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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
The finest sharpener bar NONE!
- Thread starter Dave Ray
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2000
- Messages
- 698
A Norton fine stone for reprofiling an edge??? It must take you a Loooong time to do that.....
wolfmann601
Gone, but not forgotton. RIP Ira.
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2001
- Messages
- 7,385
I sharpened a benchmade down until it had a toothpick for a blade. I am a knife sharpening HORROR. I could not sharpen a knife even if it was already sharp. Then I bought an Edgepro.
Now I am so damn good [How damn good are you?] that I sharpen my lawnmower blades and the grass panics and just shrinks. I bet I could mow a ford pick-up truck and then cut the big pieces with my folder.
Tried the 204 and just could not get the hang of it, but the Edgepro has been the answer for me!!!!
Surgery anyone
Now I am so damn good [How damn good are you?] that I sharpen my lawnmower blades and the grass panics and just shrinks. I bet I could mow a ford pick-up truck and then cut the big pieces with my folder.
Tried the 204 and just could not get the hang of it, but the Edgepro has been the answer for me!!!!
Surgery anyone
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2001
- Messages
- 32,359
With all the sharpening systems out there I still prefer to do my own blades free hand on benchstones.
Not that I'm putting down any system,(I'm waiting for an EdgePro myself)I just seem to gain an awful lot of free mental therapy when I do it by hand.
And by the way my tractor mower deck blades are so dull, how dull are they? I don't cut my grass, I beat it into submission.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2001
- Messages
- 887
For those that have the EdgePro which model do you have the Pro or the Apex?
I looking to get one and am wondering if I should get one or the other. It seems that buying the Apex you need to buy the upgrades as well.
What do you guys think?
S.
I looking to get one and am wondering if I should get one or the other. It seems that buying the Apex you need to buy the upgrades as well.
What do you guys think?
S.
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
The main advantage of the Pro is the scissor attachment I believe. Even with the extra stones the Apex is still cheaper.
Regarding the cutting speed of a fine india hone, it is many to one times slower than a waterstone of the same level of finish. As well, if you are changing the angle, there is no reason not to go as coarse as you can, and thus you can get multiple times faster still. Ref :
http://www.ameritech.net/users/knives/norton.htm
As for smooth steels, yes they will make a huge difference on lightly worn edges. However they just move the steel around and not only will it relax on its own if not even used, the blade will go blunter much faster then when it was freshly honed.
There is a really strong argument for using a ceramic or diamond rod of the matching grit to restore the edge instead of a smooth steel as you don't lose edge retention and obtain the same level of sharpness as a freshly honed edge.
-Cliff
Regarding the cutting speed of a fine india hone, it is many to one times slower than a waterstone of the same level of finish. As well, if you are changing the angle, there is no reason not to go as coarse as you can, and thus you can get multiple times faster still. Ref :
http://www.ameritech.net/users/knives/norton.htm
As for smooth steels, yes they will make a huge difference on lightly worn edges. However they just move the steel around and not only will it relax on its own if not even used, the blade will go blunter much faster then when it was freshly honed.
There is a really strong argument for using a ceramic or diamond rod of the matching grit to restore the edge instead of a smooth steel as you don't lose edge retention and obtain the same level of sharpness as a freshly honed edge.
-Cliff
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2000
- Messages
- 6,104
Regarding the Edgepro vs. Sharpmaker. I think they both have their advantages, and rather than one replacing the other, that they work well together. The EdgePro is messy. Changing out the stones, scrubbing them, keeping them wet, taping your blade so it doesn't get scratched, having to clean up the area after using it makes it a pain in the rear. I use it for reprofiling, regrinding tips, stuff like that, where the speed and ease of grinding far outweighs the mess and hassle. Most touchups I do on a Sharpmaker, because it's faster, simpler, and cleaner.
I've used the EdgePro (mine is the Apex) to rebevel knives ranging in size from a Victorinox SAK to a BK&T Patrol Machete. It can't do a pure convex edge on its own, but you can grind the edge at the desired final angle, then lower the angle progressively without taking the new bevel all the way to the edge (for instance 20 per side for the final edge, then 15, and 10 [estimating here, I just eyeball it, and make a few smaller adjustments with just a pass or two with the medium stone] to break the shoulders, and for a back bevel), and use a loaded strop to smooth it out. The fact that you can fix the angle makes this very easy, and also lets you use different grits on the same edge. You can have a coarser final edge for better slicing, and mirror polish the back bevels for less resistance.
I guess you could do the same thing with a Sharpmaker or any stone, but it would take alot more time, and a much better eye, and steadier hand than mine to keep those bevels consistent.
I would like to try a belt grinder, and may buy one this summer. I have no doubt it will reprofile faster than an EdgePro, and probably give me just as good an edge after some practice.
I have to think that the EdgePro is easier to use, and just as the Edgepro is a pain to mess with compared to a Sharpmaker, the belt grinder is probably the same in relation to the EdgePro. Have to buy belts of various grits, change out belts for different grits, it'll take up more space, and leave a mess to be cleaned up, too. See, I've almost talked myself out of it already
I've used the EdgePro (mine is the Apex) to rebevel knives ranging in size from a Victorinox SAK to a BK&T Patrol Machete. It can't do a pure convex edge on its own, but you can grind the edge at the desired final angle, then lower the angle progressively without taking the new bevel all the way to the edge (for instance 20 per side for the final edge, then 15, and 10 [estimating here, I just eyeball it, and make a few smaller adjustments with just a pass or two with the medium stone] to break the shoulders, and for a back bevel), and use a loaded strop to smooth it out. The fact that you can fix the angle makes this very easy, and also lets you use different grits on the same edge. You can have a coarser final edge for better slicing, and mirror polish the back bevels for less resistance.
I guess you could do the same thing with a Sharpmaker or any stone, but it would take alot more time, and a much better eye, and steadier hand than mine to keep those bevels consistent.
I would like to try a belt grinder, and may buy one this summer. I have no doubt it will reprofile faster than an EdgePro, and probably give me just as good an edge after some practice.
I have to think that the EdgePro is easier to use, and just as the Edgepro is a pain to mess with compared to a Sharpmaker, the belt grinder is probably the same in relation to the EdgePro. Have to buy belts of various grits, change out belts for different grits, it'll take up more space, and leave a mess to be cleaned up, too. See, I've almost talked myself out of it already