Non electric sharpening system recommendation.

Steel130

Steel130

Joined
Sep 17, 2010
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Hey guys. I currently use the sharpmaker to sharpen my knives at the 20 degree angle setting. The only thing is I sometimes get dull knives from the factory. I am trying to learn freehand on the sharpmaker stones but I am not getting anywhere fast. I need something that will sharpen knives petty quickly to a 20 degree angle. The reason I say no power tools, wheels, sanders ect is because I don't want to mangle my knives. I looked at the wicked sharpened but 250 seems steep
 
It's worth it, you get a TREMENDOUS system for your money. Although if you start using the WEPS, your Sharpmaker will end up relegated to touch-up sharpening.
 
I just got my lansky and so far it has worked wonders. Keep in mind, this is the first time I ever sharpened a blade.
 
i have the lansky with all the diamond and saphire rods and i can sharpen knives fine but the system is very cumbersome and slow. I am getting the wicked edge system with the blade special for 30% off. It looks like the most bulletproof system available.
 
muskyhunter said:
i have the lansky with all the diamond and saphire rods and i can sharpen knives fine but the system is very cumbersome and slow. I am getting the wicked edge system with the blade special for 30% off. It looks like the most bulletproof system available.
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How do you stack the wicked edge against the edgepro apex or the pro model? I was under the assumption that the edgepro was the easiest to use, and the shallowest learning curve.
 
"Different" would probably be the best answer to your question there.

I have an EdgePro Apex myself, and have used my friend's WEPS a couple times since he got it. Setup takes longer on the WEPS than the Apex and it's more space-intensive on your shop bench. It's not really a portable system in the same way. However, once you have it set up there's basically no way to hose it up, just swipe the paddles down the blade until it's razor sharp. The EdgePro has a bit more learning curve because you have to hold the knife on the table yourself instead of in a clamp, but that makes it a tad more flexible with respect to odd-shaped blades. (Say, a boot knife with a false grind on the back, that'd be nearly impossible to clamp into the WEPS, but no problem on the EP). They will both give you superb edges, though, with minimal human error.

Note, though, that to upgrade stones on the WEPS beyond the original diamond plates tends to be very expensive compared to the same upgrade for the EP. You don't just need the stones, you need a new set of paddles and TWO stones per set, instead of a $3 blank and one stone for the EP.
 
This is good information. I had my eye in an edge pro, and after reading reviews and watching about 1000 videos online I was sold. After hearing from you guys I may have to go back and re-asses my decision. I want the easiest system to use, to get to hair wittling sharp. I understand there is some practice to be done with either, but easier does make things...well...easier.

P.S. Sorry for starting a kind of side descussion Steel130
 
If you liked what you saw with the EdgePro, grab it! I really like mine, for sure.

Like I said, I've played with a friend's WEPS and it's a good system. I don't think it's BETTER than the EP, just a tad different. Don't worry too much about the learning curve, after about three knives you'll have it down pat. Pick a good flat bevel to start with, I think the easiest blade I've found to sharpen so far is a Santoku. A nice, big, flat surface to lay on the table, and not a lot of belly to work with.

Also, check out FleaBay's selling prices. If you turn out not to really love the EP for whatever weird reason, they barely depreciate at all, you can re-sell it quickly and with very little loss.
 
No insult intended. If you have been using a Sharpmaker you should know what your 15 and 20 deg. angles look like by now. Save your self some money and get and coarse and fine DMT diamond stone. They come in different shapes and sizes. You can still use the Sharpmaker to put the finishing touches on.
 
Whitedog said:
No insult intended. If you have been using a Sharpmaker you should know what your 15 and 20 deg. angles look like by now. Save your self some money and get and coarse and fine DMT diamond stone. They come in different shapes and sizes. You can still use the Sharpmaker to put the finishing touches on.
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That is what I have been trying to do. But the stones arn't really able to be put on a surface without them moving on me. And on the back of the system I cant get the back edge of most knives. So if bench stones are the easiest ( And I have been considering them ) I may go with them.

human1ess said:
This is good information. I had my eye in an edge pro, and after reading reviews and watching about 1000 videos online I was sold. After hearing from you guys I may have to go back and re-asses my decision. I want the easiest system to use, to get to hair wittling sharp. I understand there is some practice to be done with either, but easier does make things...well...easier.

P.S. Sorry for starting a kind of side descussion Steel130
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No problem man I like to hear different ideas and inputs on sharpener ect.
 
hey steel! i just picked up on this discussion... great topic! I'm not sure about the WEPS, looks neat, but I do have extensive experience with the EP (both the apex and pro model). Trust me when I tell you you will love it, and I will probably have mine till I die! It has tons of options that allows you to highly customize your edge, from ~7 degrees to ~35 degrees (these are off of the top of my head so don't quote me here), and all the way up to a sub micron polish. I use the EP to sharpen straight razors (given, I do finish on a strop), and its no laughing matter what they will do (easily pass the hanging hair test and sever a hair in mid air).

I started off with the EP apex (you can pick one up for $130-150) and it comes with a lifetime warranty and GREAT support from it's creator, Ben Dale. You can call him anytime he's open and he will spend as long as he needs to on the phone with you answering your questions and giving you support.

stones are pretty cheap with the EP too... $8/stone and $5/blank for a total of $13 if you want to mount it yourself like I do to save money (extremely easy to do). You can re-use the blanks many, many times.

Kom is right, they hold their value great and resell WELL. after i had my apex for over a year and sharpened over a couple hundred knives on it i sold it on Ebay for around $130 (new one is about $150) and upgraded to the Pro model, which i'm loving.

using the EP will take you about 10-15 minutes per knife probably, depending on how dull it is and how comfortable you are with it. the only things i have had trouble with is that it doesn't sharpen serrated knives well, or ceramic knives (even if you get the recommended diamond stones/tape, they don't work). lastly, if you want to sharpen recurves, make sure you get the recommended stones for that or you will run into trouble. it won't sharpen convex edges either (which are a pain in and of themselves :))

i have really grown to love the paper wheels recently however.. they have made my life so much easier! (since i sharpen so many knives) and they do an amazing job as well. they are OUTSTANDING on serrated knives, i can't say that enough. the paper wheels are the most efficient, best way to sharpen serrated knives out there as far as i'm concerned. but enough of that, you don't want electric =) so sorry for ranting about them. i just wanted to let you know what i have found has worked well for me so that later down the road you can look into them.

hope the above info helps! that's what i'm here for. holla at me if you need any tips.
 
Thanks that's some good info Razor Edge Knives. So in your opinion what makes the edge pro better than the apex? Ive heard good things about the edge pro especially from Ankerson who also said the learning curve is pretty quick. Paper wheels or a sander I hope to be an option when I am more confident in sharpening so it's not to say they sent in my future.
 
well, for one changing the stones out is a little quicker since the clips that hold the stone in are spring loaded (vs. screwing in the handle knob on the apex). also, you have a ramp system which lets you use the entire length of the stone and not just the middle of it like the apex does, so it wears the stone less and more completely (i.e. less "flattening" involved). i REALLY love the single, huge suction cup that you clamp down to your table... it works GREAT. i would always used to have some trouble with the apex sliding around on my table (and yes, it is smooth) when you had to bear down on the edge somewhat. Or when you had used a lot of water on the stones it would get under the 2 small suction cups that were holding the system to the table. this would cause it to slide. lastly, i also purchased the scissor attachment which not only does scissors, but any kind of chisel grind on tools (i.e. chisel or leather plane) although you may have a little trouble with a chisel the way its set up.

yeah, i'm looking into a sander now =) just made a post about it the other day... why does NO ONE make a reasonable priced belt sander w/ adjustable tension!!?? erg...
 
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