New Wicked Edge Go WE60 & WE66 Obsidian

cudgee said:
I don't know the exact answer, but i do know those knives, a bought a bundle of them off Ali Express to practice on with a sharpener i made. They were cheap, but did the job, they are a very soft stainless, i now use them for steak knives and they actually do a really good job slicing through steak.
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The practice knife that I received measures between 50-55 HRC with my Tsubosan files.
 
cudgee said:
I was going to guess about 50, but that would not have been an accurate answer to the question. Now i know.
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It's above 50 somewhere - the 50HRC file skated across the steel. I measured the steel on the edge bevel.
 
000Robert said:
I have no idea - I don't work for Wicked Edge. It wouldn't surprise me if they offered an upgrade of the vise design for the WE130 sometime in the not too distant future.
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Apologies, as a Beta tester I thought you would have some privileged development testing data already and a firm personal opinion.
Am I correct that the WE60 is new to you also and therefore past the Beta stage when you get one, or will we all be Beta testers like in some past releases, but pay for the experience? ;)

I would like to see a close up pic of the cradle area (socket) that supports the new ball joint, both surfaces and is the opposing side to the screw replaceable and/or able to be separated from the slide?
Does the screw have some locking assistance to prevent the famed WE loosening when in use, I think I see an o-ring there?
I see you say the rod's are Delrin (Plastic), interesting choice, are they noticeably lighter?
Not familiar with Delron in an application like this, I assume it is as strong as the SS rods and wears and flexes the same amount or less?
I guess crush resistance of the rod ball end will not be an issue either, I notice there is provision for screwdriver use, very hard to decide if this ball joint is an upgrade or a back step without handling it myself.

Interesting that the Aussie Zanvak blog showing the unboxing and review doesn't appear to include the "ball joint shields" as you call them.
Also interesting that WE admit (by providing them) that they are needed now, as ball joint covers were always left up to the individual to source and never a WE item.
I always wondered if steel dust was proven to be enough of an issue to become a warranty claim for worn ball joints?

Always interested to see where WE is heading with design mods, their CNC machining is excellent now after the bad old days when China made most of them.
Thanks for your review.
 
Billabong said:
Apologies, as a Beta tester I thought you would have some privileged development testing data already and a firm personal opinion.
Am I correct that the WE60 is new to you also and therefore past the Beta stage when you get one, or will we all be Beta testers like in some past releases, but pay for the experience? ;)
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As a beta tester I'm not allowed to divulge privileged information. I've had the WE60 for a few days now.
Billabong said:
I would like to see a close up pic of the cradle area (socket) that supports the new ball joint, both surfaces and is the opposing side to the screw replaceable and/or able to be separated from the slide?
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Seventh photo from the top in the article. Yes, the Delrin Guide Rod Socket is easily removed. When shipped the unit has a plastic ball placed in between the Delrin Guide Rod Socket and the Delrin Guide Rod Retention Screw.
Billabong said:
Does the screw have some locking assistance to prevent the famed WE loosening when in use, I think I see an o-ring there?
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Yes, it has an O-ring on it. Most of your questions were answered in the article... What "famed WE loosening"? I haven't had that problem. But I have a habit of cleaning screw ends up with some sandpaper if they look a little wonky. It only takes a few minutes.
Billabong said:
I see you say the rod's are Delrin (Plastic), interesting choice, are they noticeably lighter?
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I did not say that. They are stainless steel.
Billabong said:
Not familiar with Delron in an application like this, I assume it is as strong as the SS rods and wears and flexes the same amount or less?
I guess crush resistance of the rod ball end will not be an issue either, I notice there is provision for screwdriver use, very hard to decide if this ball joint is an upgrade or a back step without handling it myself.
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Don't worry Wicked Edge stands behind their products.
Billabong said:
Interesting that the Aussie Zanvak blog showing the unboxing and review doesn't appear to include the "ball joint shields" as you call them.
Also interesting that WE admit (by providing them) that they are needed now, as ball joint covers were always left up to the individual to source and never a WE item.
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Maybe he just forgot about them.
Billabong said:
I always wondered if steel dust was proven to be enough of an issue to become a warranty claim for worn ball joints?

Always interested to see where WE is heading with design mods, their CNC machining is excellent now after the bad old days when China made most of them.
Thanks for your review.
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You're welcome.
 
cudgee said:
I don't know the exact answer, but
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My tongue was firmly in my cheek, as I was joking about steel n HRC. Gotta be careful what questions I ask around here. I had no doubt that you got a practice knife in the kit. Cudgee's own experience and your file test gave good info though, thank you.
 
scottc3 said:
My tongue was firmly in my cheek, as I was joking about steel n HRC. Gotta be careful what questions I ask around here. I had no doubt that you got a practice knife in the kit. Cudgee's own experience and your file test gave good info though, thank you.
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You're welcome. The supplied practice knife is the first knife that I sharpened in the article. Next was the knife that I use to cut leather. It was originally in a kit that a telephone service worker gave me that had the knife and scissors in a sheath that held them both. I gave it to my dad and after he passed away, the knife is all that I find in his garage. It works pretty good for cutting leather.
Because my leather knife blade is so small and is a fully flat ground blade, I had to use my Tormek small knife holder to sharpen it. Now with the new Wicked Edge designed vise on the WE60, I don't have to use the Tormek to sharpen my leather knife anymore.
 
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This is why these systems are out of range for people who do not live in USA. Just received an email from the distributor over here that they are now available, it is 8.30 AM on Tuesday 16th. Also received an email from Wicked Edge over night. Cost on the WE website, $275 US, that converts to $391.68 on the current exchange rate over here, the actual cost here $549. That is a 100% mark up, i fully realize there is shipping costs, but not that much, just being completely shafted.
 
cudgee said:
This is why these systems are out of range for people who do not live in USA. Just received an email from the distributor over here that they are now available, it is 8.30 AM on Tuesday 16th. Also received an email from Wicked Edge over night. Cost on the WE website, $275 US, that converts to $391.68 on the current exchange rate over here, the actual cost here $549. That is a 100% mark up, i fully realize there is shipping costs, but not that much, just being completely shafted.
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It seems like they could sell them cheaper to you if they buy the units in bulk and save on shipping costs. I'm sorry to hear that the shipping is so high.
 
scottc3 said:
cudgee, you think it could be governance "fees?"
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Highly unlikely. All things to do with cutlery are more expensive over here, that is a fact. But a 100% mark up, i don't think so. All this does is drive people to cheap Chinese knock offs. I will gladly pay a fair price, but don't treat me like an idiot and just shaft me. I was going to get a model of a Wicked Edge, which one i did not know, but i may review my options.
 
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cudgee said:
This is why these systems are out of range for people who do not live in USA. Just received an email from the distributor over here that they are now available, it is 8.30 AM on Tuesday 16th. Also received an email from Wicked Edge over night. Cost on the WE website, $275 US, that converts to $391.68 on the current exchange rate over here, the actual cost here $549. That is a 100% mark up, i fully realize there is shipping costs, but not that much, just being completely shafted.
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I feel your pain, I'm in Oz as well, thankfully I bought a lot of my WE stuff when our dollar was in parity with the US and direct from WE.
There was no Zanvak, the Oz dealer was Sharpfection who barely survived from WE sales and ultimately pulled out.

We get hammered with freight costs which are ridiculous, I inquired from WE last week about getting another pair of the mini "L" brackets for my WE130.
The quote was $89.96 US, with the freight component being $54.96 US of that, crazy, I mean they weigh nothing!

I don't think Zanvak will ever get rich from WE sales in Australia, way too much markup needed to get a reasonable profit margin with a tiny market here. (compared to USA)
We see how cheaply Amazon can get stuff here from the US at almost freight free prices, not the WE brand though.
 
Billabong said:
I feel your pain, I'm in Oz as well, thankfully I bought a lot of my WE stuff when our dollar was in parity with the US and direct from WE.
There was no Zanvak, the Oz dealer was Sharpfection who barely survived from WE sales and ultimately pulled out.

We get hammered with freight costs which are ridiculous, I inquired from WE last week about getting another pair of the mini "L" brackets for my WE130.
The quote was $89.96 US, with the freight component being $54.96 US of that, crazy, I mean they weigh nothing!

I don't think Zanvak will ever get rich from WE sales in Australia, way too much markup needed to get a reasonable profit margin with a tiny market here. (compared to USA)
We see how cheaply Amazon can get stuff here from the US at almost freight free prices, not the WE brand though.
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :):):). Brother, the days of parity are well and truly gone. 🙏🙏🙏
 
Billabong said:
getting another pair of the mini "L" brackets for my WE130.
The quote was $89.96 US, with the freight component being $54.96 US of that, crazy, I mean they weigh nothing!
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shakes head, looks for pic of bracket, none found, guesses no more then 16oz/ 453 grams... shakes head again, must be more to story then fuel?
 
Interesting to note that the printed link (included with the WE60) to the instructions, is redirected to YouTube and a series of ten instructional video's by Elizabeth.
https:/wickededgeusa.com/we60instructions

I see the guide rod retention screw has already been altered in the released version to a knurled head, yet Elizabeth says it needs to be tightened with a screwdriver?
Even though there is no room to fit a stubby flat blade screwdriver into the slot correctly (distance to the clamp too short), she uses it sideways which has damaged the screw as it's tapered. (video 10, 1:31)
Of course it's also another tool you need to buy and carry with the kit.
I'm betting we will see a socket head or hex screw coming soon.

Edit:
I did notice in 000Roberts' review he said this "Future WE60 Sharpener Units will have hex heads on the Angle Slide Locking Screw and Delrin Guide Rod Retention Screw sized to 11/16” and 7/16” respectively so that they can be operated with standard wrenches."

So I guess we will need to buy and carry a wrench?
;)
 
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I would have thought this would have quickly become obvious in Beta testing, yet here it is released like this?

I shouldn't be surprised as a victim of many minor updates channeling $$$ from my pockets. (I like fries) ;)
 
Billabong said:
Interesting to note that the printed link (included with the WE60) to the instructions, is redirected to YouTube and a series of ten instructional video's by Elizabeth.
https:/wickededgeusa.com/we60instructions

I see the guide rod retention screw has already been altered in the released version to a knurled head, yet Elizabeth says it needs to be tightened with a screwdriver?
Even though there is no room to fit a stubby flat blade screwdriver into the slot correctly (distance to the clamp too short), she uses it sideways which has damaged the screw as it's tapered. (video 10, 1:31)
Of course it's also another tool you need to buy and carry with the kit.
I'm betting we will see a socket head or hex screw coming soon.

Edit:
I did notice in 000Roberts' review he said this "Future WE60 Sharpener Units will have hex heads on the Angle Slide Locking Screw and Delrin Guide Rod Retention Screw sized to 11/16” and 7/16” respectively so that they can be operated with standard wrenches."

So I guess we will need to buy and carry a wrench?
;)
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I had no problem tightening them with just my fingers.
 
cudgee said:
No, who would have thought. Another add on, no way. Oh, you want fries with that. 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
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You know, some people have weak grips because of old age, arthritis or whatever. I'm about ready to report you for being a troll. I decided to just go on ahead and report you.
 
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