Wicked Edge.
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I don't know about the edge Pro. But I do know that the angles on the Wicked Edge vary from knife to knife on the same setting, depending on how broad the blade is.

I do edge testing.
I settled on using a Sharpmaker because it was the only system that I KNEW would provide the same angle on every blade.

Be advised that with the Sharpmaker it is time consuming to change edge angles with just the Spyderco rods. For that I use DMT stones braced against the Sharpmaker rods.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...tainless-alloys-using-a-visual-inspection-tec

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-S30V-vs.-VG10-vs.-Buck-S30V-vs.-Benchmade-D2

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...PM-M4-HC-ZDP-189-M390-and-S30V-edge-retention
 
Captain Ron said:
For the time and money they are better ways of getting a sharp knife.:p
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And what are they? Seriously. I'm going to be spending a lot of time sharpening while playing with this project, I've still got some funds in the budget for sharpening materials; I'm willing to take the time to learn new systems of sharpening, and after almost 40 years of working with a knife and sharpening, I'm pretty sure I can recognize a sharp edge.

I need to be able to consistently sharpen several different knives to included angles of 20/25/30 degrees. If it won't accomplish this task it won't work for me. So what are these better ways?
 
Captain Ron said:
Tell me of another knife sharpening system that after you sharpen your knife you have to use a ceramic rod to get it sharp. Or one scratches your knife while using it. I'VE had one of the first ones that were made was bought in 1991 or 92 I know a lot about the Edge Pro and the edges it makes. Some do not like the truth. For the time and money they are better ways of getting a sharp knife.:p
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The ceramic rod is for touching up. Mine come off the edge pro hair whittling sharp. I do agree there are other ways but "better" is debatable and will come down to personal preferrence. Just because you didn't make the cut in the learning curve, is no reason to knock the system. The truth is that there are systems that are not for all people. This one just happens to please the majority of it's users.
 
The ceramic rod is for touching up. Mine come off the edge pro hair whittling sharp. I do agree there are other ways but "better" is debatable and will come down to personal preferrence. Just because you didn't make the cut in the learning curve, is no reason to knock the system. The truth is that there are systems that are not for all people. This one just happens to please the majority of it's users.
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Watch the Video Ben takes the knife from the edge pro and then to the Rod.Pay your money take your chances:rolleyes:
The edge Pro has a lot of down sides to it yes some people love it but not all of all of us that have used it have tingling feeling when using it.
 
I can't talk about the WE, but I've always loved my EP. I guess it's suited to my temperament or style, I got fantastic edges with my very first try. It can and will scratch your blade, but are steps that you can take to mitigate that, but I simply don't care, so I don't bother with it.

The edges that I can get with my EP are absolutely unreal and easily repeatable, and I'm sure that any other EP owner can make the same claim. I am extremely satisfied with it.
 
Captain Ron said:
Tell me of another knife sharpening system that after you sharpen your knife you have to use a ceramic rod to get it sharp. Or one scratches your knife while using it. I'VE had one of the first ones that were made was bought in 1991 or 92 I know a lot about the Edge Pro and the edges it makes. Some do not like the truth. For the time and money they are better ways of getting a sharp knife.:p
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Sorry to hear that it never worked out for you. I've never used the ceramic rod that came with my EP. I get my knives plenty sharp, each and every time. Sharpen one side, get a burr, flip it over do the same thing to the other side, change stones, create a burr, flip it, repeat. Scratches to the knife can be pervented, use less water and/or tape the blade. I've found that with more and more practice the liklihood of scratching the blade is reduced. You are right, some people do not like the truth. But what works for one might not work for all, good thing we have lots of options. ;)
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In one video he took it to the edge pro a bit to dull itto demonstrate a steak knife.

In another video he did it just to demo the ceramic.

Mine come off hair popping sharp. Carrying am ummie that was sharpened at 320 grit and it cuts like a laser. I've never scratched one I taped up.
 
Captain Ron said:
Watch the Video Ben takes the knife from the edge pro and then to the Rod.Pay your money take your chances:rolleyes:
The edge Pro has a lot of down sides to it yes some people love it but not all of all of us that have used it have tingling feeling when using it.
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As has been mentioned, Ben used the rod as a demo. I have never needed the rod after a complete processing. I have used it to touch up my kitchen knives. It's not the system's deficiency, it's yours.

My latest project. Hair whittling after the 3k tapes. So the EP does work.

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