Best guided system for complete beginner?

C

camhabib

Joined
Feb 11, 2005
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I have a couple of pocket knives (cheap beaters and few nicer ones in AEB-L, S30V, and similar) as well as a number of kitchen knives I’ve finally decided to try and maintain myself. I know that people generally greatly prefer loose stones over the guided systems but for a number of reasons (ease of use, lack of confidence, reproducibility, etc) I’d like to go with a guided system. I’ve been reading up on two in particular, Edge Pro Apex and the Wicked Edge Go. The issue is that some people seem to sing their praises, while others swear them off.

How are guided systems in general and what exactly is the disadvantage to other systems? Out of the two listed, which is a better buy, and is there anything else I should consider instead? Much appreciated!
 
you may just want to start with a sharp maker. get the diamond or CBN rods for the s30v. its a better cost savings. or just buy a few stones and free hand.

the guided systems are costly but help you do more knives faster.

there are a few issues with guided systems, some things can be mitigated though.
for clamped systems they want a flat surface to grab onto. so if the blade is tapered or sloping it's not going to work so well. where as a edge pro or better hapstone doesn't have those issues, but requires you to be ambidextrous with your hands. one can learn after practice but its not for everyone.
 
Cost conscious buy you can’t go wrong with DMT Aligner kit.Ive owned an edgepro , DMT, Wicked edge,Lansky,now settled on a KME,much easier on old hands.
 
Used Edge pro and(still use) WE Gen3 pro; Edge pro is too much of a strain on the hand imo; also the Stones don't cut that well on wear resistent steels.
With the WE GO you lose the Micro adjustments and only have two Grit sizes.
I'd definetly Go with the WE but maybe invest in some more Stones. But don't be fooled into thinking that sharpening with a guided system is foolproof; you can still fuck up a blade badly.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far. I do like the design of the Wicked Edge a bit more (seems easier to use) but it’s just a lot of cash to drop on a sharpener. Is the advantage of the Wicked Edge over the Edge Pro just easier to use?
 
camhabib said:
Thanks for all the replies so far. I do like the design of the Wicked Edge a bit more (seems easier to use) but it’s just a lot of cash to drop on a sharpener. Is the advantage of the Wicked Edge over the Edge Pro just easier to use?
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IMO it's more comfortable, stones are better(cause diamonds) but it's overall more expensive. I'd say the WE is also more precise but we're talking margins that probably aren't relevant to most users.
For me the edge pro just was too uncomfortable, so I went WE
 
you can get diamond stones for all the systems. in fact I'd recommend getting venev bonded diamond stones for any system you go with especially if you have high vanadium steel knives.for example s30v

the wicked edge is not worth the cost especially for beginning. it is certainly easy to use. still a clamped system so anything like it will be easy to use... is lansky, gatco, kme etc.
 
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Out of curiosity, what’s the difference between the Wicked Edge models, specifically the WE120, 130, and the Pro Pack 1?
 
I would look at the Hapstone sharpener and get a version that use's the rotating clamp's if you do not want to spend a lot of money on a good system,I would not go with a Wicked Edge or KME for the reason that there is more support for sharpening stones that use the Edge Pro format stones,if you are planning on getting knifes that use better steels that are going to be harder I would buy a Hapstone first if you want a really good high end sharpener that won't cost as much as a Wicked Edge.

I have also owned and still own KME and although it does work I really do not like how short the stones are and it makes sharpening some of the more wear resistant steels a real effort because your not getting the same long stroke as you do with the Edge Pro stones,when I was sharpening some steels with my KME and seen stones for the edge pro and could not get them it got really frustrating because the Chosera's work but are not the best stones and they glaze over all the time.

If you want a Hapstone contact Gritomatic they are releasing a new model and making a rotating clamp for it.
 
The Hapstone looks to be an interesting mix between the Edge Pro and Wicked Edge.

The current version looks like V7. Are they releasing a newer one than that or just be rotating mount for the V7? Is the rotating mount just for ease of use or is there any other benefit? Thanks!
 
The one with the rotating clamp is totally new, nothing to do with the V7.
 
camhabib said:
The Hapstone looks to be an interesting mix between the Edge Pro and Wicked Edge.

The current version looks like V7. Are they releasing a newer one than that or just be rotating mount for the V7? Is the rotating mount just for ease of use or is there any other benefit? Thanks!
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I believe the new Hapstone sharpening system call R1. The V6 have as acessorie the rotating clamp system. The V7 haven’t.
They also have magnets that is very helpful to hold the blade in place and you can use just the dominant hand.
 
I forget what post I read it in but I know something was mentioned about the Hapstone and I can not remember if V7 is getting a rotating clamp or if they are redesigning a new system.

If you want to find out more about the newest system email Gritomatic at this email km@gritomatic.com his name is Konstantin and I have purchased from his website at 4 to 5 times and was always treated very well he would be the guy to ask about if the newest is getting a rotating clamp or if they are making a newer version that comes with a rotating clamp.

The only other system I would consider is a K02 and that would be my first choice because they have so many different type's of Clamp's and their rotating system work's flawlessly,but the problem with Techstudio and the K02 and K03 sharpener's is that they change everything and change stuff so often rather then waiting a year to compile a bunch of small improvement's and then make changes they don't and they do not even talk to their dealer at all and never let him of any change's in advance.For example they just sent him some K03's and I think K02's and never told him about the change they made to the fixing unit's and the crossbar and so he could not order any extra fixing unit's.

The problem is the new fixing unit's will not work with an older K02 but the clamp's and spring's will work with the Gen 2 and Gen 3 fixing unit's,so I had some clamp's on order and a set of Scissor attachment's and they came with the Gen 3 fixing unit's and I need the Gen 2 fixing unit's.This is not a onetime deal either where they have screwed up like this all I can say is buyer beware if your buying anything from Techstudio although they are great machinist's and make stuff extremely precise if you choose to purchase one you better buy every attachment when you can and get 2 of each attachment as well for a back up because it's not unheard of people waiting 6 months and more for stuff.

Also as I mentioned before about Techstudio and not letting their dealer know anything this is a classic problem with them,I talk to George the owner of STATESLLC who sell's the K02's and K03's they did not even bother to tell George about the Lens kit when they released it or that they were even going to release the Lens kit is for doing Convex edge's and they also did not tell George about the change to Crossbar and the new style clamp's that fit the new style crossbar witch are called whole milled clamp's,it's because of that kind of stuff that I say buyer beware when buying a K02 because for the simple reason is that if they can not even let their dealer know what changes are being made and their dealer has to hear about them from customers you believe your going to be in an uphill battle all the way if the last person a company ever tell's anything to is their dealer.
 
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wade7575 said:
I forget what post I read it in but I know something was mentioned about the Hapstone and I can not remember if V7 is getting a rotating clamp or if they are redesigning a new system.
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It is still months away from R1 being released. Hapstone has decided to redesign key elements after receiving feedbacks.
 
camhabib said:
I have a couple of pocket knives (cheap beaters and few nicer ones in AEB-L, S30V, and similar) as well as a number of kitchen knives I’ve finally decided to try and maintain myself. I know that people generally greatly prefer loose stones over the guided systems but for a number of reasons (ease of use, lack of confidence, reproducibility, etc) I’d like to go with a guided system. I’ve been reading up on two in particular, Edge Pro Apex and the Wicked Edge Go. The issue is that some people seem to sing their praises, while others swear them off.

How are guided systems in general and what exactly is the disadvantage to other systems? Out of the two listed, which is a better buy, and is there anything else I should consider instead? Much appreciated!
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C camhabib ..... I have a Hapstone V6 for sale in the exchange. It is like new and has only been used to sharpen 5 knives. List price for the setup is over $280. I am asking $190 to your door. check out the link below. Take care!

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/hapstone-v6-sharpening-system-price-drop.1555126/
 
SV-97 said:
For me the edge pro just was too uncomfortable, so I went WE
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Once I stuck a decent magnet under the Edge Pro blade support, any discomfort to my fingers from holding the blade down securely went away. I am completely content with my Edge Pro, using SIC stones as recommended by Ankerson. I have copied one of my previous posts below...
I've been using one high-strength cylindrical magnet directly under the blade "plate." There is a "blank" space directly under the blade plate which allows you to place the magnet just under the plate. You should measure your Edge Pro Apex before you order a magnet. Remember that this is a "cylindrical" magnet which is just slightly smaller than the available empty space under the blade-plate. I wrapped some duct tape around the magnet in order to increase the diameter very slightly, and shoved it up into the space and it stays there very tightly under just friction. I HIGHLY advise any of you EP users to try out something of this nature. I bought several different magnets, but I THINK that this is the one that I am using... You should use Google to check and order if you wish to try it out. It took all of the work out of the Edge Pro and I can produce very nice edges with very little work. No more sore fingers from holding the blade down on the plate surface....
It was NOT my idea to use a magnet...until I saw it here on the forum some time ago.
I do support it lightly with one hand, but 95% of the holding is done for me. Edge Pro Apex is all I use and all I want. I can easily use SIC Shapton stones and Congress 400 grit Moldmaster SIC(as per Ankerson's reco's) and a 2"x 6" Dia-Sharp Extra Coarse diamond stone to re-profile anything with very little trouble.
Here is info on the magnet that I am (very happily) using...



ND052-EN Neodymium Cylinder Magnets 7/8 in x 1 in Epoxy/Ni Rare Earth N42
ON SALE !! Best corrosion-resistant coating Epoxy + Nickel + Copper + Nickel 4-layer coating Pull force: 85 lbs Magnetized through 1"
$6.25 - $
 
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