• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Edge Pro Apex Sharpener or Wicked Edge?

Charr

Charr

Platinum Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2013
Messages
1,477
Just wanted to see what the general opinion was between the two of these systems. I have used a Wicked Edge for a while, but was interested in trying out the Apex, and it started me wondering more about the comparison between the two.

Experiences and opinions are mainly what I am looking for, as well as possible alternatives if anyone has some they'd like to mention.
I will warn you all though that I am not all that good at freehand sharpening. I work very well with a strop, but just never really got the hang of stones. Might just need more practic, but I don't really know.

As for mine:

I like the Wicked Edge mainly for the ability to sharpen on both sides of the edge at the same time. The jump in price between the Wicked Edge and the Edge Pro had me pretty hesitant at first, but after a while I just went ahead and dove in, mainly because they offered the strops for the Wicked Edge as well.
I haven't had any real problems with it, and I like that I can keep control of the burr on any steels that are being replrofiled with it, but it also does have some issues.

The worst one is that the joints have a little wiggle in them, so if you aren't careful you can end up messing up the edge, though not by much.
Also, every once in a while I will have the issue where the mounts for the stone that are supposed to slide smoothly on the bars will bind up and little and you will have trouble keeping a smooth motion without having to stop and do a little modification to the mount to make it fit.

The only other real downside the Wicked Edge to me is the size. I have the regular paperstone base, but it is not really something you can take...well, anywhere. The Edge Pro on the other hand is not heavy form what I've seen, and it seems to pack up quite well in the travel bag that comes with it.


My perspectives are from mainly from the higher-end packages of both systems (the Edge Pro 4 and the Wicked Edge Pro Pack 1 as they are listed by most retailers), as I like to have an all-inclusive system as much as possible, and I like to have the ability to take an edge to a full polish (though I usually let factory edges wear in a little before messing with them).

Let me know what you guys think!
 
Once I customized my EPA a bit (spring instead of brass cylinder, magnets glued under the knife base) I came to really dig it.
I got mine through ChefKnivesToGo and opted for the Chosera stones set. Couldn't be more pleased.
I can take any knife from completely dull to ridiculously sharp with a mirror polish in about 20 mins.
 
I have both systems and I like them both. For me, mobility is not that important. I have a set up in the office and it stays there. I have used the WE more than the Edge Pro Apex system just because it is easier for ME to control what I am doing. Both do a great job, its just a matter of personal preference I think. Ive decided to stick with the WE and sell the Apex Pro since there is no need to have both. I just couldn't be happy until I tried both, so I understand where you're coming from.
 
Hey Rasco,
I've got the EdgePro but have never heard about glueing magnets under the table. Sounds like a great idea. Do you have a couple of pictures?

Tim
 
I have never used an edge pro but ido have the knock off chinese version i bought to try, just to get a feel of how the edge pro works. I now have a wicked edge with the upgraded arms and some extras and i deffinately like the wicked edge more. Im still deffinately a rookie and in my opinion the wicked edge is just easier to use. Its alot easier to control in my opinion having the knife clamped down and not having to make sure your holding the knife down perfectly with your hand. The one main reason for me the edge pro has an advantage over the wicked edge is sharpening ffg blades. I still have a little trouble with that on the wicked edge sometimes and also like you said the edge pro is alot easier to pack up and bring somewhere then the wicked edge. That dang paperstone base is so fricken heavy. Like i said though im no pro, being a rookie im glad i went with the wicked edge over the edge pro
 
I second the KME with the diamond stones and one Kangaroo strop with the 4 micron CBN Emulsion. It is a whole lot cheaper, it's idiot proof, and it will put a scary sharp, polished edge on your knife with out too much trouble. That Kangaroo strop with the 4 micron CBN Emulsion is incredible!
 
I personally have never used a KME. I have used a wicked edge and I own an edgepro professional. I have been using the edgepro for about a year (about 400 knives). If you are going to spend the money on a sharpening system, GO WITH THE EDGE PRO. It is so much easier to do curved blades because of the fact that it does not clamp the blade. I have even done a couple of beautiful mirror polish, convex ground hatchets on mine. I have also sharpened a 3 foot machete. To sharpen a hatchet, just bend a large paper clip into an L bracket shape and fit it under the adjustable plate. One thing I will say is that, if you do buy an edge pro, and you have the money, definitely go with the professional model (stone plates ARE the same size). Another great addition is the small knife attachment. It allows you to keep from scuffing up the knife rest. Anyway, just my two cents. P.S. I think only the professional is big enough to do hatchets.
 
Stones might be a consideration for you... With the EdgePro, you can buy many different stones cheaply. I found that if I had a favorite Japanese water stone, I could take it to a lapidary shop and have them cut it into 6-8 EdgePro sized stones. This can be a major money-saving point! Any stone you like can become an EdgePro stone. Lapidary shops, cemetery monument shops, some jewelery shops, etc., all can cut large stones into EdgePro size cheaply. Check out the price of replacement Wicked Edge stones...



Stitchawl
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top