Hello, I'm fairly new to this forum, but I love Spyderco knives! I have a modest collection that consists of an Endura 4 ZDP-189, a Manix 2 Translucent Blue, a Caly 3, and a Sage 2.
So anyway, I want to get an Edge Pro so that I will be able to sharpen my knives fast and get some awesome edges on them.
I was thinking I would want to get the Edge Pro kit that comes with Chosera stones here: http://www.chefknivestogo.com/edge-pro-sharpener.html
I figured I should get the drill stop collar and the instructional DVD that I can buy from that same site.
Here's the strop I'm looking at: http://www.knivesplus.com/KP-STROP8-STROPBLOCK.html
I already have a DMT XX Coarse stone to level out the chosera stones. Does this seem like a good set-up or am I missing things like a stone between 400 and 1000 grit? I have just never sharpened before so this is all very new to me.
Also, regarding bevels and microbevels, what does "inclusive" mean? What grit should I start at when I am putting a microbevel on a knife? And what are some good angles for great steels and more average steels such as M390 and CPM-S30V respectively? I'm getting a M390 para 2 on Tuesday and was thinking about putting a 24 degree back bevel with a 34 degree microbevel on it. Any help with any of this would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Possible Edge Pro Apex Set-up
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Bert T
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- Location: Texas; south end of Toledo Bend Reservoir
Everybody to his own thing. That is what makes the world go round and round.
I have the apex, and love it. If I had the money to spare, I would upgrade to the system you are looking at.
As far as angles go that depends mostly on your needs and uses of the knife. After some trial and error and a lot of reading, you will learn what you want and need. And again, after some trial and error you will learn what stones you like and how to best use them. It is all an individual thing.
Bert
I have the apex, and love it. If I had the money to spare, I would upgrade to the system you are looking at.
As far as angles go that depends mostly on your needs and uses of the knife. After some trial and error and a lot of reading, you will learn what you want and need. And again, after some trial and error you will learn what stones you like and how to best use them. It is all an individual thing.
Bert
Funny, I have the SAME setup as what your looking at with the exception of the Chosera stones. Same strop as well, and the DMT XX. My wife got me all of it for Christmas this year. I've been very pleased with it. The Edge Pro takes some getting used to, but the results are nothing short of amazing. I've been looking adding the Chosera stones to my kit, but truly the edge pro stones do a great job. My only problem is not being able to do certain blade profiles easily. I have a few recurves and hawkbills that I still use my Sharpmaker for. If the sharpmaker had more flexibility on angles, I'd use it exclusively.
As for angles, I generally try to sharpen at whatever the factory angle is. Less work and you still get outstanding results. Mark the edge with a sharpie and give it a pass. Make sure your hitting where you want and go to town. I've re profiled my Para2 and had good results, it just takes a lot longer. The best advice is to play around with it and find what works best for you. I just did my Manix XL yesterday for the first time. After running it through all the stones and getting it hair popping sharp, I went out back and trimmed some branches, whittled some dead wood, and broke down a bunch of cardboard boxes from Xmas. After about an hour of heavy use, edge was still able to remove hair from my forearm. I'm happy. Can't remember what angle I sharpened it at, but it gets the job done :cool:
As for angles, I generally try to sharpen at whatever the factory angle is. Less work and you still get outstanding results. Mark the edge with a sharpie and give it a pass. Make sure your hitting where you want and go to town. I've re profiled my Para2 and had good results, it just takes a lot longer. The best advice is to play around with it and find what works best for you. I just did my Manix XL yesterday for the first time. After running it through all the stones and getting it hair popping sharp, I went out back and trimmed some branches, whittled some dead wood, and broke down a bunch of cardboard boxes from Xmas. After about an hour of heavy use, edge was still able to remove hair from my forearm. I'm happy. Can't remember what angle I sharpened it at, but it gets the job done :cool:
I love the EP. I would still have dull knives if I didn't have it. I bought the apex 4 a few years ago. Polished all my edges and touched up to 6000 grit everytime. After a year, I ran out of tapes and started sharpening to 1000 grit. My edges lasted longer and I liked the more toothy edge. Then, 6 months ago I needed to replace my 120 stone and was told to check out congress stones. My current setup is the congress stones 320,400,600 grit and have found I like this edge the best. I touch up on the Spyderco UF benchstone.
If I was to do all over again. I would buy the apex 1, which out the 220,320 stones for the congress 320,400 stones, buy and sharpmaker, and the strop you mentioned above. This setup will run you in the 240ish range and give a ton of possibilities. On top of it, you can glue the old 220,320 EP stones together for a pocket sharpener to put in your hunting,hiking bag.
Just my .02 cents.
If I was to do all over again. I would buy the apex 1, which out the 220,320 stones for the congress 320,400 stones, buy and sharpmaker, and the strop you mentioned above. This setup will run you in the 240ish range and give a ton of possibilities. On top of it, you can glue the old 220,320 EP stones together for a pocket sharpener to put in your hunting,hiking bag.
Just my .02 cents.
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jackknifeh
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- Posts: 8412
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:01 am
- Location: Florida panhandle
I have used an EP for over 2 years and think it is a great system. You get consistant angles of what degree you want. I agree with getting an Apex 1 then buy some congress tools stones. They are inexpensive and there are a lot of ones to try. I like the Moldmaster stones. I have a 320, 400 and 600 grit. I believe they will do most of what you want to do. I have a The EP 600 and 1000 grit stones will put a better mirror polish on the bevels but I always end up with tiny scratches as well. So I think for the best looking mirror bevel I use the 400 and 600 MM stones then finish polishing with a strop I made from leather glued to a piece of wood treated with DMT diamond paste. Use a light touch with the 600 moldmaster stone then strop. That will provide a great mirror finish if you want that. All the stones I have tried will sharpen the edge razor sharp. I do quick touch ups with Spyderco ceramic stones. Their ceramic stones are the best I've used.
About flattening the stones. I used an extra coarse DMT stone for a long time and really had problems with the fine grit stones scratching my edges. The thinking is that after a while and probably using too much pressure the diamonds were embedding themselves in my stones. Now I have a $5 bag of silicone carbide from edgeproinc.com and like it a lot better. I made a board and mirror into a sharpening board and use it to mount the EP on and flatten the stones also.
[ATTACH]18192[/ATTACH]
That's how I sharpen (briefly) for now. There are lots of different ways though. Lots of people here to provide suggestions.
Jack
About flattening the stones. I used an extra coarse DMT stone for a long time and really had problems with the fine grit stones scratching my edges. The thinking is that after a while and probably using too much pressure the diamonds were embedding themselves in my stones. Now I have a $5 bag of silicone carbide from edgeproinc.com and like it a lot better. I made a board and mirror into a sharpening board and use it to mount the EP on and flatten the stones also.
[ATTACH]18192[/ATTACH]
That's how I sharpen (briefly) for now. There are lots of different ways though. Lots of people here to provide suggestions.
Jack
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- Edge Pro portable table.jpg (56.51 KiB) Viewed 4045 times
I have an Edge Pro Pro model. I just bought a set of Chosera Stones from CNTG but have not really spent the time I would like with the stones yet.
You can put a great edge on most knifes with the standard stones.
I would probably pass on the DVD and just watch the videos on the EP site and save the money. Once you spend a little time with the sharpener you will not look at the DVD again.
Be sure to flatten and or keep your stones fresh. The lower grit stones can get filled with material rather quickly.
In general call Ben Dale and talk to him. He is a great wealth gf knowledge and he will not try to sell you something you do not need.
"Inclusive" means the complete angle of the blade. A 30 degree inclusive angle would be 15 degrees per side.
I would suggest trying to use the same angle for the edge already on the blade. Use the Sharpie trick or get the angle cube to get your angles what you want.
The stop collar is a good addition to your purchase.
Check out the Edge Pro site for videos:
http://www.edgeproinc.com/Professional- ... System-c2/
Just some random answers to some of your questions.
Jeff
You can put a great edge on most knifes with the standard stones.
I would probably pass on the DVD and just watch the videos on the EP site and save the money. Once you spend a little time with the sharpener you will not look at the DVD again.
Be sure to flatten and or keep your stones fresh. The lower grit stones can get filled with material rather quickly.
In general call Ben Dale and talk to him. He is a great wealth gf knowledge and he will not try to sell you something you do not need.
"Inclusive" means the complete angle of the blade. A 30 degree inclusive angle would be 15 degrees per side.
I would suggest trying to use the same angle for the edge already on the blade. Use the Sharpie trick or get the angle cube to get your angles what you want.
The stop collar is a good addition to your purchase.
Check out the Edge Pro site for videos:
http://www.edgeproinc.com/Professional- ... System-c2/
Just some random answers to some of your questions.
Jeff
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jackknifeh
- Member
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- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:01 am
- Location: Florida panhandle
Bearcat1's post was very good. I just wanted to add to how helpful Ben is. I've talked to him about 4 times and emailed him many more. He replied to emails quickly and tells you what he thinks even if it isn't what you want to hear. I've never found him to be wrong. I had a problem sharpening ZDP-189 the first time I bought it. Ben's information and advice was more beneficial than anything else I heard or read. He even explained why his thoughts would help.
I would also suggest you buy your EP directly from Ben. The price on other sites is only a couple dollars cheaper. $10 at the most. So, for me, I prefer Ben get the profits since he has helped me so much and after all, he did think of the thing. :) It would also start a fast relationship. It doesn't mean he will help you more. I got mine somewhere else and he helped me plenty. Just thought I'd mention it. What you do is up to you of course.
Jack
I would also suggest you buy your EP directly from Ben. The price on other sites is only a couple dollars cheaper. $10 at the most. So, for me, I prefer Ben get the profits since he has helped me so much and after all, he did think of the thing. :) It would also start a fast relationship. It doesn't mean he will help you more. I got mine somewhere else and he helped me plenty. Just thought I'd mention it. What you do is up to you of course.
Jack
If you want to learn a lot about the Edge Pro check out this site and discussion on them:
http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showt ... id/842092/
It is 60 pages long, but you will learn an immense amount of knowledge from some of the very most experienced users of this system. :cool:
Jeff
http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showt ... id/842092/
It is 60 pages long, but you will learn an immense amount of knowledge from some of the very most experienced users of this system. :cool:
Jeff
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BalisongAddict
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- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:40 pm