Wicked Edge Blanks

S

salguod

Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
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I’m thinking of pulling the trigger and getting a Wicked Edge sharpening system. I have been reading all the opinions here and studying the WE website. One thing that I see missing on their website is Wicked Edge blanks. I would like blank sharpening blocks faced with glass that I could glue 3M Microfinishing Film to. I see balsa wood blanks and leather strop blanks, but no plain or glass blanks that I could tape sandpaper, microfinishing film, etc to. I love the diamond blocks for the major work, but I prefer 3M Microfinishing Film to extra-extra fine stones and strops. Does anybody make glass blanks for this? I guess I could make them myself, it doesn’t look too hard. I just don’t understand why glass blanks are not offered as an option. Am I missing something?

Doug
 
If I were to take a wild guess as to why they are not offered, it would be because Wicked Edge offers their own hyper-fine style stones (**at quite a hefty price). ;)
 
Phyx said:
If I were to take a wild guess as to why they are not offered, it would be because Wicked Edge offers their own hyper-fine style stones (**at quite a hefty price). ;)
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Perhaps, but I'm a poor boy. Help me out. :-) Is something like this offered commercially? Has anyone made them for themselves? It can't be that hard; can it? With the base model Wicked Edge (it comes with some diamond stones) and a few glass blocks and 3M Microfinishing Film, I reckon that I would be good to go.
 
salguod said:
Perhaps, but I'm a poor boy. Help me out. :-) Is something like this offered commercially? Has anyone made them for themselves? It can't be that hard; can it? With the base model Wicked Edge (it comes with some diamond stones) and a few glass blocks and 3M Microfinishing Film, I reckon that I would be good to go.
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Yeah, I hear ya. I don't know a whole lot about the 3M tape, but would It be possible to put it on top of some ceramic stones? You could try to find a set of cheaper Wicked Edge ceramic stones and just use those as a glass blank, although that might be a little pricey. Maybe try to pick up a used set on the secondary market? I have never heard of someone making their own blanks, but I suppose its possible. I'm pretty sure there's nothing offered commercially, but I'm no expert and I'd say it's worth a look (Google!).
 
Before I read this thread I'd never even heard of this sharpener! Up to yesterday I was thinking about getting some sort of strop to complement my Spyderco Sharpmaker. Thanks, this is something worth considering.
 
Post sharpening questions in Maintenance, Tinkering & Embellishment, where I moved this.
 
Just drop Clay an email, Salgoud, he can set you up with pretty much anything you'd care to have, from blank paddles to ones with glass already applied. I know he's done some experimentation himself with the microfinishing papers, so he was probably using glass blanks as well. As I recall, he wasn't all that impressed with them, and preferred the graded diamond sprays and pastes on balsa or leather. Clay is a great guy, and is more than willing to talk new stuff for the WEPS!

I'm waiting out the last few weeks before mine comes in off of back-order, actually. This'll blow your Sharpmaker right out of the water, Mystic. :)
 
I've had a conversation with Mr. Allison, and he strikes me as the kind of chap that is exceptionally open minded, especilly concerning improvements to his products. :thumbup: By all means, contact him.

He will either accept your suggestion, or give you a quite detiled explanation if has has experiemented with them and found them wanting. A very good chap to do business with. Very much like Ben Dale at Edge-Pro. :)

I should also mention that I used glass blanks and 3M abrasive paper for several years on my Edge-Pro Professional, with considerable satisfaction. However, after being persuaded to try finer grit Shapton and Chosera stones, followed by stropping with Balsa glued to EP blanks and charged with ultra fine Diamond and CBN compounds, I have discontinued the use of glass and paper. :p

Perhaps your experiences will be different from mine, but this procedure has worked quite well for me. :thumbup:
 
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Thanks for the tips, Komitadjie and Ben.

Yes, Clay already answered me on his forum and said that he could make me glass blanks. But then perhaps I was not asking the correct question? If the balsa and leather strops with compound do a better job than glass with abrasive papers, perhaps that is what I should be looking for. I have always been a little apprehensive of leather strops because of their (at least potential for) softness and lack of precision. But maybe my fears are not justified and leather would be fine. I haven’t tried balsa strops. Do you find balsa to be better than leather?
 
I personally have never been able to tell much of a difference.

I ordered the Pro-pack #1, which includes the plates down to 1K, then strops at 5 and 3.5 micron. To that, I think I'm going to add strops at 1 and .5 micron, just for the fun of it. If you haven't checked out Clay's Wicked Edge facebook page, you should. He's posted a lot of very good photographs and micrographs of finished edges (almost all of which he uses the strops to get) and videos detailing unique setups. Interestingly enough, in most of the videos he seems to be using the leather paddles.

Honestly, I'd go with the leather-and-spray, and forget the 3m film entirely. I'm looking forward to getting my WEPS and trying it out, I've been using an EP for quite a while now, and am ready for a new gadget! :D
 
For use on the Edge-Pro, I find balsa far more forgiving of the occassional pressure deviation, and far easier to fabricate and use. I have reserved my leather for hand stropping.

I have finally decided to purchase a WEPS, and I look forward to side-by-side comparisons on that unit.
 
I'm planning the same, Ben. My biggest problem using the EP is holding the two sides of the bevel consistent, especially when the blade is a faceted shape that tends to rock on the table. The WEPS solves all that... It will be very interesting! Clay's procedure for sharpening full-flat grinds looks a bit ghetto-rigged, but you can't argue with the results he gets with it!

Overall, I'm really looking forward to trying it out.
 
Komitadjie said:
I personally have never been able to tell much of a difference.


Honestly, I'd go with the leather-and-spray, and forget the 3m film entirely. I'm looking forward to getting my WEPS and trying it out, I've been using an EP for quite a while now, and am ready for a new gadget! :D
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I agree with Dan! I have tried the 3M tapes and they are good but no better than the diamond sprays on leather or balsa...in fact not as good in my estimation. Also more trouble to put on and take off when worn away.
Clay is very helpful and will supply the paddles from bare paddles on up. You just have to ask. That is the kind of guy he is.

Cheers
Leo
 
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