Wicked edge shapening system.

S

smcjoecohen@yahoo

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Nov 22, 2011
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515
The Wicked edge looks like the best sharpening system on the market right now. I have developed enough skill to sharpen w/a stone, I use diamond, but it still takes a while to fix a knife that has more than just a dulled edge. I had to work on a Strider AR for a few hours to get it to have an even bevel again. It came from factory uneven. I like the Sharpmaker, but it doesn't do much for a more damaged blade. I strop w/an old belt, I just lay it on a table, no board mount or anything. I'm wondering if anyone has the W.E. and what they think of it. It seems like too much money to me. I would say $125-$165 would be fair, $275 is hard to justify, especially since I don't really need it, but it would speed things up if it works as well as on video. What do W.E owners have to say?
 
It works quite well, actually. I have one of the first second-production-run models, with some minor upgrades performed by Clay, and it performs very well. It IS pricey, no mistake there, but I don't think that there is any more precise system on the market at this time. It is considerably faster than the EP, and is gaining an aftermarket quickly. Stone-wise, pretty much anything you can get on the EP you can get on the WEPS now, although the cost per change is higher since you need two stones instead of one. Of course, that balances out in that each stone only gets half the wear, so only dishes half as fast, etc. It's not even comparable to the Sharpmaker, at 5X the cost it's a completely different breed of cat. Reprofiling is no issue at all for it, and if you want it to go even FASTER, you can easily pick up far coarser plates than the stock 100s. Atoma 140s on the WEPS are a sight to behold!

It DOES take a bit of practice to use well, Clay makes it look absurdly easy, but the learning curve is shorter than the EP's. An Angle Cube is a necessity, not an option if you're going for precision. A good option for you might actually be to use the WEPS and the Sharpmaker together. Use the WEPS for the initial sharpening and to set the bevels at ~28 or ~38 degrees, then do your touch-ups with just a few strokes on the Sharpmaker. Using the Sharpmaker Fine and UF rods after the WEPS stock 600s puts a VICIOUS little microbevel on just about anything, and FAST.
 
Using it isn't terribly difficult. Use light pressure, make a burr on one side. Then make a burr on the other. Then you just polish away with each successively higher grit you have until you're done, then strop if you feel like. I bought the pro pack for around $289 when it was 30% off. I had to wait 4 months to get it after paying, though! For me it works pretty well but I use it in conjunction with the sharpmaker. I typically reprofile to 30 or 40 degrees on the WEPS and then maintain the edge on the Sharpmaker. The Sharpmaker is less effort to set up and it's nice for touchups.

Yes, it is a lot of money. Yes, it's probably overkill for most people. I felt that the pro pack for $289 was a pretty good deal because it came with the paperstone base, grits up to 1000, 2 strops and 3.5 and 5 micron paste tubes. I wouldn't have wanted to pay $400 or whatever the going price is. A lot of people will tell you to learn to freehand. Some will say a convex edge is better so you should use 3M wet/dry sandpaper and a mousepad. Some will say an EP is better than the WEPS. It's all personal preference. I like mine, it works, and it gets used enough that I feel it was worth the money.
 
Funny thing? I have EP, WEPS, a belt grinder, a Sharpmaker, an Arkansas stone and a number of diamond plates to use freehand.

I use ALL of them. Just depends on what I'm working on, how much time I have, and what I'm feeling when I decide to sharpen. They ALL have strengths and weaknesses, some major, some minor. By FAR my most used is the belt grinder. I have a Kalamazoo SM1, and a full spread of Trizact belts for it. With care, I can get a HHT edge off of it most of the time, and it is what I use for sharpening down at the shop, along with all of my working knives. But my Sharpmaker is in my truck's center console storage (because sometimes I'm not IN my shop when I need to sharpen), and the WEPS sits on the bench in my shop for when I really feel like a precision V-bevel. The EdgePro Apex is my go-to for taking with me when I am on the road, for it's small packed size and large capability, even if it's slower than the WEPS.

I guess my point is that they all have their place. If you don't mind the cost and want the best precision you can get, I doubt you'll do any better than the WEPS. The "hand sharpening only!!1!!one!" people will be around before too long, I suspect, deriding the guided systems in general for cost and as "a crutch", but I personally like them.
 
Like Komitadjie said, it may be the most accurate.

Add everything else he said, not much more to add.
Only thing I'll add is convex is easy on a WEPS. And you can even go back and give the edge some teeth is you want, as once in the vice, its your boy.

Like Komitadjie, I have the variety of sharpening tools.
Technical things and pricey things get the WEPS.

Tantos I stage on the WEPS as it one of the things that gets that sharp meeting of the bevels.

Its also a very useful tool for certain areas you can't get to with other things.
 
IMHO, the Edge Pro is quicker. I can quickly adjust the arm for the angles- much quicker than the WEPS. I think I get slightly sharper edges with the WEPS using aftermarket stones- I'm not thrilled with the diamond plates and strops with the "Pro" system. The WEPS is quick for touch-ups (I don't even use my Sharpmaker anymore). I think the Edge Pro is better for longer blades; I'm not too sure about the WEPS for long blades (angle control). IOW, I'd say it's a tough call and I use them both!

Good sharpening,
Dave
 
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