Brother-in-law got a Wicked Edge Sharpener

[JohnKSa]

I got to try it out this weekend. As some have mentioned, there's a little bit of a learning curve, but even on my first attempt at sharpening with the system, I got an excellent edge on the knife and I could tell that my technique was improving rapidly.

He's had real trouble sharpening in the past, but he sharpened a couple of knives while I watched and was getting amazing results. He's very happy with it--he went for the Pro Pack.

I'm thinking I may have to give in and buy one for myself. I've been putting it off, but I really want one...

 

[Valkman]

I have the Pro Pack also along with some extra balsa strops. I get great, shiny edges that are super sharp - and I've never been great at sharpening either.

They are expensive but I love mine.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I have a Spyderco and I still use the "stones" a lot but that Wicked Edge system is really becoming a temptation.
I saw a demo at a gun show recently and it was impressive.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Stock up on band-aids.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

If it was a new Wicked Edge, then you'll see even better results the more you use it. Between the stones wearing in and the experience you pick up as you play with it, your results, say six months in, will be a lot better than what you are seeing with it the first time around.

I've been playing around with convex edges, which are suprisingly effective though a bit of work to set up at first. I've also come to a tenative conclusion that the only purpose in grits smaller than 3.5 micron is just to make the edge pretty. Then again, I am learning new things with it all the time.

 

[rcmodel]

How does the Wicked Edge handle knives with a pronounced unsharpened choil behind the ground edge?

I have a Chefs Choice electric sharpener that certainly puts a shaving edge on a blade.

But it makes a mess out of folders and such with a pronounced unsharpened choil that stops the blade edge from entering the guide all the way.

rc

 

[Zeke/PA]

How does the Wicked Edge handle knives with a pronounced unsharpened choil behind the ground edge?

I have a Chefs Choice electric sharpener that certainly puts a shaving edge on a blade.

But it makes a mess out of folders and such with a pronounced unsharpened choil that stops the blade edge from entering the guide all the way.

rc

RC,
Believe it or not, I did a lot of prototype/ development work for Edgecraft/Chef's Choice years ago and the present factory is located close by. Their products are excellent and well researched . Blade edge testing procedures were/are well enhanced by their sharpeners ability to produce a precise edge time after time . Their Cutlery while not cheap is among the worlds finest in my mind as thorough research in it's development prevailed. The "choil" on folders and other blades gave me fits also.

 

[Valkman]

rc that choil should not affect how it sharpens since the stones come from the sides of the knife. I have sharpened every knife I own and the only thing I can't do is serrated edges.

 

[rcmodel]

Guess I need to read up on them.

I'm not even real sure what they are.

I think I was thinking of the Work Sharp belt sander sharpener!! :banghead:

rc

 

[Valkman]

Here's a pic of my Griptilian mounted in the WE shapener. The arms the stones are on swivel so you pick them up and work the blade back to front (I do anyway) - I do one side at a time but some use both stones at once in a rotating kind of way.



Here's another pic with nothing in the WE and no stones on the arms:

 

[lemaymiami]

Here's a link to wicked edge that includes a video of it in use. As much as I'd like to own one I just can't justify the cost...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzL41ygQG0o

 

[JohnKSa]

That's where I am, but I want it badly is getting very close to being sufficient justification!

 

[Valkman]

I sold some Civil War books and amputation saws on ebay to fund the WE. No way I could afford it otherwise, but I'm glad I got it.

 

[lemaymiami]

When I'm not on the water I make and repair fishing gear, make lures, tie flies, etc. I long ago decided that expensive things that weren't getting used very often were going to be left alone. Now if any of my customers also wanted knives sharpened, I'd have one in a heartbeat (and it wouldn't take too many customers, either...).

 

[GarySTL]

I bought a WE a few moths ago. Still learning the ropes, but it seems to work well if I do my part. Have the diamonds up to 1000, but need to get some of the finer grits to get that shiney edge.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Recently, I did a convex blade on the Wicked Edge and one of the steps for that is to back off the edge when you strop it (say primary edge is 18 degrees, you strop at 15 degrees). I have been very pleased with how well that blade cuts.

In fact, ever since I got the 1200/1600 stones and used them as an in-between step between the 1000 and stropping, all of my knives have been cutting better. The stropping is unbeatable for polishing; but I am beginning to think that a stropped edge may not be the best thing in the world for cutting if you aren't doing a straight razor.

It was interesting to me how much better results I was getting with the 1200/1600 (which is technically 5 micron/3.5 micron same as the strops). My hypothesis is the strop is "smearing" the metal but the stone is actually cutting it. At the edge, that seems to make a difference (albeit a small one).

 

[22-rimfire]

A lot of people like the Wicked Edge system.

RC, I have a Chef's Choice electric sharpener also. Used it on a Condor Kephart recently as I kept getting the edge uneven with bench stones. Staightened the edge right up, so now I'll use my usual DMT diamond stones. But generally speaking, I won't use the electric sharpener on anything other than fairly inexpensive kitchen knives. It is supposed to work with serrated edges also.