The end must be near: new KME system!

[Maximumbob54]

I just ordered fresh diamond plates a couple of weeks ago direct from Work Sharp for the Precision Adjust. Are they out of stock very often and I just hit them up at a good time?

Honestly it all depends on what you want.

Worksharp makes a variety of systems, both clamp and guide style and belt style. Their clamp systems all use proprietary stones which can be hard to find replacements for.
If you don't mind having to hold the knife then Edge Pro Apex.
Tsprof Pioneer or Kadet, although they are quite a bit higher priced and their CS can be pretty bad, especially if you life outside the USA. They ghosted me on a few issues after making some promises which a lot of others have complained about as well.
The TooHR #3 is an interesting system but you really need to take it apart fully and clean it out then properly reassemble it and the clamps aren't that good but you can use Tsprof/Hapstone ones.
I personally am a big fan of Hapstone systems. Their systems work well, are well priced, and they have amazing customer service.

 

[Bdtry]

I just ordered fresh diamond plates a couple of weeks ago direct from Work Sharp for the Precision Adjust. Are they out of stock very often and I just hit them up at a good time?

Depends where you live. In the US it isn't too bad. In Canada I could only find a single retailer that had replacement plates (for the base version) and it seemed they were always out of stock. Compare that to Edge Pro style 1x6 stones that are available almost everywhere with 100+ different types available to suit any need. Proprietary stones that you can only get from a single supplier because of patents are BS. As soon as they move onto something new anyone with the system is screwed. It is just a money grab.

 

[Blade Lab]

I think KME made a mistake trying to maintain the ability to use the sharpener without the base. I doubt there are many people who use the system that way. I tried it a few times when I had the original system. Works okay, but why? The one benefit to me was that I could take the mounted knife off the base to look at the edge under my USB microscope. Try that with a TSProf!

 

[Triple_D]

I think KME made a mistake trying to maintain the ability to use the sharpener without the base. I doubt there are many people who use the system that way. I tried it a few times when I had the original system. Works okay, but why?

I much prefer using the KME without the base. The only thing I use the base for, is holding the sharpener while changing the stones. It seems pretty wobbly when on the base, anyway, and I find it more comfortable just to hold it in my hand. Different strokes......

The original KME works fine for me, and I don't have any real issues with it. But I sure wouldn't pay the kind of money they are asking for the new version. In reality, I don't much use the KME, anyway. I find it quicker, and easier to use a regular diamond sharpening stone, and a strop, especially for touchups.

 

[Bdtry]

The one benefit to me was that I could take the mounted knife off the base to look at the edge under my USB microscope. Try that with a TSProf!

Easy.

Looking at the edge while still mounted in the sharpener. Some models have longer uprights that go quite high, others can be mounted in gimbal arms that you can move anywhere. I could probably do that with a K03, but the one pictured was a Blitz Pro. Hand held models instead of mounted ones are even easier but don't have as good as picture quality.

 

[TheOne45]

I just ordered fresh diamond plates a couple of weeks ago direct from Work Sharp for the Precision Adjust. Are they out of stock very often

I personally would ''risk'' $35 or so and order ''All-Metal Universal Stone Holder for Professional Precision Adjust'' from Hapstone.
Then I would just replace those worn out WS stones with normal stones you can get from anywhere. Probably I would just get a set of 8 diamond stones on plastic blanks from Amazon.
Before someone turns his nose up..... I'm pretty sure I know where those WS diamond plates are coming from.

 

[BluegrassBrian]

I personally would ''risk'' $35 or so and order ''All-Metal Universal Stone Holder for Professional Precision Adjust'' from Hapstone.
Then I would just replace those worn out WS stones with normal stones you can get from anywhere. Probably I would just get a set of 8 diamond stones on plastic blanks from Amazon.
Before someone turns his nose up..... I'm pretty sure I know where those WS diamond plates are coming from.

I recently purchased a set of 3 diamond plates for my EP Apex (120, 400, 1k) for $28. That's half what I paid for a single Atoma 140# a few years ago.

Yes they have plastic bases but shit.. for that price I figured even if they weren't great no big loss.
They've been terrific though.

 

[TheOne45]

recently purchased a set of 3 diamond plates for my EP Apex (120, 400, 1k) for $28. That's half what I paid for a single Atoma 140# a few years ago.
Yes they have plastic bases but shit.. for that price I figured even if they weren't great no big loss.
They've been terrific though.

This set of 8 diamond plates I mentioned comes for about $26 .... so $3.25 for a plate. I got same plates from eBay (about $40 for 10 plates) and those plates work for me just fine for almost 4 years.
But in reality you actually don't need so much plates. Your set of 3 plates is more or less enough.

#80 and #120 plates are not on the photo
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J45f6DF__q64Ng1nkSs3LOed2BJGKu9g/view?usp=drivesdk

 

[Maximumbob54]

If I replace the Worksharp it will probably be for the smaller Hapstone. The plates for the Worksharp are a smaller proprietary size that come with double sided tape on the back. Each rod has a rotating part that holds three plates. So I'm not sure you could use anything third party that you wouldn't have to seriously alter to fit. The plates are pretty cheap though which would also support your thought of where they probably come from. Which I suppose is true for most things these days.

 

[TheOne45]

Each rod has a rotating part that holds three plates. So I'm not sure you could use anything third party that you wouldn't have to seriously alter to fit.

Looks like it was a misunderstanding. I thought you have the new 'pro' version system.
Well, you could buy plates without backing (they are 1mm thick) and cut them to size but I doubt it's worth the trouble.
I would say it's not a bad system and the price is reasonable. For EDC and other smaller knives you don't need much more.