Purchase Price :- Varies on model (Model Reviewed is the Pro Version at $295 (£184)) Apex version is $125(£78)
Carry Case :- Extra $35 (£21)
Includes: 5 stones (coarse, medium, fine, extra fine, ultra fine), 12 - 3000 grit polish tapes, 1 tape blank, 8" ceramic steel, video tape, & instruction manual, sand for flatting the stones, water bottle.
Options :- Extra stones $12 (£7.50), Scissors attachment $95 (£59), Polish Tapes (12) $5 (£3.13) , 8" 700 Grit Ceramic Steel $15 (£9.38)

I have been after a decent sharpening system for some time. My skill at manual sharpening on a bench stone leaves a lot to be desired and I needed some help. After a bit of research and a lot of pondering I finally decided to go with the EdgePro system.

This also brought on another hard decision should I get the Pro version or the cheaper Apex model. The main difference between the two products apart from the price, is the construction. The Apex model is made from injection moulded parts. The Pro version is made from high quality machined aluminium parts and has some features that are not available on the Apex model. I opted for the Pro version and thought that this could be justified as it will probably last me a lifetime of sharpening.

I also opted for the optional carry case. This serves well to protect the unit when not in use and keep all the bits together. Plus it is designed so that you can transport it to the workplace if you use the EdgePro to make your living.

What makes this a better system from most other guide rail systems on the market then? Well for a start it uses a very precise guide system to ensure that you always get the correct and consistent angle of stone against the knife. This allows a knife to be resharpened to exactly same angle as it was supplied with or if need be the angle can be adjusted to any that the user prefers. Other systems have guides but none as well defined as these are. They are clearly marked with coloured markers that represent many of the commonly used angles. Plus you can use any position in between.

The machine uses custom formulated aluminum-oxide water stones that are soaked with water before and during use. These will cut metal very rapidly and the machine is supplied with the following grades of stone. Coarse (100 grit), Medium (180 grit), Fine (220 grit), Extra fine (320 grit), Ultra fine (600 grit)and Polish tapes (12 - 3000 grit). These allow different finishes to be put on your knife depending on its intended use. The coarse stones will also remove large amounts of material if you need to reshape a damaged edge or reset the default bevel on a knife. These are all things that I have yet to use the machine for.

The Pro version is supplied with the Inventors, Ben Dale excellent instructional video. I would highly recommend that you purchase this with the Apex version as well as it really does give you a very good introduction to the use of the machine. From set up of the machine on a table to installing the stone, setting the machine height and determining the correct sharpening angle on the blade edge plus many other things. The machine is also supplied with a concise written manual as well. This give good instructions for the use of the machine but does not get across the idea of how you actually manipulate the machine as fast as the video does.

The machine is very simple in principle. The stone is mounted to a sliding rail that is adjusted to the required blade angle. The stone should then be soaked with tap water from the supplied container. The knife is placed on the platform below the stone against the blade rest and the stone is worked across the edge by pushing the whole sliding assembly with the black knob on the end. One hand will hold the knife and the other is used to work the stone. As the stone is pushed over the edge of the blade is should also be slide sideways to cover the distance of the blade holding platform. The stone is then pulled backwards over the blade (with much less pressure) and the knife slid along the platform so the next section of blade can be sharpened. One one side has been sharpened the opposite side should be done by turning the knife and swapping hands on the knife and machine. The stone should also be re covered with water when this is done. This should be repeated until a wire edge or burr is felt on one side of the blade. Then the stone can be dried (which reduces its cutting power) and light strokes used on the knife to remove the burr. This should result in a strong almost razor sharp edge. Final finishing can be done with the finer grade stones and polishing tapes depending on the knifes intended use.

I started on the kitchen knives for my first attempt. These are large and easy to hold. After my previous attempts by hand on my oilstone the bevel on the knife was not very defined and the edge was at differing stages of sharpness along its length. After a few minutes with the EdgePro the bevel on the edge looked like it had just come from the factory. I was well chuffed. Not only that but it would also take the hair off my arm all the way along the blade. This was with the 220 grit stone. I could go finer to polish the edge but this is not really necessary for a kitchen knife. But once my folder collection gets going this will allow a mirror edge to be obtained. The knife I sharpened was a Global cooks knife and it really is the best that it has been since I bought it two years ago.

Swapping hands for both side of the blade does take a little getting used to. But after a couple of knives you will forget that it was ever a problem.

The Professional model of the machine has some improvements over the lower model Apex version which I will discuss here. The first major change is as mentioned above the construction out of more durable materials. This is I think designed as a machine that can be used all day every day for a working professional knife sharpener. The other major difference is with the design of the stone holding mechanism. On the Pro version the end of the stone is terminated in an adjustable metal ramp. This is designed to increase the Lifespan of the stone as the direction of movement is made on the metal ramp and not on the end of the stone. The ramp will last many hundreds of sharpening and replacements are available free of charge from the manufacturer when new stones are ordered.

I now do not dread sharpening any of my knives and may even attempt to sharpen some of my friends knives as well without the fear of a rubbish looking bevel or a less than perfect edge.

This is the first review on the knives section of my site and is very appropriate as my knives are far more useful when they are sharp.

A very well designed bit of kit that I know I will be using for many years.

Manufacturer:- http://business.gorge.net/edgepro/index.html

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