Fiddleback Sharpening?

cmroberts1

cmroberts1

Joined
Mar 4, 2014
Messages
669
Have any of you guys used the new Wicked Edge Pro Gen III? I am looking for a new method to sharpen and this looks like the ticket?

Thanks,

Martin
 
I think you can only order the Gen 3 from the Wicked Edge website.

I'm interested in getting the field and sport kit. Looks like you can achieve the same results but it doesn't come with all the bells and whistles. Oh and it's about $400 cheaper than the pro II version.

I think a couple of Fiddleback collectors use the wicked edge.
What version do you guys use?
Where's a good place to buy a WE kit and save some scratch?
It's such a costly investment, any feedback would be appreciated.
 
Can't speak to where to buy it. Also, I don't own one. However, I have had a few of my non-Fiddleback knives re-profiled by Josh at Razor Edge Knives. He uses a WE, and does great work. I am sure that the tool is only part of the reason Josh does such good work, but he really loves his WE.

Here is a video of him using the WE to re-profile and put a mirror edge on my ZT 0550.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1265034-Super-polished-edges

Edit to add - I have started stropping all my fixed blade knives and really like the edge I am able to create and maintain.
 
ncrockclimb said:
Can't speak to where to buy it. Also, I don't own one. However, I have had a few of my non-Fiddleback knives re-profiled by Josh at Razor Edge Knives. He uses a WE, and does great work. I am sure that the tool is only part of the reason Josh does such good work, but he really loves his WE.

Here is a video of him using the WE to re-profile and put a mirror edge on my ZT 0550.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1265034-Super-polished-edges

Edit to add - I have started stropping all my fixed blade knives and really like the edge I am able to create and maintain.
Click to expand...

I've seen the product the wicked edge and the right operator can produce but when I saw Josh's results, I absolutely have to have one. That guy is a magician with that thing! Actually, all the services he provides look tremendous.

I thought of just shipping my blades to him, but I'd rather perfect that craft for myself.
 
Not to derail this thread too much, but Josh is a great guy that does great work. I only know him from the forum and the work he has done for me, but I would enthusiastically recommend him 100% for any sharpening , re profiling or re grinding work. He is also really active on the maintenance sub-form and he readily shares his "trade secrets" with anyone that asks.

Josh is good to go!!
 
I have a Wicked Edge, but it is not the newer one. I have had it for a few years and have reprofiled a couple Fiddlebacks with it and a few Barkies with it. The reason that I reprofiled them at all is because I felt they could have been sharper than when I got them and I do not have the skills to correctly improve a convex edge. I tried to and could maintain the convex edge, but not improve it. This is certainly not a slight toward the knives that I have received from Fiddleback. They were all very sharp except for two. Still great knives, just could have been sharper. Now they are.

The W.E. makes sharpening so easy that it is almost laughable. Not to mention they are freakin sharp when you are done. I feel more comfortable using the W.E. because it is pretty much guaranteed results. Reprofiling does take a bit of work though

If any of you are on the fence about getting a W.E., do not hesitate. Get one now! You will be very glad you did. If you search around, you can find them. Seems like some people get them, do not use them and sell them like exercise equipment in February after the New Years resolution guilt has died down.
 
I have an EdgePro Apex for the heavy stuff, spyderco sapphire rods, sharpmaker, strops and a sandpaper mouse pad combo. If you want to put a crazy convex on a knife without any fancy tools the mousepad and sand paper technique is amazing. I usually go from 400, 600, 1000, 2000 paper grits and you buy them in the automotive aisle at Wal-mart. Tons of videos on youtube about how to do it. It's very easy but takes some time. It took me several knives worth of practice to get the technique down, but I can put a wicked convex on now. I have a BK16 that shaves hair without touching the arm using this. ;) I also refined convex on my last Forty Point this way to really get the edge I wanted. To keep a convex just use an old leather belt, wrap it around a towel rod or similar, hold it taunt and lightly run last part of the convex or apple seed point back and forth until you pull the steel back sharp.
I used just plain leather strops with black, green and red compound on them on my first Fiddleback to get it to the sharpness I wanted. It takes time, but on high carbon steel like O1 and A2 it definitely works.
Happy sharpening!
 
Joe Duder said:
I think you can only order the Gen 3 from the Wicked Edge website.

I'm interested in getting the field and sport kit. Looks like you can achieve the same results but it doesn't come with all the bells and whistles. Oh and it's about $400 cheaper than the pro II version.

I think a couple of Fiddleback collectors use the wicked edge.
What version do you guys use?
Where's a good place to buy a WE kit and save some scratch?
It's such a costly investment, any feedback would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

We have a Wicked Edge Pro at work. I haven't used it but the guy that brought it down has sharpened a few of my knives with it (non-fiddlebacks) and to say I was impressed with it is an understatement. It's available for me to use but I am thinking about getting the Field and Sport kit for my home/shop. If you get any more info about a purchase location Joe, post it up, and I'll do the same.
 
If any of you have access to Promotive through your job or military you can get one of the Wicked Edge models on there. I don't remember exactly which one but I'm sure it's just the basic model.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought most (if not all, but they are hand made and lots of them out there) were convex grinds with regular v edges.

As for sharpening when I am out and about, I like the automotive high grit sandpaper method, but often just use it flat on a desk-top without any padding underneath. I then sometimes strop on a diet Coke 12 pack box cardboard piece with some green compound. Mostly because that's what I have available with the least amount of hassle to pack. At home, I pull out the waterstones, sharp maker, strops, buffs and gosh knows what else depending on how I feel when the bug to sharpen hits.
 
I have the pro pack II, and it works great. It is a bunch of coin, but you can make just about any knife very sharp. Will (xxwjtxx) has a thread some place here describing how he puts a convex edge on his working Fiddlebacks using it.
 
Thanks for the info guys!! I really am leaning toward getting the Gen III. Just have to convince myself to spend the $$$. Probably wont take much.....lol

Martin
 
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