Changed my mind about the edge pro

A

alwyn

Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Messages
29
I was just about to buy the edge pro apex and read some of the comments about it from BF. Now I know a lot of you like it but it seems compared to the wicked edge sharpener it comes second best. Someome even said the WE blows it out of the water. I wont even buy the Wicked edge either because postage is $50 here to the UK ( edge pro are available local in the U.K)

Do you think I'm right to not buy the edge pro or do you think it is still a match for the WE.

Al
 
I've never used the Wicked Edge sharpener. I have used the EdgePro for many years. I've also used just about every other sharpening system available today. There is no doubt in my mind that the EdgePro has been able to put a perfect edge on every knife I've ever tried to sharpen on it, large or small. And I mean a perfect edge. Not a good one. Not a very good one. Not an excellent one. I mean a perfect one. Perfect in every respect.

EdgePro sharpens knives quickly and easily, to what ever angle I want, and to what ever degree of sharpness. Frankly, I couldn't ask for anything else in a sharpening system. :thumbup:

I'm sure that the Wicked Edge system gives very good results. But it's a clamp system, with the drawbacks of a clamp system. It's fancier than most clamp systems, and you can sharpen both sides at the same time (although I really don't see much advantage to this myself.) But it's basically still a clamp system.

Stitchawl
 
Seems like every system has its good points and bad points. The Wicked Edge is better at some things and the Edge Pro is better at others.

I dont think there is a "perfect" sharpener out there!
 
The one thing about the Wicked Edge that concerns me is that its not infinitely adjustable like the Edge Pro. With an Edge Pro you can recreate or maintain whatever factory angle you have using the sharpie trick to make sure your angle is correct. The graduations on the Wicked Edge are fine but not infinitely variable and can cause a little more work at times. This seems like something that is up to personal preference on whether or not it is a big deal. Perhaps when the Wicked Edge is around longer it may have a wider variety of stones. There is also the fact that it is a clamp system and there are limitations with clamps that may or may not bother you.

I sort of agonized on what to buy for awhile and those are the things that were important to me based on my experiences sharpening. I liked being able to move the knife on the knife table to keep a more consistent angle throughout the blade. I have paper wheels also but I really only use those to maintain an edge I've already created. I am afraid of using the abrasive wheel to set edges(because it is VERY easy to make a mistake) so I use the Edge Pro for reprofiling when I get a knife thats uneven or not a steep enough angle. I also find using an Edge Pro or just plain bench stones a very calming activity.
 
The wicked edge will put a differet angled bevel the whole length of the blade, only by a small amount with a short knife, and at least it's consistent.

Edge pro requires more skill but you can get the exact same bevel angle along the whole edge if you move the knife correctly.

I have an edge pro and like it a lot, but haven't used a wicked edge, just seen how it works.

I'm sure either one is fine.

Far more important than which one you choose, is how well you use it. Any machine/system is easier then freehand, but still a skill.
 
If you get an edge pro, just be sure to get the Silicon Carbide lapping powder. Or even the stone flattening kit. My 120 and 220 grit didn't even begin to cut anything near aggressively enough until, I lapped it with the SiC on glass.
 
singularity35 said:
If you get an edge pro, just be sure to get the Silicon Carbide lapping powder. Or even the stone flattening kit. My 120 and 220 grit didn't even begin to cut anything near aggressively enough until, I lapped it with the SiC on glass.
Click to expand...

Where do you get those? Got a link? :)
 
Noumenon said:
The one thing about the Wicked Edge that concerns me is that its not infinitely adjustable like the Edge Pro. With an Edge Pro you can recreate or maintain whatever factory angle you have using the sharpie trick to make sure your angle is correct. The graduations on the Wicked Edge are fine but not infinitely variable and can cause a little more work at times. This seems like something that is up to personal preference on whether or not it is a big deal. Perhaps when the Wicked Edge is around longer it may have a wider variety of stones. There is also the fact that it is a clamp system and there are limitations with clamps that may or may not bother you.

I sort of agonized on what to buy for awhile and those are the things that were important to me based on my experiences sharpening. I liked being able to move the knife on the knife table to keep a more consistent angle throughout the blade. I have paper wheels also but I really only use those to maintain an edge I've already created. I am afraid of using the abrasive wheel to set edges(because it is VERY easy to make a mistake) so I use the Edge Pro for reprofiling when I get a knife thats uneven or not a steep enough angle. I also find using an Edge Pro or just plain bench stones a very calming activity.
Click to expand...

With the Wicked Edge you do NOT have to use the small indentations when setting the angle. You can turn the adjuster around and use the smooth side. That way it is infinitely adjustable like the Edge Pro.
 
stevenkelby said:
The wicked edge will put a differet angled bevel the whole length of the blade, only by a small amount with a short knife, and at least it's consistent.

Edge pro requires more skill but you can get the exact same bevel angle along the whole edge if you move the knife correctly.

I have an edge pro and like it a lot, but haven't used a wicked edge, just seen how it works.

I'm sure either one is fine.

Far more important than which one you choose, is how well you use it. Any machine/system is easier then freehand, but still a skill.
Click to expand...

"The wicked edge will put a differet angled bevel the whole length of the blade, only by a small amount with a short knife, and at least it's consistent."

Not really true. See the link:http://www.wickededgeusa.com/FAQ.html
 
ricklee4570 said:
"The wicked edge will put a differet angled bevel the whole length of the blade, only by a small amount with a short knife, and at least it's consistent."

Not really true. See the link:http://www.wickededgeusa.com/FAQ.html
Click to expand...

Interesting, thanks. I formally retract my statement and apologize! :D

I would have thought it would get thinner at the edges of the knife, the Edge Pro sure does, wonder what the difference is? Would be curious to get them side by side, or see what that little angle gauge says on an edge pro over a long knife.
 
Yeah, I own the Edge Pro and looking at the Wicked Edge system it just looks really gimmicky. Looks like it only comes with diamonds? Probably not very long-lived for a professional sharpener. Expensive to replace as well. Not as fast as the edge pro due to the use of a clamp. Can you get polishing tapes as well? With Glass backing for super-flat mirror edges? The Edge Pro can. Heck, you can even buy high-quality Japanese water stones for the Edge Pro now.

Just seems lacking for a system that costs the same as the EP.
 
BladeChemist said:
Yeah, I own the Edge Pro and looking at the Wicked Edge system it just looks really gimmicky. Looks like it only comes with diamonds? Probably not very long-lived for a professional sharpener. Expensive to replace as well. Not as fast as the edge pro due to the use of a clamp. Can you get polishing tapes as well? With Glass backing for super-flat mirror edges? The Edge Pro can. Heck, you can even buy high-quality Japanese water stones for the Edge Pro now.

Just seems lacking for a system that costs the same as the EP.
Click to expand...

You can get ceramic stones now for the Wicked Edge. They are a step finer than the 800/1000 grit diamond stones.

I think it is just as fast as the Edge Pro, especially when you factor in having to level the Edge Pro stones and need to constantly apply water to the stones and keep cleaning the table to make sure you dont scratch the knife blade. Not to mention the time to apply blue painters tape to the table and knife.

The Wicked Edge has leather strop hones with various grit diamond paste to address the polishing tape issues. Or you can get blank hones pretty cheap ($15.00) and apply the Edge Pro Polishing tapes (or 3-M, etc) to them and use it for polishing.

Im not saying the Wicked Edge is better. Its just different. I dont believe there are really any clear cut advantages. They both have their weaknesses.
 
alwyn said:
Do you think I'm right to not buy the edge pro or do you think it is still a match for the WE.
Click to expand...

Alwyn, having used both, I can say that both are quality sharpeners, that put an excellent edge on a knife. There are obvious differences between the systems, but either one will provide you with great results. I wouldn't consider one superior to the other. If the Edge Pro is your only option, don't hesitate to get it. It's a quality product that produces a quality edge.

BladeChemist said:
Yeah, I own the Edge Pro and looking at the Wicked Edge system it just looks really gimmicky. Looks like it only comes with diamonds? Probably not very long-lived for a professional sharpener. Expensive to replace as well. Not as fast as the edge pro due to the use of a clamp. Can you get polishing tapes as well? With Glass backing for super-flat mirror edges? The Edge Pro can. Heck, you can even buy high-quality Japanese water stones for the Edge Pro now.

Just seems lacking for a system that costs the same as the EP.
Click to expand...

BladeChemist, nothing could be further from the truth. Prior to using a Wicked Edge, I would have had some of the same impressions that you do. But, while the two systems take a different path to sharp, both are a quality product that produce excellent results that when you use the knife, it would be hard to differentiate between the two. Also, the same people who are providing Japanese stones for the Edge Pro, are gearing up to provide the same for the Wicked Edge, should that be a path you want to take.

stitchawl said:
I've never used the Wicked Edge sharpener. I have used the EdgePro for many years. I've also used just about every other sharpening system available today. There is no doubt in my mind that the EdgePro has been able to put a perfect edge on every knife I've ever tried to sharpen on it, large or small. And I mean a perfect edge. Not a good one. Not a very good one. Not an excellent one. I mean a perfect one. Perfect in every respect.

EdgePro sharpens knives quickly and easily, to what ever angle I want, and to what ever degree of sharpness. Frankly, I couldn't ask for anything else in a sharpening system. :thumbup:

I'm sure that the Wicked Edge system gives very good results. But it's a clamp system, with the drawbacks of a clamp system. It's fancier than most clamp systems, and you can sharpen both sides at the same time (although I really don't see much advantage to this myself.) But it's basically still a clamp system.

Stitchawl
Click to expand...

Stitchawl, pretty funny coming from a person who recently recommended using a clamp on an Edge Pro. There are some real advantages to sharpening both sides at the same time, speed being one, but also in the lack of burr and wire edge issues, among others. BTW, while the Wicked Edge uses a clamp, the overall process works way better than other clamp systems. Your post is even funnier after reading this...

stitchawl said:
I've used EdgePro for years as my main sharpening tool. Love it. I also use Sharpmaker, DMT Aligner, and RazorEdge from time to time for various tasks. They all work well; the EdgePro of course being the most versitile of them. This Wicked Edge tool seems to have a lot going for it though. I watched the videos several times and there is more to this device than meets the eye...

I've gone through a few of the EdgePro 120 grit stones. They cut quickly but wear out quickly too. I like the idea of diamond stones. I can alwas put some polishing tape on the stones to get that sort of edge. There are some knives that I find difficult to sharpen on the EdgePro's platform. I'd like to see it with an electromagnetic base to hold the blades more firmly than I can. The clamp on the Wicked Edge seems to solve that problem. The set-up measuring device of the WE also seems like it's very handy for getting repeatable uniform positioning. I think I'm going to have to order one of these and try it out...

Stitchawl
Click to expand...

Guess never having bought or used one, you now have decided it's inferior...

This...

ricklee4570 said:
Seems like every system has its good points and bad points. The Wicked Edge is better at some things and the Edge Pro is better at others.
Click to expand...

and this...

stevenkelby said:
Far more important than which one you choose, is how well you use it. Any machine/system is easier then freehand, but still a skill.
Click to expand...

Probably sums it up best. Either one is a quality product, each has its strengths, either one will put one of the best edges you can get on a knife, and either one will serve the user well.

cbw
 
alwyn said:
Now I know a lot of you like it but it seems compared to the wicked edge sharpener it comes second best. Someome even said the WE blows it out of the water. (EDIT)
Do you think I'm right to not buy the edge pro or do you think it is still a match for the WE.
Al
Click to expand...

Second to the WE? I highly, highly doubt it. Two years later and I still feel no remorse for buying the EP. There's negatives with both systems that I won't get into, but after everything I've read, seen, or heard I think the EP has more positives. Get the EP.
 
cbwx34 said:
Stitchawl, pretty funny coming from a person who recently recommended using a clamp on an Edge Pro.
Click to expand...

Here is a link that can be of value to you...
http://www.hookedonphonics.com/
After learning their techniques, please go back and read what I wrote. Then post it, rather than taking what was said out of context. It will make for a more accurate statement. What I actually said was that for a certain type of blade shape clamping can be helpful. Please note that I did NOT say to one MUST use a clamp. I did not say to use a clamp for all blades. What I DID say was don't be anal in your need to follow rules. Be willing to explore other options.

Guess never having bought or used one, you now have decided it's inferior...
Click to expand...

Again, you need to use this... http://www.hookedonphonics.com/
I didn't say it was inferior. In fact, here is a copy and paste of what I did post;
"I'm sure that the Wicked Edge system gives very good results."
Please be so kind as to show us where I said it was inferior. It should be easy as you seem to have archived all my posts. Frankly, I'm flattered, but please stop humping my leg.

Stitchawl
 
Last edited:
stitchawl said:
Please note that I did NOT say to one MUST use a clamp. I did not say to use a clamp for all blades.
Click to expand...

Nor did I say you said all that. All I said was you recommended one, not mandate one.

stitchawl said:
I didn't say it was inferior. In fact, here is a copy and paste of what I did post;
"I'm sure that the Wicked Edge system gives very good results."
Please be so kind as to show us where I said it was inferior.
Click to expand...

From this...

stitchawl said:
But it's a clamp system, with the drawbacks of a clamp system. It's fancier than most clamp systems, and you can sharpen both sides at the same time (although I really don't see much advantage to this myself.) But it's basically still a clamp system.
Click to expand...

You don't consider that an endorsement do you?

stitchawl said:
It should be easy as you seem to have archived all my posts. Frankly, I'm flattered, but please stop humping my leg.
Click to expand...

Don't be flattered, I don't save your posts. I just happened to run across it when looking for EP vs. WE threads.

cbw
 
i've never used a WE. they make me curious. however, if i KNEW for a FACT that it was a superior sharpener to the EP, i wouldn't care. truth is the EP is amazing and amazing is good enough for me :)
 
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