Robert sorby pro edge

[Ballistol]

Hi Gary
The first thing I'd check on yours is that the belt is tensioned correctly. It's easily adjusted and could potentially struggle to start if it's too tight. Left like that it could overload and burn out the motor. If the tension is ok the make sure nothing is jamming the belt or rollers, the machine should be occasionally oiled and cleaned in any case just like any other.

You can get a sharp edge quite easily with a 120g belt. Same as I use but also 240g and even though I have higher grits I rarely use them unless I want a polished edge. Lower grits as advised are useful for re profiling a tool and make sure you have a tub of water and cloth handy for cooling.

I can't understand why you can't get an edge unless you just aren't grinding far enough and you certainly should have no need to apply excess pressure which will cause the tool to overheat and overwork the motor.

I'm just north of Morpeth and quite happy to have a look at your pro edge or show you how I use mine. If you want to take me up on that just send me a pm.
Bob

Message to the OP
I've had the lot. including a Tormek and for turning tools it's the only machine I now use. I also use it for many other things and as far as I'm concerned it's worth the money even though I think it and the Axminster clones are overpriced. I don't sharpen my bench chisels on it though prefering to use diamond plates.

Hi Bob,
I followed your advice but the only thing I found was the tracking adjustment locking collar seemed excessively tight with the belt tracking over the right hand of the plate. I loosened it and reset the tracking of the belt to the right hand edge which seems to have improved matters.
I’ll see how I go when the 240 belts arrive regards sharpness.
I really appreciate the help I’ve been given here from you all

 

[Lons]

Hi Gary
I hope you can get it set up right it's a simple machine and not too much to go wrong, mine has been heavily used over the years and not just for sharpening I bought it second hand so it's probably had a tough life and certainly owes me nothing. Worth persevering with imo

 

[oregonrvr]

Just buy one, it’ll be the best tool in your workshop!

Is the Sorby ProEdge 220v or 110v?

 

[Curly]

On this side of the pond they come in 110V. I presume they are 220V in your neck of the woods.

Pete

 

[21William]

Axminster’s Ultimate Edge is on sale at the moment.

Axminster Professional Ultimate Edge V/Speed Sharpening System - 230V

Woodwork without a keen edge simply ends up in tears. The Axminster Professional AP50UE Ultimate Edge offers a controlled, repeatable and effective method for sharpening, linishing or polishing on all your edge tools. No one takes up sharpening as a...

www.axminstertools.com

As I mentioned earlier, this machine has forward and reverse and is variable speed. Sharpening things like plane blades and chisels for flat work is much more precise using something like the Tormek Jig on the UE.

 

[AndrewP]

Another proedge fan here. with the amount of turning I do I rarely need to “grind” a fresh edge just a quick and frequent hone on the proedge finer belts is all I do from one month to the next.

 

[Adal6]

A warm welcome Andrew

 

[MartinWatson]

Hi Andrew, I have been using the Robert Sorby Pro Edge since my first lesson with a very nice gentleman called Andrew Hall from Billy Row. He's a member of RPT. I have bought the woodturners kit from GS timbers Penrith, I use Axminster abrasive belts which are the same size. I hope this helps. Martin