Will a pull through sharpener be sufficient for a keen edge?

[Fred.Rowe]

It depends on the pull through sharpener you purchase. The ERU has eliminated all of the negatives of pull through "V" sharpeners. Using the degree wedges supplied in the kit to produce a "flat" edge and then removing the burr using a matching angle on the ERU sharpener. The reason other pull through's do such a poor job is, alignment of the carbide surfaces. The ERU has two matching surfaces that make up a "perfect "V" shape along with an alignment pin that allows the user to hold the blade at the proper angle while sharpening. The two matching carbides have a small gap between them that allows the swarf to eject from the apex as the knife is sharpened.
If you like sharpening on stones or diamond plates, this kit will allow you to produce the finest "flat" edges and ones that are easy to maintain with the
Edge Renewal Utility. The sharpener can be carried afield in its custom leather sheath.

Once enough of these get in the hands of knife sharpeners we will no longer have to read about the negatives inherent in pull through "V" sharpeners.

The ERU came about after I spent 6 months tearing apart every "V" sharpener I could lay my hands on. After I figured out its problems I designed one that overcame these drawbacks. After all folks, what is the shape of a "flat" knife edge? It's in the shape of a perfect "V", which is the shape of the ERU.
I believe the ERU is the most accurate portable sharpener with the broadest angle range on the market today.

Check out our website. edgeru.com

Edge produced using this system: These edges are 400 grit off a diamond plate and finished with the ERU.

 

[fvdk]

I have never used the ERU and as far as carbide sharpeners go, it is probably the best one available but according to your own description above, you would first have to produce a "flat" edge on a stone and than the ERU removes the burr.

I would argue that if you are able to produce a flat edge on a stone and raise a burr, you are already there and perfectly able to sharpen a knife without needing anything else.

I know you are very passionate about your product and I am not trying to bash it. It is just my personal opinion that just about any sharpening method, be it freehand or with some kind of guided system, it better than a carbide sharpener.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

I have never used the ERU and as far as carbide sharpeners go, it is probably the best one available but according to your own description above, you would first have to produce a "flat" edge on a stone and than the ERU removes the burr.

I would argue that if you are able to produce a flat edge on a stone and raise a burr, you are already there and perfectly able to sharpen a knife without needing anything else.

I know you are very passionate about your product and I am not trying to bash it. It is just my personal opinion that just about any sharpening method, be it freehand or with some kind of guided system, it better than a carbide sharpener.

You are correct. I include the degree wedges in the package because so many edges are not "flat" at all. In my experience the vast majority, once they have left the manufacturer and have been sharpened by someone who cannot produce a "flat" edge the issues begin. Instead of "flat" they produce a rounded, convex, or multi faceted edge; then the easiest way to accomplish this is to either use a quality guided system or use degree wedges to produce the edge on a stone or plate.
Getting to a "flat" edge with the burr attached is only part of the issue. What do you do with the burr. I know, but I've sharpened a lot of knives. For the person who has not done so, using degree wedges and then the ERU to finish is an excellent choice.
This is only part of what this tool accomplishes. After the "flat" edge is produced and the burr removed, the ERU is used to strop and refine the edge.
When I go afield I don't take my stones or diamond plates; I take the ERU. With it I can maintain this "flat" edge in the field. I can do so with all my knives no matter what the sharpening angle is. 12 dps or 20 dps, I can maintain each of these edges.

Sharpening is much like brain surgery, once you have it down, its easy. What I offer with this packag is the ability to produce "flat" edges, remove the burr correctly and then maintain that "flat" edge consistently.
I've sharpened knives since I was in the Scouts and I say with confidence this system makes it possible for the average person to sharpen all their knives to any condition and to do it consistently, every time. Not so with free hand sharpening.

fvdk,

You would have to try one of these in order to understand how well it works. There is something about having access to a perfectly aligned "V" that is accurate to within one degree and that can be set from 12 to 20 degrees per side. After all, what is the shape of a "flat" edge? It should be a perfect "V"

I thank you for recognizing my passion, Fred

 

[fvdk]

fvdk,

You would have to try one of these in order to understand how well it works. There is something about having access to a perfectly aligned "V" that is accurate to within one degree and that can be set from 12 to 20 degrees per side. After all, what is the shape of a "flat" edge? It should be a perfect "V"

I thank you for recognizing my passion, Fred

Ehh..... I think I have more than enough equipment to produce a flat edge

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Ehh..... I think I have more than enough equipment to produce a flat edge

Can I say WOW!

I can see you are not the average sharpener. It's more a life experience, which I understand and agree. It's the only way to do anything, all out.
The picture is worth 2000 words

Some thing I want to add to my previous post: Once a perfect edge is produced, which ever type it is, the goal is to maintain that edge during use. This was much of my focus when working out the design. I wanted to offer a tool that would allow the user to create an edge that they could re-create, over and over and over again, each and every time they sharpened the knife. And, to offer a tool with a broad range of sharpening angles so the user could sharpen their pocket knives as well as their kitchen knives and all those in between.

What I realized in the end was: once a truly "flat" edge has been created and the burr removed and the edge stropped, using the ERU this is the easiest and fasted edge to maintain in the long haul. With this system, once an edge has been made actually"flat" it is very easy to maintain that "flat" edge. It takes just several minutes to bring the edge back even if you have to go back to the diamond plate. It's because you are dealing with a known entity. I can free hand sharpen with some skill but I find using the ERU setup is faster because the edge itself is really "flat" and not close or convex or oh my I've seen it all.

Even a person, such as yourself, in possession of so many different ways of putting an edge on a blade, would find the ERU, with it's exact, aligned "V" shape, to be an asset to your collection.
A good friend of mine here on the forums ask me, Why invent a "V" pull through sharpener off all things. Well if I'd invented something else you and I wouldn't be having this conversation and I would miss out on seeing your collection of sharpening accouterments. I may copy the pic and use it as wallpaper on my labtop, if you don't mind.

Best regards, Fred

 

[fvdk]

Can I say WOW!

I can see you are not the average sharpener. It's more a life experience, which I understand and agree. It's the only way to do anything, all out.
The picture is worth 2000 words

Thanks, I guess that most people would think it is ridiculous to spend that much money on sharpening equipment

Even a person, such as yourself, in possession of so many different ways of putting an edge on a blade, would find the ERU, with it's exact, aligned "V" shape, to be an asset to your collection.

I respectfully disagree. I have spend a lot of time experimenting with all kinds of pull trough sharpeners on all kinds off steels, with perfect V-edges as well as irregular or convex edges. I have had bad, mediocre but also some pretty good results so I know what is possible and like I said before, your ERU is probably the best of its kind.

Please note that I am only expressing my personal opinion. It is obvious that you have another opinion and I think that the ERU might indeed work well to maintain an already perfect edge put based upon my own experience I believe that there are better ways to set as well as maintain an edge.

A good friend of mine here on the forums ask me, Why invent a "V" pull through sharpener off all things. Well if I'd invented something else you and I wouldn't be having this conversation and I would miss out on seeing your collection of sharpening accouterments. I may copy the pic and use it as wallpaper on my labtop, if you don't mind.

Best regards, Fred

I probably would have said the same and of course I don't mind if you use the photo.

Best regards and keep inventing,
Frans

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Thanks, I guess that most people would think it is ridiculous to spend that much money on sharpening equipment



I respectfully disagree. I have spend a lot of time experimenting with all kinds of pull trough sharpeners on all kinds off steels, with perfect V-edges as well as irregular or convex edges. I have had bad, mediocre but also some pretty good results so I know what is possible and like I said before, your ERU is probably the best of its kind.

Please note that I am only expressing my personal opinion. It is obvious that you have another opinion and I think that the ERU might indeed work well to maintain an already perfect edge put based upon my own experience I believe that there are better ways to set as well as maintain an edge.



I probably would have said the same and of course I don't mind if you use the photo.

Best regards and keep inventing,
Frans

And I respectfully disagree. I just came from the shop after cleaning up my 3 kitchen knives along with my 30 degree EDC.
In the time it would take to set up a guided system up; I was mostly done with two knives. They were in such good shape they only needed a few passes. These were run at 26 - 28 - 32 degrees.
One drawback to controlled systems is one doesn't learn much about edges.

Regards and keep sharpening, Fred

 

[Lorien]

that's a pretty nifty little tool there, Fred. I am constantly rehoning/sharpening, and generally hate pull through edge mutilators, but yours is something I'd actually like to try out.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

that's a pretty nifty little tool there, Fred. I am constantly rehoning/sharpening, and generally hate pull through edge mutilators, but yours is something I'd actually like to try out.

Pull through's have always fascinated me. Why don't they work and why do they damage instead of sharpen. I believe I've figured this out and the result is this pull through sharpener. It is all about alignment, just as it is in a controlled system or most any other type of sharpener. Alignment is what it takes to be successful at free hand sharpening and with the ERU, that is all I've done is to align the edge with the surface of the matching abrading surfaces. I could market the ERU @ half the price if it weren't for taking the time to align the parts that make it work.
The ERU is not meant to replace, but to supplement.


Regards, Fred