I think it's a great system. I do also have an Edge Pro Apex and a Spyderco Sharpmaker, as well as an assortment of waterstones & one DMT diamond stone. I use the Apex on my more expensive knives, do touch ups on the Sharpmaker, and use the Edgemaker Pro's mostly on cheaper knives. I keep the yellow honer and the black dual grit model in my knife roll to use at work; if any of the restaurants knives need it I'll sharpen them on the Edgemaker Pro.
Despite the fact that most people here look down their noses at pull-thru sharpeners, IMOHO the Edgemaker Pro's work extremely well. My dad has some knives he's only sharpened on the Edgemaker, and after 15-20 years the blades show almost no wear. That's the beauty of the system: aside from the blue Bevelmaker and the coarser stage of the dual-grit, the Edgemaker takes off very little metal. And if your knife is made of decent steel, it will get it shaving sharp, sharp enough to delaminate paper, too.
You can't go wrong by trying them; you can get the whole set of 3 comprising all 4 grits for about $30 with free shipping. I actually have 3 of the yellow ones, 3 of the red ones, one black one (identical to the red) and one of blue bevel makers. While I don't use them on my Japanese knives (I don't know if it would alter the bevel angle and don't wanna risk it- some of 'em are fairly spendy) but I've put an very keen edge on some Messermeisters, Wusthofs & Henckels with them. You can take a typical kitchen knife from extremely dull to shaving sharp in about one minute!
Even though I use waterstones on my more expensive knives I'd hate to be without my Edgemaker Pros!:thumbup:
