Wicked Edge & Small Blades (grinding the clamp system)

[WRK003]

I just recently sharpened my CRKT Gentlemens Tactical and had a hell of a time using the WEP+ system.

The Acuto+ blade is long but quite slender.

Thus despite using 2 layers of 3m backing tape and mounting the knife in the very very tip top of the clamp (way above the leveling key), I had to go all the way up to 20 degrees in order to keep from grinding the damn clamp system instead of the knife. Please note, I had to use 2 layers to thicken the blade to it would sit in the very center of the clamping system.

Has anyone had experience with sharpening small knives on this system? What else can I do?

I guess sharpening my 1 inch al mar is out of the question? Does the apex pro do better with tiny knives? I only ask because I got one for Christmas right after I bought the wicked edge. I had love the wicked edge so much I planned on sending the apex pro back but now I am having doubts.

Thanks for all of your help!
Ryan

 

[MVF]

My experience is that the EP was worse and very hard to use on small blades, but I'm sure there are those who manage. I haven't sharpened anything small enough yet for this to be a problem on my WE, but when I do I am going to try using something to "extend" the clamp. I wish I could draw it because its really pretty simple, but hard to describe in words.

Think about sticking 2 pieces of a good stiff material about 1"x3/4" and about 1/8" thick (all measurements are approximate, once you start to do this you'll see what you need) in the clamp. It will probably work better if you put a spacer about the thickness of the blade in the bottom. Now position the blade near the top, but low enough to hold solidly. This should let you raise the edge enough to get a shallower angle.

 

[kwackster]

The smallest knife i have sharpened on my WE so far was a Spyderco Ladybug VG10, and it worked perfectly.
Sharpened it up to 30 degrees inclusive with a 600 grit diamond grit finish & removed the burr on leather with 6 micron diamond compound.
I always use a small piece of 800 grit wet & dry paper folded over the back of the blade (grit side out of course) to immobilize the knife in the clamp.

 

[kwackster]

Here is a Spyderco Bug i reprofiled to 30 degrees inclusive using only the 400 & 600 grit diamond stones.
Removed the burr on a leather strop with 6 micron diamond compound: hairshaving sharp as well as a lot of bite.

The blank spots you can see on my Wicked Edge clamp come from earlier attempts to get as narrow an edge as possible on certain other knives.