The Axminster Ultimate Edge: First Thoughts
They say play is one of the things that keeps our minds and bodies healthy, and this lucky woodworker has had some quality therapy these past few weeks!
I've been fortunate enough to be asked by the guys at The Hardware Centre to review the Axminster Professional Ultimate Edge V/Speed Sharpening System – 230V. Yes, it is called all that! It’s also the last time that I will be referring to this machine using its full title and will henceforth just be calling it the Ultimate Edge, both for the sake of brevity and my sanity.
Of course, there's so much to say about this sharpening system that brevity might become somewhat of a problem!
As I said, I’ve been spending quality time with the machine over the past few weeks, and I’ve really put it through its paces, at least when it comes to sharpening square blades such as chisels, plane blades, and the odd marking knife. And when it comes to this sharpening system, there is a LOT to discuss.
I must add that I can’t say much at this time about using the Ultimate Edge to sharpen turning tools, as I don’t currently have access to any Tormek jigs. And yes, you heard me right, I did say Tormek, as you are apparently able to use most Tormek jigs on this machine. For this review, my first thoughts will mainly relate to square blades, but some comments might cover the sharpening of turning tools as well.
Here I am harping on about brevity and not following my own advice, so let’s get straight into what I like.
Build Quality: Rock-Solid Construction
Not much to say here, it’s built like a tank.
The machine is surprisingly heavy for its size, and all the components seem to be solidly made. This not only goes for the Ultimate Edge itself but also for the peripheries that came with the kit. This includes the honing guide, polishing wheel arbor, and angle-setting guides.
All-round solid construction.
Design and User Experience: A Thoughtfully Engineered Tool Sharpening Machine
The machine and the support bar are well thought out and relatively easy to set up if you follow both the printed guide included in the box and the Set-Up Guide accessible via the QR code on the front page.
I want to focus on the honing guide here. Honestly, I was very pleasantly surprised at its simple but effective design. As someone who teaches others how to sharpen their own tools, I have had my fair share of using honing guides from all walks of life, but this one is my favourite yet!
A honing guide needs to do three things in my opinion without needing to be modified or requiring more attachments:
It needs to simply and accurately sharpen narrow blades such as 3mm chisels or grooving plane blades.
Handle "tall" blades like mortising chisels.
Accommodate short blades like those you find on spokeshaves.
Not only does this guide do all of the above with aplomb, but it does a fourth thing very well: it holds blades that don’t have parallel sides, a problem I didn’t even know I had until I tried to clamp some of my cheaper chisels into the jaws of the guide.
Axminster could sell this jig as a standalone unit to operate independently of the Ultimate Edge if it weren’t for the plastic roller. This will likely get trashed on anything but the finest abrasives if you try to use it outside of the Ultimate Edge eco system.
One more thing to say to the designers at Axminster: how the heck did you think of this?!
The jaws are actually designed for left- or right-handed use when setting it up! Anyone who has spent time trying to get blades into a honing guide will know that for some examples out there, you need 15 hands to get the blade in and set! With these jaws, you still need more than two hands, but now at least you can get to the tightening screw with your dominant hand—even if you’re left-handed.
Setting the correct grinding angles is a breeze with the included Ultimate Edge Angle Gauge. This unassuming little tool sets both the protrusion of the blade from the honing guide and the angle of the support bar to the belt, ensuring correct bevel angles.
Include the Angle Gauge Set Wallet to the mix and you get access to even more bevel angles. The method used to set them is truly novel. I just need to find another set of hands to make the process less fiddly but hey work well and set accurate angles.
Accuracy: Sharp, Square, and Reliable Results
If you take the time to set up the machine and bevel angles correctly, the Ultimate Edge will give you accurate bevels every time.
I checked and rechecked the bevel angles using a protractor, and I was hitting the angles I wanted every single time. Not only that, but my tools came off the machine—and my diamond stones—sharp, square, and ready to deliver clean shavings.
Versatility: A Sharpening System That Does More
This machine is, in effect, a belt sander, albeit a very fancy one. Not only can the belt direction be set to forward or reverse, but it also offers variable speed and the speed is measured in Metres Per Minute which is a first for me, being used to RPM!
Of course, you can easily swap out belts to access different grits, so the machine can be used for more than just sharpening blades.
This versatility is further enhanced by the option to purchase a separate Universal Sharpening Table, which is just a fancy name for a tool rest. It not only has grinding angles engraved on it but also incorporates what is likely one of the cutest little mitre gauges I’ve ever seen!
The cherry on top is the inclusion of an interchangeable arbor that turns this tool into both a buffing and honing station by simply adding buffing or honing wheels onto the side of the machine. With additional arbor sets (sold separately), you can have different polishing and honing wheels each with their own hardware, and swapping wheels takes just seconds, with no tools required.
Perfect for getting a brilliant buff on those “Cyno” finished pens.
Speed: Fast and Precise Blade Sharpening
I have yet to reset a primary bevel on a chisel or plane blade as fast as I have done on the Ultimate Edge.
Neither my bench grinder nor belt sander come close.
Downsides: What Could Be Better?
As with any tool, the Ultimate Edge isn’t perfect.
Firstly, one needs to remember that the machine removes metal and as a result it generates heat on the blade. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that it runs hot and between the variable speed and the ability to set the belt direction it is unlikely that you will burn a cutting edge and lose the temper, but it won’t hurt to keep an eye on the blade you are working on and easing up on the pressure if it feels a little warm.
Second, the price. This is not an entry-level sharpening system. It’s a serious investment—and while the quality justifies the cost, it might be out of reach for hobbyists just getting started.
Thirdly, dust extraction is a must. I would go as far as to suggest that you place a vacuum hose on both the top and bottom ports. I found this solution from MilesCraft to be ideal and it even fits on the ports without needing any adapters!
Fourth, if you have the arbour adapter with a polishing wheel or the “end cap” (an essential safety feature) installed it needs to be removed to allow the side cover to be opened during belt changes. The cover actually has a neat recess cut out to allow it to be opened with the arbour mount in place. Just remember to put the wheel or the “end cap” back before starting the machine back up. If you don’t, it leaves the bayonet pins on the machine side of the arbour adapter exposed which could pose a risk to catching onto something.
Always remember to set the tracking on a new belt to ensure it runs straight in use.
Lastly, as mentioned earlier, the honing guide’s plastic roller is possibly not designed for heavy use off the machine. If you’re hoping to use it standalone like a Lie-Nielsen or Eclipse guide, you might experience some frustration.
Initial Thoughts: Is the Ultimate Edge Worth It?
If you’re a serious woodworker, a sharpening enthusiast, or a professional who needs reliable results quickly and consistently, the Ultimate Edge is a phenomenal choice.
It’s thoughtfully designed, well made, and impressively versatile. It’s not perfect, but its strengths far outweigh its minor flaws.
So far I’ve really enjoyed using the system and I look forward to seeing what else it can do.
Hats off to Axminster and The Hardware Centre for making this dream machine more accessible in South Africa.
Just be warned: once you’ve used it, you will soon be kitting it out with every optional extra available.
Before I let you go, I need your help.
I'm building content to help woodworkers like you get unstuck and build with confidence. If you’re willing, I’d love to hear:
What’s holding you back right now?
Where do you want to get to in your skills?
Send me a quick reply via my contact page, why not join the PlyCreations newsletter where I share all the updates, news and special offers on my website and YouTube channel.
My initial impressions of the Axminster Ultimate Edge. In this article I look build quality, speed, accuracy, and why it might just be your new favourite sharpening system.