Wicked Edge WE130

[SteadyD]

I just ordered the Wicked Edge WE130 with 100/200 grit, 400/600 grit, 800/1000 grit, 1500/2200 grit and leather strops with 5 micron all the way down to .5 micron.

Does anyone have experience and/or advice on this unit? I like semi free hand using the Sharpmaker from Spyderco but I also like repeatable results and the Wicked Edge seems to be among the best for folks like me who probably won’t ever master free-hand sharpening.

I intend to purchase the additional clamp which allows sharpening kitchen knives all the way down to 10 degrees for our collection of kitchen knives.

 

[SteadyD]

Well, it works.

 

[Reinz]

Nice even looking edge.

Wow, just looked it up on Amazon! Six fiddy is a commitment! And no motor.

 

[SteadyD]

I’ll snap a pic later

 

[SteadyD]

I’ve taken over half of the kitchen table. I went all the way to 2200 with diamond stones and the 5, 3, 1, and . 5 micron diamond paste strops to get the mirror polished edge.

 

[Valkman]

I love my WE! I have had it a long time and have never regretted buying it in the least. You can do a lot with it!

 

[sparkyv]

Oooooo, shiny edge. Me likie.

 

[Reinz]

I’ve taken over half of the kitchen table. I went all the way to 2200 with diamond stones and the 5, 3, 1, and . 5 micron diamond paste strops to get the mirror polished edge.


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Very nice! Thanks for the pics.

You got me thinking about one now.

 

[SteadyD]

My first edge picture was a Sun and Moon Chaparral. This is a Bird’s Eye Maple Chaparral. CTS-XHP is one of my favorite steels to sharpen since it’s so easy to work with. I did a slight re-profile starting at 400 and went through 2200 and down to .5 micron on the strops. The mirror polish edges are fun, even if unnecessary. I have serious respect for those who can achieve them freehand.

 

[SteadyD]

Very nice! Thanks for the pics.

You got me thinking about one now.

It is a cool setup, but as you mentioned, it’s stupid expensive. Once you throw in a base, stones through 2200, and strops, it’s even more ridiculous. I have some knives that are in steels I wouldn’t feel confident re-profiling/fixing edge damage without something like this. Plus, it’s fun to be so precise when I have the free time. Of course, my $70 Spyderco sharpener will touch up edges and keep a knife sharp just fine, at less than a tenth of the cost.

 

[JohnKSa]

The mirror polish edges are fun, even if unnecessary. I have serious respect for those who can achieve them freehand.

Regardless of how good a person is freehand, there's no way to match the uniformity/perfection possible with a good guided sharpening system. There's always going to be some rounding of the bevel due to the fact that holding the sharpening angle perfectly just isn't possible freehand. As far as the level of polish goes, it's possible to duplicate that with hand stropping, but the bevel surface will still show rounding instead of being perfectly flat like you can get with a guided system.