Wicked edge or Edge Pro

T

tlisowski

Joined
Nov 30, 2014
Messages
100
Hey guys,
I am new the forum and kind of new to knives. I have collected 5 knives since my first a year ago. I am looking for a sharpening system that is easy to jump right into and get great results. I have seen great reviews on both the wicked edge and the edge pro. Maybe there is another you prefer more?

Which do you prefer and why?

Thanks,
Tom
 
To each is own, but IMO learn to freehand and then once you learn to perfect it that way then buy one of the easier more efficient ways to sharpen such as those you mentioned. Especially if you're going to start collecting.

But... If you must, I would recommend the wicked edge.
 
Well I don't have a lot of experience so take this with a grane of salt. I ended up getting the Edge pro and have used it just a few times. I am the kind of guy that free hand is not a good option. I get a very unsatisfactory blade when I try to freehand. Right out of the box I was able to put a amazingly sharp edge on a couple of my spiderco. With absolutely no experience at all I am very very pleased with my Edge pro.

Definitely wait for more experienced people to jump in.

Roger
 
highestpoint said:
To each is own, but IMO learn to freehand and then once you learn to perfect it that way then buy one of the easier more efficient ways to sharpen such as those you mentioned. Especially if you're going to start collecting.

But... If you must, I would recommend the wicked edge.
Click to expand...

thanks for the feedback. i want a very nice even bevel and dont want to mess up my knives practicing. But duly noted!
 
k5MOW said:
Well I don't have a lot of experience so take this with a grane of salt. I ended up getting the Edge pro and have used it just a few times. I am the kind of guy that free hand is not a good option. I get a very unsatisfactory blade when I try to freehand. Right out of the box I was able to put a amazingly sharp edge on a couple of my spiderco. With absolutely no experience at all I am very very pleased with my Edge pro.

Definitely wait for more experienced people to jump in.

Roger
Click to expand...

Thanks! i am with you on the freehand thing. hahaha
 
tlisowski said:
thanks for the feedback. i want a very nice even bevel and dont want to mess up my knives practicing. But duly noted!
Click to expand...

That's exactly how I was too. Either buy a bunch of cheaper knives with softer steels that you don't mind ruining or buy a Spyderco Sharpmaker and use that until you become more comfortable with holding the knife. I'm still in the process of perfecting my freehanding skills as I'm nitpicky and am trying to find some decent stones in the mean time.

I bought the sharpmaker and became used to doing it that way and then I would pull the rods out of the stand and freehand that way. There are also some useful videos on how to start freehanding such as how to do the marker trick and stuff. It basically comes down to practice and patients. If you're willing to learn and take the time then it'll come.

Not trying to push the freehand thing on you but like I said IMO and I'm sure that 95% of other users will agree.
 
highestpoint said:
That's exactly how I was too. Either buy a bunch of cheaper knives with softer steels that you don't mind ruining or buy a Spyderco Sharpmaker and use that until you become more comfortable with holding the knife. I'm still in the process of perfecting my freehanding skills as I'm nitpicky and am trying to find some decent stones in the mean time.

I bought the sharpmaker and became used to doing it that way and then I would pull the rods out of the stand and freehand that way. There are also some useful videos on how to start freehanding such as how to do the marker trick and stuff. It basically comes down to practice and patients. If you're willing to learn and take the time then it'll come.

Not trying to push the freehand thing on you but like I said IMO and I'm sure that 95% of other users will agree.
Click to expand...
The sharp maker is a lot cheaper. Maybe I should do that to get comfortable with the knife. Like you said
 
The WE is awesome. The diamond stones from 100 to 1K cut fast and put a "wicked edge" on your blades. The ceramic pair will put a mirror polish and the strops further finish and polish. It is pretty $$$ but you have to buy 2 of every stone.
 
rmbonham said:
I own both. Hands down WE is the better system.
Click to expand...

I also own both. I only use my wicked edge now. The diamonds are the way to go. I use the sharp maker for most of my touch ups and recommend that as a first step.
 
I almost purchased one of these systems too and already own the Sharpmaker. My humble advice is to learn freehand. You CAN do it with some practice. If you go the diamond stone route you will get faster results.
My gripe with the WE and EP are that it takes time to set up and makes it an ordeal. If you learn to freehand, you can touch up your knives quickly any where.
Believe me I almost gave up on free handing but I just got that ahhhh moment on my new DMT stones and every knife is super sharp. This is without a strop, yet.
 
Djrichone said:
I almost purchased one of these systems too and already own the Sharpmaker. My humble advice is to learn freehand. You CAN do it with some practice. If you go the diamond stone route you will get faster results.
My gripe with the WE and EP are that it takes time to set up and makes it an ordeal. If you learn to freehand, you can touch up your knives quickly any where.
Believe me I almost gave up on free handing but I just got that ahhhh moment on my new DMT stones and every knife is super sharp. This is without a strop, yet.
Click to expand...

thanks for the input! everyone seems to say that the freehand is the way to go. i think i am going to buy the sharpmaker and maybe ask for a WE for christmas.
 
Well, just so you have some balance, a good guided system is far better for most people than freehanding. A guided system will give you a clean, crips apex and, with a bit of knowledge, a really sharp edge. Freehanding has advantages -- such as an incredibly wide choice of excellent stones -- but it requires a lot of practice and devotion and knowledge to match what a guided system can give you much more quickly.

My first good system was the Edge Pro Apex. It is an incredible sharpening system, but I didn't like it because it was fussy, needed water and regular stone maintenance. I switched to the Wicked Edge and I like it much better. I don't think the diamond stones will last as long as most regular stones, but they are fast and excellent for reprofiling an edge.

The Sharpmaker is a nice companion for the Wicked Edge if you use either the 30- or 40-degree angles to profile your edge with the WE. The Sharpmaker is good for quick touchups.
 
I don't think it was mentioned above, but a third option would be the KME system. Sort of best of both worlds of the brands mentioned. I've heard about them much over the last year or so that I've been using an Edge Pro, and thought I was getting good results (which I was) but the learning curve took some time. The KME seemed almost dummy proof and I'm now getting amazing edges in much less time. And you can start out with the Gold Diamond package for less than either of the others. Worth a look at least. Two cents spent :)

I should add, the EP has now been pushed under the bed. But I still keep a couple of Sharpmakers out on the table just for edge touch-up. If something has a great bevel, but just needs a re-tune, the Spyderco is great for that.
 
I have both and each one has it's strong points.
Most people find the Wicked Edge easier to use as it clamps the knife so you don't have to hold it.
Also No water or oil needed with the WE sharpener stones so its a little neater to use.

A few negatives for me on the WE:
I thought that for the price its a little sloppy in the build quality.
Stones float on the rods varying the angle slightly and also the plastic rod joints have some slop in them.
Still all in all does a fine job sharpening and I like the system.

The Edge pro system uses a little water on the stones but it isn't a big deal for me as the stones work very well.
Perhaps a bit more of a learning curve with the Edge Pro.
It has more flexibility of blade length and size I think than the WE sharpener.
For me I get great results with both systems but in the end I have gotten my best results with the Edge Pro.
Also I have called to ask a question or two and have been surprised that Ben Dale the owner answers the phone often times.
 
I had the same question and went with the KME. Love it, especially for the price.
 
Personally, I think both are great systems. I believe that you.can get equal results with both, but it may take more practice with the Edge Pro. If your comfortable with the learning curve is recommend the Edge Pro simply because of the huge difference in cost. Either way, you won't go wrong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top