Okay, I have sharpened four rather challenging knives so far with this new kit, and am ready to tell Y'all my impressions...
EDIT: My attempts at photo posting and captioning did not turn out well, sorry....
This is an exceptionally well-designed and well-made kit. Having a background in machine work, (lathe and vertical mill,) I can tell you the Edge Pro's materials and workmanship are first-rate, and the machining tolerances are very tight.
The unit is quite rigid, much more so than my copy of the WorkSharp Precision Adjust Sharpener, but probably not as rigid as the Wicked Edge product, from what I can gather from the photos online of the Wicked Edge.
Not that I intend this posting to be a comparison between these three sharpening appliances, but in context, some comparison kinda can't be avoided.
The Edge Pro device is easy to set up, and the instructions are very well written.
My very first project with the Edge Pro was a large Japanese chef knife, which needed a lot of grinding to remove a whole bunch of chips from the edge.
After setting the cutting angle by a short sequence of trial and error with the sharpie, the Edge Pro's 220 grit stone made short work of re-forming the bevels, using the factory angle.
Changing the cutting angle is quick and easy, just a quick verical adjustment to the stone arm pivot hieght.
The second photo shows the correct cutting angle, as evidenced by the stone wiping the sharpie ink from the full width of the bevel.
The next pic (sort-of) shows the fully polished bevel on this now dastardly sharp chef knife, which is, much as I hate to admit, significantly sharper than I would achieve freehanding.
Paper-thin slices of tomato, and a quick slice of my knuckle from
hardly even grazing against the edge..!
Next up was my C.R.K.T. Fossil, which was a challenge to hold steady on the machine's blade table, due to the shape of the blade faces, with their steep hollow grind.
Note the polished bevel on the Fossil, which is now sharper (ahem) than ever before.
The magnetic insert attachment is an Edge Pro optional accessory which greatly helps the user to keep the knife steady on the blade table...highly recommend this attachment.
Next up was my little C.R.K.T Wharncliffe, which sharpened up to beyond insanely sharp, and will push cut through cardboard with very little effort, which is exactly what I use this knife for...
Lastly was a friend's converted and re-styled U.S.M.C. short heavy machete, which I had been struggling to sharpen freehand due to an extremely thick, teardrop-shaped bevel combined with an unwieldy blade size and shape.
The Edge Pro totally excelled at cutting a proper bevel on this big heavy knife, and that project alone made my day..!
After three knives, the design and function of the Edge Pro totally made sense, and the motions required began to feel fluid and natural, which I think speaks to the engineering behind the appliance.
There was one knife, my Schrade Old Timer Sharpfinger, which would not sit level on the blade table without a custom riser block. That blade was for that moment, better served by the WorkSharp Precision Adjust, by virtue of the WorkSharp's fairly versatile clamp.
I do think it helps to cover all the bases by having a clamp-style sharpening appliance on hand, and the WorkSharp got this Sharpfinger very sharp, but quite honestly, not as sharp as would the Edge Pro, had I taken the time to fashion a riser block for the Sharpfinger.
To sum up, so far, I am very, very happy with the Edge Pro, and I haven't even yet tried the scissors sharpening attachment.
Humbling as it is, this Edge Pro device does indeed turn out a bevel much more consistent than I achieve freehand, and definitely a sharper edge. For those folks wanting super-precision edge geometry and a beautifully polished bevel, this appliance is very effective, at a reasonable price point.
I shall report my findings on the scissors sharpening attachment, and I hope Y'all found this posting useful..!!
Mark
