Edge Pro Apex 4 Knife Sharpening System

I was turned onto the EP Apex through a number of reviews while looking for a solution to my ever-dulling knives. I had purchased nice knives, but they were unable to keep the kind of edge I was expecting. What should have been excellent knives ended up being simply average knives because the edge was not up to par. I used a couple different methods to bring back their edge (including having a "professional" sharpening, and trying my hand at using free-hand waterstones), but nothing ever gave me the "Wow!" factor I was looking for.On the advice of several others, I invested a large amount in this system. I had read various reviews and seen the videos online, and I was hoping that this, finally, would help me get the kind of sharpness I was after.Well, after putting this system through it's paces, I am no longer looking for any other means of keeping my knives sharp. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this system. My test $5 knife cuts like a $100 knife, and my expensive knives are even sharper now than they were when I first purchased them! I spent the first hour after that initial trial running around my apartment and cutting up all the paper that I could find, just to see how thin of cuts I could achieve (the answer: very!).It's very easy to use, very efficient, and very expensive. The cost was definitely a hurdle for me to get over, but after seeing the kind of edge it will put on even my cheaper knives, let alone my harder steels, I would buy it again in a heartbeat. There may be better systems out there, but I will never know about them, because I am perfectly content with using this system from here on out. I would recommend the EP Apex to anyone. Period. It's so simple my dog could use it, and it works so well I'm giddy just looking for excuses to cut things.

Great system. I've always struggled with getting an edge with a wet system, the electric grinders don't do that great a job, and the other various “easy’ systems are worse. Our electric grinder finally got to the point of just not doing it, so after some research I decided to spring for the Edge Pro Apex system.First off, take the time to watch the Youtube video. It's much better as instruction than the manual. I didnt watch the DVD because, well, it's 2014 and I'm not sure we even have a DVD player in the house anymore, so I can't speak to the DVD.Set up is simple and straightforward. The device is lightweight, but seems to be plenty sturdy in use. It takes a little bit of practice to get the hang of holding a knife blade flat with just the right amount of pressure, but by the time I had done 3 blades I didn't really have to think about it any more.The only trick is feeling for and knowing when you have a burr on one edge. If you don't know what that feels like it may take a bit of experimenting or having someone show you, but when you get one, you'll know it. Be sure to run your thumb or finger AWAY from the edge when feeling for the burr!We now have our knives tuned up with really no more work than the old electric sharpener, but with a level of razor sharpness that they haven't had in years. Highly recommended.Update December, 2019Still the best. I got lazy and had our knives sharpened by two different local professional sharpening services, neither one came close to matching the Edge Pro.

I've been trying to hone my sharpening technique on some affordable whetstones for a while now, with ok results. I can put a better edge on a dull blade, but not an arm hair shaving razor edge. It's a hard learning curve, but I'm not giving up. In the meantime, I figured I'd spend some money on a fixed-angle system that can craft an edge quickly, precisely, and easily. I was actually surprised at the general market prices of such systems, but this Edge Pro Apex 4 seemed to be the best value of anything I found in a day's worth of research. The long and short of it is this: it takes a little time to learn on this system, and it isn't perfect, but once you get the hang of it you can quickly put a scary sharp edge on a blade.Pros:-great range of whetstone grits and polishing tape on the Apex 4 specifically. For the price, I haven't found a comparable range.- it isn't hard to learn on, but it'll take a novice an hour or so to get it down. Plan on having a cheap knife so you don't mess up on anything serious.-can put a razor sharp, hair-shaving edge on a knife, and polish it to a mirror finish.-relatively compact and portable.Cons:-no clamp to hold the knife in place. This isn't a deal breaker, as once you get used to it, technique forgives it on all but the weirder knife shapes. It is a tougher learning curve because of it though. You need to pay very close attention to how and where you're holding the knife, and hold it the exact same way when you flip to the other side. If you don't, you'll get uneven bevels. You also need to hold it still. There is a magnet attachment (sold separately) that can help with this.-lightweight plastic construction, and anchoring suction cups release at times. Again, not a deal breaker since it doesn't take a ton of pressure to sharpen. Just wet them and press them to a flat surface again. There's an aftermarket bench clamp available too, from what I understand.-angle notches aren't the most precise. It has colored guides for the different sharpening angles, but anything in between them is basically guesswork. A little annoying, but still not a deal-breaker since the old marker-colored edge trick will help you home in on your grind angle.-Depending in your needs, you may need to buy upgrades for this. Probably the most commonly needed would be the small blade attachment. If your knives are under 3 inches, it will be extremely hard to sharpen them on this system without the attachment.Overall I'm pleased. Systems like the Wicked Edge look to be better and conquer the entire cons list here, but are also more than twice as expensive. I can live with this and be happy for all but the most specific sharpening scenarios. I am considering buying a Work Sharp Ken Onion belt grinder too, for convex knife blades and sharpening jobs like axes and lawnmower blades. That's really a different beast though. If all you're after is the ability to sharpen kitchen knives, pocket knives, and survival knives with more common edge grinds, this is maybe the best deal for the money.Edit 8/29/23: after a year of living with this and going very far down the knife sharpening rabbit hole, I'll add what I've learned and change my recs. First, this system is still pretty great and I really don't have any buyer's remorse. But- if I had to do it all over again knowing what I know now, I'd get the KME kit that comes with the 4 gold series diamond stones and wooden base (currently $225). Inflation and such has driven the cost of this Edge Pro kit from ~$200 up to $285 where it sits now. It's no longer a great value at that price compared to the competition. The KME is better built, has a clamp which is great for beginners trying to form even bevels, and the diamond stones will future-proof you if you ever think you'll get into the crazy modern super steels that require diamond abrasives. The disadvantages are that the KME uses a smaller 4x1 stone size that is less universal. Sharpening takes a little longer and there's less aftermarket stone support. The clamp can also have trouble securing certain grinds. These may be livable knocks for most people though. There's also the Work Sharp Precision Adjust as a budget pick ($60). That's better suited to small pocket knives though, and build quality is cheap but sufficient. There's even less stone options than the KME- you're really locked into the work sharp diamond plates. It will be a fine system for casual sharpening needs, but you'll outgrow it quickly if you go down the sharpening rabbit hole.