Edge Pro Apex vs. Chinese clones.

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forblader

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Feb 23, 2015
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I am not satisfied with quality I could achieve by hand and using one of those electric Chef's Choice sharpeners for all of my knives: fixed-blades and folders of various shapes and sizes. I am seriously thinking about purchasing a decent, but inexpensive sharpening system.
While I was searching for a decent sharpener, that isn't crazy expensive and still is versatile I ran into some sharpeners sold at major online sites. These very closely resembled the Edge Pro Apex and Apex Professional, but were priced considerably less heavy.
Later I have learned that these were Chinese clones of popular sharpeners. These systems, while being the knock-offs still generally, with a few exceptions were reviewed quite favorably by their owners. These people occasionally mentioned some mods/fixes they done to their Chinese sharpeners, still many were quite happy with them and used them without any modifications.
I wondered if there is an established prevalent opinion existing about these particular sharpeners among people in a community, who did tried them and therefore able to speak about their weaknesses, comparing to their prototypes. Are these systems could be considered to be acceptable "poor man's" Edge Pros, or not?
Your valuable opinions are welcomed!
 
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While it's not a clone, because clones usually aren't very good, I would suggest the lansky 5 stone deluxe sharpening system. I can get a hair popping edge with it, although it takes some time to learn(I did a couple cheap practice knives first) it's only about $30 plus get a pedestal and the stropping attachment and you'll only be in about $45-50. I believe it operates similar to the edge pro apex, but I'm not really sure. It's smaller tho. So you can't sharpen machetes or large fixed blades with it but for anything about 3-9 inches it works great. No, you won't get as precise like you would with the edge pro apex but it's definitely somewhere to start
 
Sorry, but your post sounds a bit snobbish to me.
You, of course, never downloaded/watched/listened any single thing copyrighted and only shop local mom and pop stores? Congratulations and hats off to you!
Philosophically everything derives from something else.
I've read somewhere that Apex in itself is based on some obscure old sharpener.
Go figure.
 
The eBay versions work well. Support Apex by purchasing their stones, because as stated the Chinese ones are junk. I would imagine Apex profits on these so called clones. Anyone interested in the clone would't pay 170.00 for the Apex anyway.
 
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@foreblader

I think, that if you think you have found a comparative "clone" of the Apex Professional, it would be my assumption that you have not really spent time investigating what the Pro version has to offer (specifically length of the draw stroke, the design that allows the stroke to extend beyond the stone resulting in more even stone wear and less potential flattening required, the size and construction, potential for shears attachment, overall build quality, etc.).

I "think"" I know the clone you are referencing (suction cup base ...?), and if so will tell you (from first hand experience) that it pales in comparison to the Pro version that Ben produces.

Regards,
 
I had the suction cup base clone for a while. Stones were awful, and the upper portion of the unit wouldn't stay in position relative to the base. I'd get the suction cup secured, tighten the wing nut that's supposed to hold the upper part steady, and start sharpening. After a dozen or so strokes, the ball underneath the wing nut would start to slip, so I'd snug it down a bit more. After a few weeks of doing this, the wing nut bottomed out and wouldn't tighten down anymore, yet the unit still slipped. :thumbdn: The non suction version may work okay, I don't know. You could do as suggested above and get the unit with some genuine EP stones and backing plates, and you may be fine. Personally, having had the experience I did, I'd much, much rather fork over the cash for the real deal, and get a useable, quality device right out of the box, a decent warranty, and a real person (Ben) to talk to if I need help with something. :thumbup:
 
G. Scott H. said:
I had the suction cup base clone for a while. Stones were awful, and the upper portion of the unit wouldn't stay in position relative to the base. I'd get the suction cup secured, tighten the wing nut that's supposed to hold the upper part steady, and start sharpening. After a dozen or so strokes, the ball underneath the wing nut would start to slip, so I'd snug it down a bit more. After a few weeks of doing this, the wing nut bottomed out and wouldn't tighten down anymore, yet the unit still slipped. :thumbdn: The non suction version may work okay, I don't know. You could do as suggested above and get the unit with some genuine EP stones and backing plates, and you may be fine. Personally, having had the experience I did, I'd much, much rather fork over the cash for the real deal, and get a useable, quality device right out of the box, a decent warranty, and a real person (Ben) to talk to if I need help with something. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Hmmm ..., thank you for saying much that I did not (all true by the way, related to the unit I think the OP referenced) :-o
 
forblader said:
Sorry, but your post sounds a bit snobbish to me.
You, of course, never downloaded/watched/listened any single thing copyrighted and only shop local mom and pop stores? Congratulations and hats off to you!
Philosophically everything derives from something else.
I've read somewhere that Apex in itself is based on some obscure old sharpener.
Go figure.
Click to expand...

I owned an Edge Pro Apex, two of them, I really disliked them both, they were made well I just couldn't use them well. I am far from a snob, I don't really care what you use, I was just pre warning you as I have seen people get blasted for buying knockoffs and thought you should know what may be coming your way. Almost all things being made today were mainly designed by someone else and they put their spin on it. I don't normally buy complete knock offs, the ones that are 100% spit in the originators from China stuff, but others can if they want. Not everyone can afford quality made in America stuff. I tend to buy once cry once though.
 
I've heard: sometimes their stones are getting deformed after being soaked in water.
They often need to be flattened out of the box.
They often are getting detached from the blanks because of the poor gluing job.
But I can deal with this. I never intended to use their stones without their careful inspection/flattening.
If one could save 100 - 150 bucks purchasing these Chinese systems he could use saved money to purchase flattening mirror, or thick piece of tempered glass with some different grits of flattening powder, nice set of stones and use nice polishing tapes on glass blanks, make himself nice leather strops glued to the empty glass blanks e.t.c.
 
HurlockVanguard said:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...=pl&lr=lang_en
This might be the predecessor you were talking about. KME or lansky are much more similar to this than the EP.
I don't think the rage is about the "clones" as in, but rather the blatant counterfeits. I might be wrong though.
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing this.
 
I also have heard that non-suction clone is working better that the other one, which is made way too poorly.
 
I thought about Lansky. The problem I see in Lansky is inability to do some fine-tunings of the sharpening angles.
 
I own a Lansky and always found it difficult to clamp the blade in the same position I had it in before. Then I had to unclamp, adjust, reclamp and try again. sometimes 3-4 times before I got it right.
This usually happens only on the thicker spin blades though.
 
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