Edge Pro VS Wicked Edge

Ocelot85

Ocelot85

Joined
Feb 1, 2012
Messages
424
So as the title suggests I'm looking at both systems and I'm trying to figure out which to pull the trigger on first. I've been freehand sharpening for 18 years and I feel it's time to branch out and explore every facet of sharpening possible. So I decided a guided hand system would be a good start for changing things up. I'm looking for precision, durability, versatility, and professional results. So if anyone can relate their exprience with either product that'd be great, thanks in advance.
 
I think you'd find that this topic has a rather huge history you could do a search on. ;)
 
There are quite a few threads on it. For me it really boils down to this: wicked edge uses diamond stones and you can work both sides of the blade while it's clamped. The edge pro uses stones that have to be leveled and you only work one side of the blade at a time. The systems are different and they both have their pros and cons. I like my WE but I'd probably be just as happy with an EP.
 
Well I've looked around and did some searching, while I found threads for each individual system I haven't found one for both. What I would like is a listing and comprehensive comparison of pro's and con's for each system. Also if I have a specific question from said list I'd rather not necro a thread either.
 
I love my edgepro. I can get amazing results with it on every knife I have encountered so far.

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from what i've read, the wicked edge seems to have a better system although there are ways to make it even more accurate/have closer tolerances.
 
I own both systems and use both quite often, actually. The WEPS is considerably easier and faster to use (for ME, YMMV) but the stock plates do not give anywhere near as fine of an edge as the stock EP waterstones. Of course, getting additional paddles and stones for the WEPS is not a difficult thing to take it as fine as you would wish, just a bit more expensive than additional EP stones since you need TWO of each stone instead of one. Balancing that out, of course, is that each stone only sees half the time on the blade so they will need flattening less often and wear longer.

The WEPS is my go-to system when I am trying to get something done in a hurry, and for some reason my Kalamazoo is not appropriate for the job. I have the stock plates through 1k, strops at 5u and 3.5u, and a 1k/2k Shapton waterstone pairing as well. By the time I'm done with the strops the edge is shiny (not mirrored, but reflective) and quite sharp. Sharpening to that level takes perhaps half as long as to a similar level on the EP, maybe a little less.

The EP is my choice when I have plenty of time, and a knife really worth the extra effort to get it to SHINE. I have the stock 120-1K stones for the EP, as well as a DMT coarse plate and Choseras in 5K and 8K. By the time I am done with the 8K Snow White, there is quite a respectable mirror on the blade, and the edge will pass the hanging-hair test if I am extremely careful with my pressures and technique. (and the steel was capable of a low enough angle, of course).

If given the option, I follow both of the manual systems with power-stropping on the belt, using leather belts and 1u boron carbide from Hand American, followed by .5u Chromium Oxide (also from HA).

They are both extremely high-end sharpening systems, and both are extremely capable in the right hands. It's mostly a matter of personal preference and the use you intend to put the tool to. Incidentally, both are supported 110% by their makers. Ben Dale for the EP, and Clay Allison for the WEPS. I've talked a fair bit with both guys, and they are both top-shelf. You can expect total satisfaction either way you go, and they'll do their best to ensure that!

EDIT: I should mention that the results I get are definitely, DEFINITELY representing the end-point of my skills at the present, not the end-point of the tools capabilities! Some of the users can get results off of both systems vastly far and away above mine with the same stones.
 
Thanks for the detailed post Komitadjie, informative and helpful. Can you speak at all to the build quality of the systems themselves? Also where did you get the Chosara stones for the Edge Pro? I haven't seen them, are they sold from the maker or a different vendor?
 
Both systems are built to a very high quality, the WEPS uses injection-cast aluminum for most of its components as far as I can tell, and the EP uses either machined industrial polymer (EP Pro) or molded plastic of some kind (EP Apex). For the purposes intended, both serve quite well, and the processing is done to a very high standard.

I'd consider them equal in build quality, although WEPS has had some issues of late with manufacturing defects. They have identified and corrected those problems, it was an issue with one of their suppliers, but it's worth being cautious of if you purchase a used unit. There is, of course, no issue at ALL getting immediate response and replacements for the defective components from Clay, should you happen by some way to get one of the units with the soft jaw problem. Mine did not suffer from the defect, and has had no trouble in operation at all. As a matter of fact, Clay just sent me an upgraded set of guide rods that reduce play in the sharpening process even more for higher precision. I believe those represent a potential new process they're looking at for future improvement of the design.

The Chosera stones I purchased came from Ken at ChefKnivesToGo, he's a very easy to work with and helpful fellow. Tom at Jende also offers the Choseras, again a top-shelf guy to deal with. Shaptons are another good choice for upgraded stones, and I'm actually looking at a Shapton set from Tom right now to take my EP sharpening up another level. :D

EDIT: Incidentally, there is nothing at all wrong with the factory EP Boride stones, they work very well! The Shapton and Chosera stones just represent the pinnacle of manufactured abrasives at this point in time, and are an upgrade option for the real snob. :D If you are just starting out, I would just get the stock set with the EP OEM stones up through 1K. Once you've mastered those, you can easily progress to adding additional stones to improve your sharpening yet more. Off the stock 1K, you're already (with proper technique) going to have an edge in your hand sharper than probably 95% of America has ever even SEEN, much less used. If you want to go whole-hog right from the get-go, CKTG offers their own "Custom Chosera" set, that has an EP Apex, and every Chosera stone you could possibly want. The price is actually quite reasonable for what you get.
 
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I've been sharpening freehand for around 18 years, I've used and owned Diamond stones, Arkansas stones, and Japanese water stones. So both systems must offer high end options and they do, which makes the decision process even more difficult. I think I'll probably just end up buying both systems eventually, just trying to figure out which to buy first.
 
I'd be tempted to start out with the EP Apex-3 kit, myself. It's the less-expensive option, and will provide you an introduction to precision guided sharpening at a lower cost. If you have been free-hand sharpening, you are already familiar with keeping your bevels even from side to side, pressure of the stroke, and working through grit progressions. The EP will also allow you to experiment with other kinds of stone, plate and films much less expensively than the WEPS, with a better selection available. CKTG even offers arkansas stones, if you want to play with 'em.

Once you're familiar with guided sharpening and have decided on which stone progressions you want to use, then I'd consider the WEPS and a paddle progression in the stone series of your choice. It's more expensive, especially when you get into the really nice waterstones, but it provides even greater precision and even faster sharpening.
 
I have an Edge Pro and get good results when I reprofile. There is a level of variability that can cause issues until you spend quite a bit of time on it. I'm going to pick up a WEPS soon just to make my life as easy as possible to get a beautiful edge.

My regular EP routine is to reprofile an edge at slightly less than 20 degrees and then touch up with my sharpmaker. I only have to go back the EP if I let the knife get too dull.
 
Really wish I could get some first hand exprience with each before deciding, but I doubt that'll be possible where I live. If I'm understanding this correctly though, everything I've seen basically show's the WEPS being slightly ahead and the only true negative right now would be cost. Am I correct in that assessment?
 
IMO, that is correct.

Really, the only downside to the WEPS is the price, and the price for going with upgraded stones since you need to effectively buy FOUR stones at once instead of a single one at a time.

Also, it gives up a bit on longer blades, since you can't move the blade to support it the way you can with the EP. Say, a fillet knife. Hunting and kitchen knives you'll never notice the flex, though.
 
The largest knife I plan on sharpening on them has a 10 inch blade and is about a quarter inch thick, how would the WEPS handle that? Any issues on length or thickness?
 
No problems there at all, I think. The only time I've run into issues with it is when I've been sharpening a very long, very FLEXIBLE blade. A longer, stout blade like that should have no issues at all. It won't have the side-to-side flex that gives me occasional trouble with fillet knives and other really flexible blades of that nature.
 
There is a little metal stability rod for fillet knives and the like that comes with the wicked edge.
 
Correct, and it does help a bit, but they still flex quite a lot unfortunately. It supports them well vertically, but only so-so horizontally where the real issue is.
 
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