FORGOTTEN STEEL WORKSHOP REVIEW
A premium sharpening system that quietly gets on with the job. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? It depends on how much sharpening you actually do.
There are very few tools in my workshop that I would describe as a genuine luxury. Most have earned their place because they solve a problem, save time or simply do a better job than the alternatives. The Robert Sorby ProEdge Deluxe falls somewhere between all three.
I’ve owned mine for some time now and use it almost exclusively for sharpening woodworking tools—primarily bench chisels and hand plane blades. It isn’t my sharpening system for axes. Those are sharpened by hand using methods that better suit the geometry and finish I’m aiming for. The ProEdge has a different role in the workshop, and within that role it performs exceptionally well.
If you regularly sharpen cabinet-making tools, particularly if you’re restoring vintage tools or maintaining a large collection, the ProEdge is one of those machines that quickly becomes part of your workflow.
The question is whether it’s worth the considerable price tag.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The first thing you notice after assembling the ProEdge is that it feels exactly as you’d expect from Robert Sorby.
It is solid.
Nothing rattles, nothing feels flimsy and the entire machine gives the impression it has been designed to spend decades in a workshop rather than a few years sitting on a hobby bench. The motor runs smoothly and, perhaps most noticeably, quietly. Compared with many high-speed grinders, the ProEdge is a remarkably civilised machine to stand beside for extended periods.
That might sound like a small point until you’ve spent an afternoon sharpening fifty chisels.
Quiet tools make long workshop sessions far more enjoyable.
WHERE IT EXCELS
The biggest strength of the ProEdge isn’t actually the abrasive belt.
It’s repeatability.
Once you’ve set an angle, you can return to exactly the same bevel time after time with almost no fuss. If you’re sharpening a handful of chisels, that’s convenient. If you’re sharpening twenty or thirty tools in succession, it becomes invaluable.
One of the jobs I regularly undertake is sharpening woodworking tools for school woodwork departments. A typical batch might include dozens of chisels and plane irons that all need the same bevel restored efficiently and consistently.
This is precisely the sort of work the ProEdge was built for.
Instead of constantly resetting guides or trying to maintain perfect angles freehand, the machine simply allows you to work through the pile with a level of consistency that’s difficult to achieve any other way.
If you’re only sharpening three chisels a year, you’ll never appreciate that advantage.
If you’re sharpening thirty in an afternoon, you’ll wonder how you managed without it.
COOL RUNNING, CLEAN RESULTS
Another area where the ProEdge impresses is heat management.
Using abrasive belts naturally creates heat, but compared with conventional bench grinders, I find the ProEdge runs remarkably cool. As long as sensible sharpening practices are followed and excessive pressure is avoided, it’s very easy to maintain good edge control without constantly worrying about drawing the temper from fine woodworking tools.
The belt also produces a very consistent finish, and changing grits allows you to move from shaping through to refining the bevel without changing machines.
For chisels and plane blades, it is an excellent system.
MY WORKSHOP SETUP
Rather than leaving the ProEdge permanently sitting on the bench, I built a dedicated small drawer that the machine bolts directly to, while all of the jigs, guides and accessories are stored neatly inside.
When I need it, I simply sit the entire system on the bench and start sharpening. When I’m finished, everything disappears back under the bench, leaving valuable workspace free for whatever restoration project happens to be underway.
It’s one of those workshop improvements that makes using the machine even more enjoyable.
A SMALL WORKSHOP HABIT
One small confession.
I generally leave the side belt guard off the machine.
Before anyone races into the comments, let me be absolutely clear—I am not recommending anyone else do this.
The guard is fitted for a reason and should be used as intended.
The only reason I remove mine is because I change belts frequently while sharpening different tools, and leaving the guard off saves a few moments between grit changes. Fortunately, Robert Sorby designed the guard so it can be removed and refitted very quickly anyway, so even using it exactly as intended isn’t an inconvenience.
Workshop shortcuts are personal decisions.
Safety equipment exists for good reasons.
THE DOWNSIDE
No review would be complete without mentioning the elephant sitting quietly in the corner.
The price.
There is no getting around it.
The ProEdge Deluxe is expensive.
In fact, I think it’s probably more expensive than it needs to be for what is, fundamentally, a very well-built belt sharpening system.
That doesn’t mean it’s poor value.
Those are two different things.
If you’re a professional furniture maker, a school technician, a restoration workshop or someone regularly sharpening dozens of edge tools, the machine will repay its cost through consistency, speed and ease of use.
If you’re an occasional hobby woodworker who sharpens a few chisels every couple of months, it’s much harder to justify financially.
The ProEdge isn’t difficult to recommend.
It’s simply difficult to recommend to everyone.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Robert Sorby ProEdge Deluxe has become one of those workshop machines I rarely think about anymore.
That’s probably the highest compliment I can pay it.
It doesn’t demand attention.
It doesn’t require constant adjustment.
It simply sits quietly waiting until a batch of chisels or plane blades needs sharpening, then gets on with the job.
Would I buy another one?
Yes.
Would I recommend it for sharpening axes?
No.
There are better methods for that.
Would I recommend it for anyone regularly sharpening chisels and plane blades?
Without hesitation.
Just make sure you’ll actually use it enough to justify the investment.
Forgotten Steel Rating
Build Quality: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Ease of Use: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Repeatability: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Value for Money: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Best Suited To: Furniture makers, restoration workshops, schools, TAFEs, joiners and anyone regularly sharpening multiple chisels or plane irons.
