Best base for Wicked Edge?

mrgreen

mrgreen

Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Messages
313
To the WEPS owners out there. I just pre-ordered mine from Clay, while at the ECCKS. I didn't order a base. What seems to work best, or should I just call him and add it my order. By the way, he sharpened a small spyderco (co-pilot) that gave me nothing but trouble on the edge pro. Came out great.
 
mrgreen said:
To the WEPS owners out there. I just pre-ordered mine from Clay, while at the ECCKS. I didn't order a base. What seems to work best, or should I just call him and add it my order. By the way, he sharpened a small spyderco (co-pilot) that gave me nothing but trouble on the edge pro. Came out great.
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Depends on how handy you are and how much "stuff" you have laying around.
I made mine and it is great. All materials I had laying around from other projects.
MDF (2 layers) then counter sunk to give me the 1.25".
IF you do not have stuff laying around, I say the base he sells is well worth it. Pre-drilled. No fuss no muss and I assume at 20% off.
I believe he sells two levels. Granite and MDF. I say treat yourself if the budget allows and go granite.
 
rubiconss said:
Depends on how handy you are and how much "stuff" you have laying around.
I made mine and it is great. All materials I had laying around from other projects.
MDF (2 layers) then counter sunk to give me the 1.25".
IF you do not have stuff laying around, I say the base he sells is well worth it. Pre-drilled. No fuss no muss and I assume at 20% off.
I believe he sells two levels. Granite and MDF. I say treat yourself if the budget allows and go granite.
Click to expand...

+1
Leo
 
Guys, I took your advice. Had them add the granite to my order. I could have put together some 3/4" plywood, but it wouldn't be the same. Now I just need to be patient.
 
mrgreen said:
Guys, I took your advice. Had them add the granite to my order. I could have put together some 3/4" plywood, but it wouldn't be the same. Now I just need to be patient.
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Right decision, you only live once! or twice or more depending on who's book you read.
Nuttin' like Granite. I know a few people that have it for heads and trust me - nothing gets through!
It'll be a Great base!
 
I agree with the granite base. The weight of it really helps the system anchor well and helps me increase speed of sharpening. I had the guy who cut my granite countertops cut me a 12"x12" piece and drill the holes with the supplied template. The best thing is that it didn't cost me a dime. He used scrap and did it in less than 15 minutes while I watched!

77bc7237.jpg
 
I ordered that brown paper micarta type base along with the complete system first of February. Maybe I'll get my order next month... cross fingers!
 
Big_Red said:
I ordered that brown paper micarta type base along with the complete system first of February. Maybe I'll get my order next month... cross fingers!
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They are really so busy! I am sure that Clay and the staff barely have time to breathe. To boot getting companies to machine and build this tool to the precision and the quantities necessary is getting to be very difficult. Clay is trying to keep the WEPS as much as possible made in the USA, so with the economy being what it is, one would expect to have lots of manufacturers available to jump at the task...apparently not.
I know Clay really appreciates the patience being shown by people like you and others who are itching to get their WEPS rig. Soon enough my friend and you will love it...well worth the wait!

Best regards
Leo
 
jaredharden said:
I agree with the granite base. The weight of it really helps the system anchor well and helps me increase speed of sharpening. I had the guy who cut my granite countertops cut me a 12"x12" piece and drill the holes with the supplied template. The best thing is that it didn't cost me a dime. He used scrap and did it in less than 15 minutes while I watched!

77bc7237.jpg
Click to expand...

Your base looks great! I haven't yet ordered my WE so I am looking at options. My question is: why 12"x12"? Assuming that you have the room, why not get a larger base? Wouldn't that be more stable? I have a large 14"X18" butcher block cutting board that I could easily adapt. Perhaps that would be too light though? If I want to go really big, I also have a 24”x15” slab of marble. It is only ¾” thick, but I could glue a piece of wood to it to bring it up to the proper thickness.

Thoughts?
 
I have the paperstone base and it works great but you cant go wrong with a slab of granite. Should make it even more sturdy and stable. And yes, mine came with the screws and washers. Screw length is important cuz the WE base is not drilled all the way through. Its a blind hole.
 
I went a little overboard with mine. I have a 10 x 10 steel plate that weighs 35lb. I think I may need to find something else. :p
 
Never Dull said:
I have the paperstone base and it works great but you cant go wrong with a slab of granite. Should make it even more sturdy and stable. And yes, mine came with the screws and washers. Screw length is important cuz the WE base is not drilled all the way through. Its a blind hole.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. So then, (assuming I use a wood base) it has to be at least 1.25 inches thick but it could be thicker? (Since the screws are only going to go partway through the base anyway)?

I like the idea of making my own base because the shipping on granite bases drives the price through the roof. I think I would prefer something larger than 12”x12” anyway. Then I’ll have room for all my sharpening blocks and toys. 
 
How about a granite plate, which is also used as a reference/measure for flatness?

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=32526&cat=1,43513,51657
$36.00
"this plate is 2" thick and 9" x 12" overall and weighs 25-3/4 lb. ...
It is also accurate to ±0.0001" overall (not 0.001" but 0.0001"). "--www.LeeValley.com

Maybe overkill, but could also be used to check flatness and/or flatten waterstones.
Impressive if you consider that 0.0001 inches = 2.54 microns.
(Although, float-glass is maybe flatter?)

Only downside, is you would have to drill your own holes to mount (masonry drill bit?) and/or use glue to mount the base.
 
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salguod said:
Thanks for the info. So then, (assuming I use a wood base) it has to be at least 1.25 inches thick but it could be thicker? (Since the screws are only going to go partway through the base anyway)?

I like the idea of making my own base because the shipping on granite bases drives the price through the roof. I think I would prefer something larger than 12”x12” anyway. Then I’ll have room for all my sharpening blocks and toys. 
Click to expand...

Just beware of screw length, you can vary thickness of the base by compensating with the screw length.
 
When I first got my WEP I made a plywood base out of 2 pieces of 3/4" glued together and painted black (many years ago). Had to counter sink the screws to get them to work. It worked pretty well, but moved around during sharpening due to its light weight.

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We recently had a soapstone counter installed in our kitchen. The installer cut me a 12"X12" piece of 3 cm that I drilled out using the template. It seems to work better, but its very heavy.

6063441863_940045598a_b.jpg


Something in between in weight might be perfect.
 
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