Recommendation? Guided sharpening system, edge pro?

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SuzukiGS750EZ

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Dec 30, 2008
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Hey guys, I'm looking to purchase a guided sharpening system. Currently looking at the edge pro apex 4 kit. Is there something better in the price range? I currently use a sharp maker but want more consistent results. The lansky seems too cheaply made, wicked edge too expensive. KME I read isn't good for a broad selection of knives, which i have.

Also, what drill stop collar would I purchase if I go with the EP?
 
EP is a great system and well recommended. If you buy from Gritomatic they have a great 'drill stop collar' aka "stone thickness compensator."

If interested check out my sig line in the For sale area, have a nearly new system with all the add-ons and a set of diamond stones. I'm switched to W.E. and a bench grinder, but still like the EP and would recommend as a great system in its price range.
 
dawghouse said:
EP is a great system and well recommended. If you buy from Gritomatic they have a great 'drill stop collar' aka "stone thickness compensator."

If interested check out my sig line in the For sale area, have a nearly new system with all the add-ons and a set of diamond stones. I'm switched to W.E. and a bench grinder, but still like the EP and would recommend as a great system in its price range.
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I replied to your for sale thread.
 
Take a look at the KME. Super high quality professional edges!!

https://www.kmesharp.com/



I have had the edge pro and it worked well but I truly enjoy systems that hold the knife completely on its own.

The kme has great support, great options for stone, strops, glass plates etc. Plus KME is 100% a USA company with second to none customer service..
 
OP you asked: Is there something better in the price range? No, not to my awareness. In the "around $500 (with a set of stones)" category of guided sharpeners, I think nothing touches the Edge Pro and that's why I got one. There's a reason the Edge Pro is the most popular option in this price range. You have more choices of stones, can sharpen to lower angles than most similarly priced competing units, and because of the way Edge Pro has you place the knife on the table, you will not be limited by the mediocre clamp designs on many of the other guided systems. The only clamp design worth bothering with, IMO, is the Wicked Edge latest version, but then you're into $900 to $1000 to get one of their pro-level systems.

Better still would be to start by learning to freehand sharpen, then add a guided system later. By starting with freehanding, it won't cost as much, it's 'portable' so you can easily sharpen anywhere, and you have an unlimited choice of sharpening stones. And it will make you a better sharpener even when you add a system, as it teaches useful things like how to work with a burr. And of course with freehanding, you never run into limitations like being unable to clamp certain blade grinds, or being able to only sharpen down to 15 degrees per side.
 
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Have you ever used a KME? Just curious.. not trying to start a battle but if you had used a couple others like the kme and tsprof you would know the statements about mediocre clamp are not correct. More like consistent, rock solid, awesome clamps... I am routinely getting angles down in the 11 degree range with my kme as well. Great selection of stones.

With mine I have diamond, chosera, platens with lapping films, roo and cow hide strops.. Very well supported machine.

I have gotten proficient with the edge pro, wicked edge, tsprof and KME. For the money I like it better than the edge pro. And I am not saying the edge pro is bad by any means, I like it. But there are others out there that perform phenomenal without many compromises and some advantages over the edge pro.

Either way OP find something you like, can't go wrong with the edge pro or KME for that money..





maximus83 said:
OP you asked: Is there something better in the price range? No, not to my awareness. In the "around $500 (with a set of stones)" category of guided sharpeners, I think nothing touches the Edge Pro and that's why I got one. There's a reason the Edge Pro is the most popular option in this price range. You have more choices of stones, can sharpen to lower angles than most similarly priced competing units, and because of the way Edge Pro has you place the knife on the table, you will not be limited by the mediocre clamp designs on many of the other guided systems. The only clamp design worth bothering with, IMO, is the Wicked Edge latest version, but then you're into $900 to $1000 to get one of their pro-level systems.

Better still would be to start by learning to freehand sharpen, then add a guided system later. By starting with freehanding, it won't cost as much, it's 'portable' so you can easily sharpen anywhere, and you have an unlimited choice of sharpening stones. And it will make you a better sharpener even when you add a system, as it teaches useful things like how to work with a burr. And of course with freehanding, you never run into limitations like being unable to clamp certain blade grinds, or being able to only sharpen down to 15 degrees per side.
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No clamp is better than clamp, unless you have an extremely well designed clamping system IMO and only W.E. really does clamps right. Otherwise freehand or a system like EP that doesn't bother with clamps, but instead using a workaround of magnets and guides to stabilize the blade. Beyond that, I agree with you, definitely not interested in debating about guided systems, I prefer freehand anyway.
 
I understand you prefer the edge pro., nothing wrong with that, But have you used a KME or TS Prof?

maximus83 said:
No clamp is better than clamp, unless you have an extremely well designed clamping system IMO and only W.E. really does clamps right. Otherwise freehand or a system like EP that doesn't bother with clamps, but instead using a workaround of magnets and guides to stabilize the blade. Beyond that, I agree with you, definitely not interested in debating about guided systems, I prefer freehand anyway.
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I love Ron at KME but even with him actually sitting there and watching me use it, we couldn't figure out why I couldn't get it to work. While I hate not sending business his way because he is one of the best guys I know, the only system that works for me is the TSPROF which now comes in configurations that are very affordable.
It's the same principle as the wicked sharp at 1/10th the price.
 
That is weird? For me almost every aspect translates right over between the kme and tsprof.. But glad you got one figured out..

Here is a knife I did on my kme yesterday. Holy crap that thing got sharp.. love popping hairs
 
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ElementalBreakdown said:
I love Ron at KME but even with him actually sitting there and watching me use it, we couldn't figure out why I couldn't get it to work. While I hate not sending business his way because he is one of the best guys I know, the only system that works for me is the TSPROF which now comes in configurations that are very affordable.
It's the same principle as the wicked sharp at 1/10th the price.
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What is a, "wicked sharp"?
 
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SuzukiGS750EZ said:
Hey guys, I'm looking to purchase a guided sharpening system. Currently looking at the edge pro apex 4 kit. Is there something better in the price range? I currently use a sharp maker but want more consistent results. The lansky seems too cheaply made, wicked edge too expensive. KME I read isn't good for a broad selection of knives, which i have.

Also, what drill stop collar would I purchase if I go with the EP?
Click to expand...

Have a look at the Hapstone series of sharpeners that Gritomatic sells. Hapstone is the best value for money for a system that is built like a tank (steel & aluminium) and can do everything you need, with lots of accessories.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I bought the wicked edge pro pack iii... hopefully I'm happy with it!
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I'm happy with mine. And I have added to it.
Clay just announced on the WE forum this morning that they are redesigning the Wicked Edge Go that is planned to be released later this year. One will have the standard vise, and one will have the Cam-Lock vise - that will be backwards compatible with the older versions of WE Go that someone may have, as an easy upgrade.
Edit: I started a thread about the WE Go in Gadgets & Gear.
 
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I bought the Hapstone M3 and then the R2 adapter to be able to use the clamp system. I'm happy with it, but recently I've been checking out the Tsprof blitz 360, I like how easy it looks to make micro adjustments.
 
Sorry, wicked edge sharpener.. I only looked at them for a week before I found the tsprof which imo is a better value.
I mean they all are basically ways to hold a knife while you go at it with a stone at a consistent angle.
Can't see a reason to pay more than necessary
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I bought the wicked edge pro pack iii... hopefully I'm happy with it!
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Congrats, I don't think you'll go wrong with that system. I would also still consider the idea of learning to freehand in addition to learning your Wicked Edge--there are significant advantages to being able to do both!

JackalopeSTICKER said:
have you used a KME or TS Prof?
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Owned or used a lot, no. Inspected and played with (a TS Prof) clamping system, and read or viewed extensive pro and con reviews of KME including people here on BF, yes. And still would not choose or recommend those systems over an EP (in the mid-price range), for the reasons given above. And could give more. A big one compared to KME is, I don't think EP places so many limits on where/how you position the blade (because no clamp) and therefore makes it easier to sharpen down to lower angles. I know there are workarounds for KME, but that's been a critique even folks here have had of that platform going way back. Doesn't mean it's a bad sharpener at all, but OP asked for recommendations and preferences on systems--that's mine. In the mid price range, I prefer the EP's approach because it eliminates the whole tricky area of the clamp, and gives a good workaround that I much prefer for stability, which is the magnet with the slide guide. This lets you skip the whole problem of insecure clamping with some grinds, and of artificially edge angle limits due to clamps getting in the way, etc.

But for the real winner: Have you tried hands-on a Wicked Edge 130 system with the gen 3 clamps? I was always interested in them, but recently got to try one at a shooting buddy's house, sharpened a Wusthof chef knife and an S30v folder on a 130 that has their latest generation camming clamp system. You can adjust the tension on the clamp to tune it, and you can use different jaws for things like really thick blade stock, or smaller blades and low edge angles. Not quite convinced I need one just yet, but yeah, absolutely would like one as a complement to freehanding--it is one impressive piece of kit. While I still prefer my E.P. Apex in its price range, if I wanted a really precise fully clamped system with repeatable settings, I'd have to give the nod to Wicked Edge.

I'd still vote for urging sharpening newcomers to prioritize learning to sharpen freehand first. There are so many advantages to doing that. But if you're gonna buy a system, and Sharpmaker won't cut it :D, then Edge Pro Apex for mid-price range, and Wicked Edge if you want clamped/repeatable precision and cost is not an issue.
 
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