WE or waterstones?/WE questions

[awc]

I find that my spyderco sharpmaker isn't enough (too wide an angle, can't rebevel etc)

So I've been looking at getting a Wicked edge. but its kinda expensive. I'm wondering if I get the WE what extras should I be getting? I can't afford to buy them all so I was thinking the extra and super fine hones would be enough, or should I be swapping (both or just one) those out for strops? I don't want to buy more than 2 extra hones/strops. (the 20% off sale is really attractive atm.)

As for the stones, I've been looking at these:
http://www.workwearcanada.com/products/detail.cfm?product=362
http://www.workwearcanada.com/products/detail.cfm?product=363

I've got difficulties in my current living situation that kinda impose some limits, both systems have their problems so for me its a lesser of two evil choice

Water stones are too messy and the WE is toobig/hard to store(from what I have read)

Thoughts?

and yes, I do have some minor experience using stones (sharpening chisels over the summer for fine woodworking).

 

[goat37]

I own the wicked edge and I ordered the basic set up + extra fine stones + super fine ceramics + leather (i also got the curved stones for recurve blades)

I love it... I would probably say your best bet is to get the extra fine and super fine stones as you could probably use a homemade leather strop of some sort if you wanted to.

You can sharpen each side to 15 degrees (that where the markers end anyway, I thought I read that if you push it in as far as it will go its in the neighborhood of 12-13 degrees) and the thing I like the most is that you get a consistent edge angle. It takes all the guesswork out of choosing an angle and keep it the same throughout the sharpening motion.

Portability is about the only drawback. I have mine mounted to a granite base, so it definitely stays put. That's not a huge issue for me though as I don't usually encounter situations where I would need to sharpen my knife on the fly. I make sure they are sharp before I leave the house and that's always been good enough for me.

Btw... reprofiling with the 100 grit stones takes nearly no time at all. I had an old CRKT that was all screwed up from using one of those handheld smith's sharpeners... and in about 90 seconds I had a whole new even working edge.
You can't go wrong with the WE!

 

[leomitch]

WEPS is a ditto for me. And soon it will even have waterstones (Shapton, Choseras and perhaps others) The rig itself is faultless except for its lack of portability and it wouldn't surprise me if Clay doesn't solve that problem too.
I couldn't be happier with this fine sharpening tool...and I have been through many! LOL!

BTW as for reprofiling, goat37 is correct...takes no time at all.

Warm regards
Leo