[JohnKSa]

Spent some time talking to Clay Allison at the Wicked Edge booth and I have to say I was very impressed.

He demonstrated his sharpener on several knives (mostly walk-ups who had bought knives at nearby booths) and the results were spectacular.

After watching him use the system and describe it, I could find no problems or faults, nor could I see anything that could be corrected or adjusted to improve the system. I won't say he's thought of everything, but if he's missed something I would be surprised. He appears to be a perfectionist--or at least extremely concerned with attention to detail.

Everything is perfectly repeatable. The system is designed so that a knife can be removed and reinstalled in the sharpener in exactly the same position. There's even a space in the back of the manual where the appropriate information can be recorded for a knife.

The result is that once you get a knife sharpened, the next time you sharpen it, the edge will be identical if you use the recorded information to set the system up. More importantly, since it's all repeatable and the system results in a single bevel blade, you don't have to remove as much metal to get back to the same sharpness as you would if you had to resharpen a double bevel edge. That makes resharpening faster and increases the useful lifetime of the knife. It's also faster because you don't have to spend any time redetermining the setup required to get the edge angle you want.

It sounds complicated, but it's not. It's actually very simple. Anyone should be able to achieve essentially perfect results on their first attempt.

The system will also work with ceramic knives, although it seems that best results on ceramic blades are achieved using extremely fine grit stones--or even stropping with the strops and diamond grit paste.

Pretty neat system--I may have to have one in spite of the price. That's saying a lot since freehand knife sharpening is a very enjoyable pastime for me. I get very good results with my freehand sharpening and have fun getting it done. But I'll have to admit that I'm not achieving results anywhere near what the Wicked Edge system can provide. And it's taking me more time too.

[Valkman]

I have a WE and love it. I keep a record of each knife and what settings I used so touching up will be easy. I got the pro kit wih the base plus 2 extra balsa strops plus the 1200/1600 stones. Very nice set as is.

Clay is working on a lower-angle set up and also a scissor sharpening attachment.

[meef]

Dammit John.

Your posting sent me uncontrollably searching to find out more about this system.

Now, thanks to you, my bank account isn't what it used to be.

I guess I'll just be sitting around moping for a while.




And making some knives really sharp while I'm at it.

[JohnKSa]

I think you'll enjoy it and the results.

I've been working hard to justify the purchase. For awhile I was even thinking of trying to take in some knife sharpening work on the side to subsidize the cost of the system. The problem is, I would want the full-up system as well as some of the extras they sell as accessories. I haven't even priced everything on my wishlist yet... :o

Forgot one thing in my earlier post. Clay mentioned that he's also working on a setup that will allow WE users to sharpen essentially any kind of serrated blades and thinks it will be available soon. He wouldn't discuss details at all but he seemed pretty pleased with how it was progressing.

[rjrivero]

John, What's the matter with you? They're back orderd until the First of March. Now you go spill the beans to everyone on the forum? ;) (I kid of course.)

It's not cheap, by any stretch, but man, does it do a NICE job. I've got mine on order, along with the extra fine grit honing stone, and a couple of the leather strops of varying "grit" (if I can use the word "grit" with "strop").

[bikerdoc]

For awhile I was even thinking of trying to take in some knife sharpening work on the side to subsidize the cost of the system.

John,
I thought the same thing. You will cringe at the junk people will bring you. When I do charge, which is seldom, it is not much, but it is fun to see the expression when you hand back a sharp knife.

The most fun is teaching a noob to sharpen. Invariably they all say "that's not so hard"

[JohnKSa]

They're back orderd until the First of March.He did mention something along those lines and, from what I gather, that's not terribly unusual for them. I guess they're still having some trouble meeting demand.You will cringe at the junk people will bring you.People at work know I can sharpen things and will occasionally bring me a knife to work on, so I get a little taste of this. The first step is usually cleaning all the gunk off the blade before trying to assess the damage....it is fun to see the expression when you hand back a sharp knife.I've actually had mixed results. Many years ago, while visiting my folks, I sharpened all my mother's kitchen knives and within half an hour or so she had cut herself 3 times. I leave her knives alone now...

[Zeke/PA]

The Wicked Edge sharpners on E-Bay are around $450.00.
Other sources list them at around $250.00.
That's a LOT of money.
Can you guys that have purchased and used the Wicked Edge justify that expense?
Does the WE do a better job than I can using "stones"?
How does the WE compare with the Spyderco Sharpmaker?

[JohnKSa]

There are two kits they sell and that probably accounts for the price discrepancy you're seeing. The basic kit retails for around $250 and the "Pro" kits run roughly $400.

There is no comparison between the WE and the Sharpmaker. I have a Sharpmaker and it's a very handy system which will do a great job at getting a utility edge. But it's still a freehand sharpening system even though the design encourages a fairly consistent edge angle.

The WE (any controlled angle/guided sharpening system) will do a much better job than anyone can do freehand with stones. The WE will do it every time, exactly the same and it should be faster than any other non-motorized sharpener as a result of the high level of repeatability and the ability to sharpen both sides virtually simultaneously once you get the hang of it.

From what I can tell, their price is pretty reasonable if you look at what you get. For the basic kit that runs about $250, you get 8 diamond stones, 2 each in grits of 100, 200, 400 & 600. If you figure $20-30 bucks per stone, that's $160-240 right there before you get into any of the other equipment included in the kit.

Is it worth it to YOU? Can't nobody answer that one but you. ;)

[TimboKhan]

Having seen the WE system, I agree that it produces remarkable results.

My problem with it was simply the cost. For less than half the cost, I bought a WorkSharp Knife and Tool Sharpener, and I have been nothing but impressed with both the ease and the speed that I can get stuff sharpened.

Again, the Wicked Edge is pretty awesome, and you can sharpen past what I can do with my Worksharp. I know that I cannot get mirror edges like Valkman can. One day, I will probably buy one. At this point though, the Worksharp is definitely the right sharpener for me.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

John, What's the matter with you? They're back orderd until the First of March.

They were back-ordered past March 1 when I ordered in January. I'll bet after SHOT, they are back-ordered several weeks past March 1.

Can you guys that have purchased and used the Wicked Edge justify that expense?

I haven't received mine yet; but I justified it purely as a recreational/toy purchase. The sharpeners I had (the Sharpmaker) were doing a satisfactory job already even with my unskilled, hamhanded efforts.

Does the WE do a better job than I can using "stones"?

Don't know if it will do a better job than you can. However, I'm confident that even a mediocre sharpener can probably do a better job than I can. :) One of the things that did attract me about the WE though was that it appeared to be both easy and fast for even a neophyte to use.

How does the WE compare with the Spyderco Sharpmaker?

I'll let you know when I get my WE. Right now I do use the Sharpmaker with just the two sets of stones that came with it (medium and fine) and I can get knives sharp enough to shave hair off your arms with that.

I can explain why I decided to spend the cash on the Wicked Edge when I already had the Sharpmaker though.

1. Speed - the Sharpmaker ($95) does exactly two bevel edges (30deg and 40deg) and comes with two grits (medium and fine). So it is great for touching up knives that already have that bevel; but if you need to reprofile a bevel or do a lot of work, it takes a LONG time to get there with the medium stones. To make it more comparable to the base model Wicked Edge, you'd need to add the diamond stones ($70) and ultrafine stones ($48). At that point you've got four grits/ eight stones (like the base WE) but are still limited to two angles, and you've spent $213 total.

2. Versatility - where the Sharpmaker tops out with 4 grits, the WE starts out with that and you have lots of options from there - more grits, ceramic stones, waterstones, balsa or leather strops, etc. I also like that the WE is more adjustable for angles.

3. Quality - for me, I am always concerned that I spend as much time undoing my work with sloppy strokes (especially when I'm having to use a medium stone hundreds of times to reprofile). I was attracted by the fact that the bevel on the WE is about as close to perfect as possible and considerably better than I am likely to do even with the simple nature of the Sharpmaker. Ultimately, I hope I'll not only see a better edge; but remove less metal from the knife when it is time to touch up.

One thing I do still like about the Sharpmaker is that it is a good basic package that even I can use that you can get into at a decent price and that it does serrated edges (which is an option planned but not currently offered for the WE).

I'll let you know how hopes/expectations pan out; but from what I've read from Valkman, JohnKSA and others, it looks like the WE and I should get along well.

[Coyote3855]

For $400, I'll just buy 40 Rough Riders and throw them away when they get dull.

[JTW Jr.]

Worst part about a highly polished edge , touch up in the field :)

While I have seen the WE in use , I wasn't impressed enough to lay down the cash.

I have an Edge Pro that was given to me , wasn't impressed with that either , it collects dust.

For me , Bader III then to cardboard wheels is fast and all I need. For resharpening , ceramic stick or if needed , cardboard wheel setup.

[JohnKSa]

Worst part about a highly polished edge , touch up in the fieldIt's been my experience that the better the edge is to start with, the better it will be if you have to touch it up. You obvously won't be able to match the polish in the field, but the result of your touchup should be as good or better than it would have been if you had started with a blade that wasn't as well-sharpened to begin with.While I have seen the WE in use , I wasn't impressed enough to lay down the cash.I haven't bought one either. It's a great system, the best I've seen, but $400 is a really good chunk of my annual recreation budget. I'll probably get one eventually though....all I need.Yeah, "need" is a tough criteria to apply. I'd only have one or two knives, probably only 3 or 4 guns and would be sharpening using only a single stone--or maybe just a piece of sandpaper glued to a planed block of hardwood.For $400, I'll just buy 40 Rough Riders and throw them away when they get dull.That's a perfectly reasonable strategy for those who don't enjoy carrying a really high quality knife or having a really good edge on it. I know folks like that and I really have no problem with their approach to always having a sharp knife.

Another thing you might like is one of the folding utility knives with replaceable blades. Very handy for a variety of cutting tasks and even cheaper to keep sharp than a large supply of inexpensive pocket knives. I have a friend who carries one of these and has been very happy with it.

[JTW Jr.]

Just for giggles , I should send Valkman a CPM-D2 blade with no edge what-so-ever ( edge thickness is currently at about .016 ) and see how long it takes him to get it spooky sharp :)

I just can't see using one on a knife with no edge bevels what so ever.

[meef]

For $400, I'll just buy 40 Rough Riders and throw them away when they get dull.Yeah. I understand.

I've often contemplated buying a half dozen or so Hi-Point pistols and throwing them away when they malfunction.

[JTW Jr.]

Thanks Meef , that made my day.... I am going to use that rationale on a few friends who would rather buy 12 BIG 5 sale knives , than one decent $60 knife that will last them years.

[Valkman]

Just for giggles , I should send Valkman a CPM-D2 blade with no edge what-so-ever ( edge thickness is currently at about .016 ) and see how long it takes him to get it spooky sharp

Send it! :D

[Wobi Madaondo]

Hi, I watched the video on their site. Is this any better than the Lansky system( or Scrade,Smith,Gatco etc) ? Both seem to keep the blade at a certain angle. Difference being the Lansky's about $200 cheaper.I love gagets but am I missing something? Regards, WM

[Valkman]

AFAIK, the Lansky has "set" angles and you can't go in between them. For example 20 or 25 degrees but no 22. I do lots of angles on the WE (like 22 or 26 per side) and would not like being stuck at set angles. I have actually had the owner of a Lansky system send me his knife for sharpening and he was amazed at the results.

[aaronu]

Seems like it would be a better system than something like a Lansky, if for no other reason than it has more options for grade of sharpness, including leather strop options.

I think it may well be the best fixed angle system out there, but can anyone comment on whether the Wicked Edge system can handle convex edges?

More about convex edges: an internet knife seller, "Kniives Ship Free" , has some online videos on sharpening convex edges. The link is on the main page menu bar. (no affiliation, just liked the videos)

[Valkman]

but can anyone comment on whether the Wicked Edge system can handle convex edges?


It sure can. On YouTube there are videos of the WE doing all sorts of edges and Clay the owner does many of them. There's also a forum at www.wickededgeusa.com where this has been covered.

[Sniderman]

Drooled over the Wicked Edge for over a year, couldn't justify the price! ($400.00, That's a new gun!) :what:
Then I found Kingdom Knives' E Z Sharpener, Same type of clamped, fixed angle system with four different grit diamond hones instead of stones for half the price!
Brought it home that day and now my knives are sick sharp, and, I've cured that "Drooling problem"!:D

[Bartholomew Roberts]

$400 is for the "Pro" kit, which is a bit more involved. The base WE with 4 grits/8 stones is $250, which is still pricey; but a lot more comparable to other sharpening systems with that many stones.

[rjrivero]

My Wicked Edge finally came in. I had ordered it a while ago and was excited to finally get it. I used it to sharpen a couple kitchen knives, some of which were destined for garage/garden use. One had chips in the edge that were more than noticeable.

The learning curve for this system is pretty easy, even for a blade butcher like me! The results are impressive. I am NOT a knife guy. However, my brother got me a really nice pocket knife two years ago for Christmas. Last thanksgiving, he borrowed it to open some boxes, and it was embarrassingly dull. I decided I needed to get "serious" about keeping my blade sharp. The wicked edge will definitely do that!

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Finally received my own Wicked Edge sharpener and have sharpened six knives with it. First, let me give some background - i am not a knife guy, chef, or anyone who has more than a very basic competence with knives. In preparation for this, I've done some online research on sharpening and different theories. One of the basic things you've got to understand is raising a burr. Until you understand that, you might as well stick to pull through sharpeners.

Ok, I've sharpened about six knives now and these are my first impressions and are subject to change as I learn more.

If you are looking for something to keep your knives sharp in the kitchen with minimal effort, the Wicked Edge is probably not it. It can certainly do that; but there are other products that can do it more easily or cheaply - and even midrange solutions like the Sharpmaker can get knives sharp enough to shave the hair off your arm.

The big places the Wicked Edge excels is in reprofiling a bevel very precisely and in doing a scary sharp, mirror-edged polish on the blade. It does both of these well enough that it makes you wonder "How much faster/prettier could I make it with the extea-coarse stones and ultra-fine stones not included in the Pro Pack?

A couple of random thoughts:

I really likehow you can work on the knife while looking at the edge at the same time. The Spyderco doesn't have that and watching the stones work was like an education on the different kinds of steel. I tried putting an edge on a letter opener and you could literally watch the edge fold over and crumble if you tried an angle of less than 30 degrees. Likewise, I got a quick education on why my $5 kitchen knives are different from the $220 set I got as a gift.

Once I recognized the difference I really wanted to grab my knives that had better steel and see what I could do - hold off on that temptation for as long as you can because the stones get a lot better with a little break in (and so do you). I ended up doing a Kershaw Black Horse and was disappointed not to get the mirror edge I was looking for (scary sharp; just not pretty). Later on I did much better on polish on a kitchen knife. I think both the stones and I just needed a little more work.

As rjrivero noted, the system takes some time and patience to set up; but even a complete novice like me can produce professional results with a very short learning curve.

Ok, back to making all the knives in the house ridiculously sharp... More later

[Valkman]

but even a complete novice like me can produce professional results with a very short learning curve.


I agree. I made knives but never did know how to sharpen very well. I just sharpened them on my grinder and hoped they came out well and some were better than others.

Now every knife I own gets a super sharp, super shiny edge that cuts like a laser. I love my WE! I just wish I owned more knives so I could sharpen more.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

As evidence that a total novice who is doing well to make even bevels with a Sharpmaker can do a mirror edge with nothing but the Pro-Pack I contents and patience, I offer this (and the bevels are perfectly even as well):

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=162045&stc=1&d=1333318543

[rjrivero]

Nice edge, Mr. Roberts! Nicely done.

Your review is much better written than mine, and my hat is off to you for your review. I would also like to second your recommendation to keep off of your good blades until you have a few "practice" knives under your belt.

The thing that I have noticed is that even though both sides have a nice bevel gage to go by, you really want to make sure you match the angle to the bevel of the blade on each side. I haven't found a knife YET that I set the stones the same on both sides. I don't know if that's because of the fact that one half of the blade holder is held steady and the other side moves side to side to clamp the knife.

One little issue I have is with the base. They provide these nice countersink hex drive screws, then the base has no countersink to the holes. They provide neoprene backed washers? The base is 1.25" thick, and the screws are 1.5" long. The wicked edge base has threaded holes in them that do not go all the way through the base that are about .25" deep. While ascetically pleasing, these parts just don't all add up as nicely as I would expect. Countersunk 1.5" threaded screws end up too long to snug down the base. I went ahead and countersunk the screws like they are designed to be used, and then used a dremel to cut the screw down so I could snug the wicked edge holder to the base. The neoprene backed washers would take up the space just fine, but I didn't like that solution at all. In the scheme of things, these are nit-picky points and I'm VERY happy with what I'm able to achieve with this knife sharpening system.

The other thing you want to make sure of when using the leather strops with the diamond strop paste is to be sure to keep them from cross contaminating. You don't want any coarse grit paste on your fine grit strops. I use alcohol and paper towel to clean the blade and bevel before I put the strops to them, and then again before I switch to the fine strop. When I store them, I put them fine to fine and put them in a plastic baggie and wrap them up so they can't flip around.



Regardless, with the Pro Pack 1, this thing does a much nicer job than I could ever have done freehand. I will be posting some pictures when I can get around to it.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

One thing I am discovering is the system isn't ideal "as-is" for very thin blades with high angles (paring knives for example). I tried to sharpen a couple of cheap Henckel knives I'd picked up somewhere. The blade on these was so thin that by the time you screwed the clamp shut, the screw was protruding out the other side - which severely limits your range of motion on that side.

Additionally, if you try to do an angle of greater than 20 degrees on the thin knife (as you might on a small, thin paring knife), then it is difficult to avoid the screw and not drag the stones across the top of the clamp -(which scrapes the coating off the clamp and clogs the stones both).

The solution isn't especially difficult, you just need to wrap the blade in a U-shaped piece of paper, cloth, rubber, etc. to make the spine/clamping area wider. However, I thought I'd mention it here in hopes that it would save someone else from doing the same.

I'd also note that I'd read online os people doing this to protect the blade so that the clamp doesn't leave marks on it. I've got the second generation clamp (which I believe is on all WE sold after March 1, 2012) and so far I have not noticed any problems with this. The clamp holds the blade quite securely with no movement and no marks on the blade.

One other thing, is I had done knives that were sharp enough to shave the hair on my arm with a Sharpmaker. You might have to scrape a bit; but they would lop off some hairs, though maybe not always at the base or in a particularly even fashion. The high polish edge shown above will shave almost like a razor. It removes all the hair in its path where the hair meets the skin. When people talk about the hair jumping off the arm before the knife even touches it, this is what that looks like. Technically, both edges could be described as "sharp enough to shave the hair on your arm"; but there is a very noticeable difference between the two edges. So one of the things I've learned is that "shaving sharp" encompasses a much wider range of sharpness than I had thought. If you have seen me use that term prior to yesterday's post, please understand that my idea of "shaving sharp" at that time was the first example, and not the latter.