I should have some feedback later this week. I sold a few knives and picked up the complete kit (minus the base of course). UPS say sit will be here tomorrow. I should have time to start playing with it over the weekend. I really like the concepts of the system (repeatable clamping and angles, diamond stones) - hopefully it lives up to my expectations (which are fairly high for $380)...
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Wicked Edge (tm) Sharpener?
- Thread starter Jaundice
- Start date
I should have some feedback later this week. I sold a few knives and picked up the complete kit (minus the base of course). UPS say sit will be here tomorrow. I should have time to start playing with it over the weekend. I really like the concepts of the system (repeatable clamping and angles, diamond stones) - hopefully it lives up to my expectations (which are fairly high for $380)...
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2010
- Messages
- 643
I look forward to reading your review
I have had the Wicked Edge Precision Sharpener Mark II since the 27th of July and I am supremely happy with it. I have been sharpening-skills challenged for over 60 years now but after this device arrived in time for my 75th birthday, this is no longer so. I am a knife collector who decided to spoil myself now with the best stuff I can afford and my research led to me to Clay and his wonderful sharpener.BTW let me say here that Clay Allison and his people give some of the best service I have found in years. He is very patient and answered all my questions and also he is extremely generous...it is a private matter but let me tell you that he didn't have to do it because I didn't request what he did and it cost him money. A thoughful gentleman!
I mounted it on an inch and a quarter cutting board and inserted my precious Fallkniven PXL folder, which has been my everday carry knife for a year and a half and was just recently needing a sharpening, into the incredibly strong vise. Wait, wait! Let me hasten to add for people who are aghast that I would sharpen a convex blade in this device...it is not a full convex grind and in fact even one of the Swedish experts from the Fallkniven forum on another site is not sure what it is. Fallkniven itself recommends sharpening it on their DC4 stone. Anyway I went ahead and put a micro-bevel on the edge. I followed Clay Allison's suggested work-flow 'by the numbers' and ended up with a razor sharp edge that I believe I am correct when I say it was sharper than when I got it. At last, after all these decades of sloppy edges and derisive snorts from my son (just kidding) I had turned out an edge that did everything a sharp knife is supposed to do: it sliced through para-cord with aplomb, it sliced thin paper from heel to point with a very satisfactory zipping sound that you only get from a sharp knife, it shaved hair from my arm and I went into the kitchen a butterflied a number of chicken breast with an ease that was very satisfying and effortlessly rivaled my custom made chef's knife chopping veggies. To say I was thrilled is to understate the case grossly! Since then I have sharpened the knives in my growing collection and I have even maintained the convex edge on my Bravo 1 Barkie with just the strops and diamond paste from 14 to 3.5 microns.
I am glad it can do that too since I will soon have a new Gunny and STS-5 from Bark River.
If anyone has questions or if you would like pictures of the rig, hones and strops ask away and I will do my best to answer. Before I do let me empasize that this is the rig for me hands down but in no way will I put down another sharpening device on any forum. I will simply give my opinion on the WEPS.
Cheers
Leo
I mounted it on an inch and a quarter cutting board and inserted my precious Fallkniven PXL folder, which has been my everday carry knife for a year and a half and was just recently needing a sharpening, into the incredibly strong vise. Wait, wait! Let me hasten to add for people who are aghast that I would sharpen a convex blade in this device...it is not a full convex grind and in fact even one of the Swedish experts from the Fallkniven forum on another site is not sure what it is. Fallkniven itself recommends sharpening it on their DC4 stone. Anyway I went ahead and put a micro-bevel on the edge. I followed Clay Allison's suggested work-flow 'by the numbers' and ended up with a razor sharp edge that I believe I am correct when I say it was sharper than when I got it. At last, after all these decades of sloppy edges and derisive snorts from my son (just kidding) I had turned out an edge that did everything a sharp knife is supposed to do: it sliced through para-cord with aplomb, it sliced thin paper from heel to point with a very satisfactory zipping sound that you only get from a sharp knife, it shaved hair from my arm and I went into the kitchen a butterflied a number of chicken breast with an ease that was very satisfying and effortlessly rivaled my custom made chef's knife chopping veggies. To say I was thrilled is to understate the case grossly! Since then I have sharpened the knives in my growing collection and I have even maintained the convex edge on my Bravo 1 Barkie with just the strops and diamond paste from 14 to 3.5 microns.
I am glad it can do that too since I will soon have a new Gunny and STS-5 from Bark River.
If anyone has questions or if you would like pictures of the rig, hones and strops ask away and I will do my best to answer. Before I do let me empasize that this is the rig for me hands down but in no way will I put down another sharpening device on any forum. I will simply give my opinion on the WEPS.
Cheers
Leo
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2010
- Messages
- 643
Can it sharpen narrow blades? It would seem by the nature of the design that on a small blade, the angle would be too steep and the stone would hit the clamp.
Hi Rick
You tell me how narrow and I will try to find one around the house of that size and test it out. My Buck Model 110 blade at mid-blade is .74 inched wide and that is where you clamp in the WEPS vise, at mid-blade. There is a two position stop on the vise...the top stop is for narrow blades and the second lower stop for the widest blades. I keep a record of the knives I sharpen and note which position they are in according to depth and the knife point. With these two co-ordinates I can always put the knife back in the exact same attitude each time I sharpen so as to not disturb the profile during touch ups.
SO to answer your question as simply as possible, a .74 inch wide blsde was easy, no problem.
Leo
You tell me how narrow and I will try to find one around the house of that size and test it out. My Buck Model 110 blade at mid-blade is .74 inched wide and that is where you clamp in the WEPS vise, at mid-blade. There is a two position stop on the vise...the top stop is for narrow blades and the second lower stop for the widest blades. I keep a record of the knives I sharpen and note which position they are in according to depth and the knife point. With these two co-ordinates I can always put the knife back in the exact same attitude each time I sharpen so as to not disturb the profile during touch ups.
SO to answer your question as simply as possible, a .74 inch wide blsde was easy, no problem.
Leo
The first sto is not too deep so as you might be able to discern in this shot of my Schrade Bear Paw with also a .74 inch wide blade, there is a lot of blade sticking up clear so the hones can lap it quite nicely. The narrow profile of the vise itself gets it out of the path of those rods on their universal joints locked into the correct angle.
How do I get a preview of my picture on this thing. Please forgive me if the picture does not come out right.
Leo
How do I get a preview of my picture on this thing. Please forgive me if the picture does not come out right.
Leo
Just finished sharpening three knives w/ my new wicked edge. I have to agree with Leo - this thing is fantastic! After practicing on the first two knives (which both turned out great), I just finished putting a better edge on my Benchmade 615 than I've ever seen on any knife I've ever owned. I'll try to write up something more detailed later when I have time to take some pictures but I'm very happy with the performance!
I am glad to hear you love your Wicked Edge Precision Sharpener too mate. The knives in my collection are all sporting finely honed edges that I have never been able to give them to this point. Did you get the leather strops too or the basic kit?
I couldn't resist and purchased the 800/1000 grit hones as well as two sets of leather strops and diamond paste. I may go on to get the ceramic hones later when they are back in stock.
Cheers
Leo
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2010
- Messages
- 195
How small of angle will it go to and how expensive are the stones?The first sto is not too deep so as you might be able to discern in this shot of my Schrade Bear Paw with also a .74 inch wide blade, there is a lot of blade sticking up clear so the hones can lap it quite nicely. The narrow profile of the vise itself gets it out of the path of those rods on their universal joints locked into the correct angle.
How do I get a preview of my picture on this thing. Please forgive me if the picture does not come out right.
Leo
15 deg per side. I just did a quick angle check and it looks like it will do 13-14 deg for most of my knives - obviously the angle varies a little as a function of blade width and depth in the clamp...
Prices:
http://www.wickededgeusa.com/
It really is easy to use and a big plus for me is the repeatability. Using the depth stop and a ruler, I can reclamp a blade in the same spot each time which means consistent angles without trial and error.
The stones are 50 dollars a pair, there are some that are 45 dollars and the leather hones are 35 dollars a pair and you get the necessary diamond paste for that.
The smallest marked angle is 15 degrees but 13 degrees is possible if you put the collars right up to the vise. Apparently it is possible to get an extra degree if the portion of the blade clearing the vise is .625 inches or more . But for all of this I would consult with Clay! He is very approachable and usually gets back to you within 24 hours.
I hope this helps
Cheers
Leo
Save all that money and just get a Gatco. Same idea as Lansky but better all around. I have never been able to get hair shaving edges until I got the Gatco. but if you don't learn how to properly use it you won't either. Check out this video on youtube and follow his way. Watch all the parts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-KrDFLygeI
Now all my knives are literally hair popping sharp and I get much more enjoyment out of them knowing that I can restore the edges. Not scared to use them. Even stropping on a $10 leather belt makes all the difference.
Seriously, save your money!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-KrDFLygeI
Now all my knives are literally hair popping sharp and I get much more enjoyment out of them knowing that I can restore the edges. Not scared to use them. Even stropping on a $10 leather belt makes all the difference.
Seriously, save your money!!
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2010
- Messages
- 195
Good to know. Do the stones last?
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2010
- Messages
- 195
I have seen this video. He does a great job.
Yup they last for a long time and unlike stones they don't have to be flattened. You don't have to use water while sharpening and there is no mess. You have to wash them in warn water and gentle detergent using a brush every now and again to get rid of filings from your various jobs.They work even better once they are broken in after a few sharpenings.
As for the sharpener mentioned above, I have been through so many that said the same thing and either they failed or I failed or both. This is the first sharpener that has done exactly what it says it does and does what I want it to do. I have laid my money on the WE and I will stick with it.
All the best
Leo
are you in some way affiliated with wicked edge ?
Not at all! I am a retired teacher living in Canada and 75 years of age mate. My opinions are my own and not prompted by anything but an attempt to inform people like me who are klutzes at sharpening what my experiences are with this device. I have no axe to grind(pardon the pun) just my honest opinion on this jig, which I bought myself as a present to myself...my wife is still shaking her head in disbelief for two reasons: that I would care so much about sharpening knives and also that all her kitchen knives now are sharper than when brand new!
Best to you my suspicious friend
Leo
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2007
- Messages
- 2,655
And this is the result after further refinement with wet & dry paper in gritsizes 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, and 2000, after which some no-name polishing compound on cardboard.
There is still a slight haze visible because at the time i didn't have a finer polishing compound.
All work was done on the Wicked Edge.
Amazing pictures.$400. for a sharpener is crazy to me.But that edge is unreal.Unpolished i thought the edge looked too wide near the tip.But polished it looks great.