Stones Rubbing My Jaws

[Connor J]

Evening Crew,

I’m running the Gen 3 Pro.  Got an issue on smaller knives (like my 940 Benchmade, or Paring knives).  I like 16-18 degree angles and I have trouble getting them because my stones are rubbing my jaws.  I see they offer a low angle attachment but that’s for 10-12 degree.  I try to set my blade up higher but then it does’t have enough grip and moves in the jaw as I sharpen.  Anyone else having this issue? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks,

CJ

[Dnjiemor]

Amazon has a jig by tormek. Think it solves this issue

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[Organic]

What you are experiencing is normal. Small knives at low angles is a difficult combination for the WE. The low angle adapter doesn’t clamp these knives very well either which you have clearly observed as well. Your best bet is to go for a more obtuse angle. Some people have modified their sharpeners to have a riser block between the clamp and the base plate to allow narrower angles and this is a successful strategy.

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Brewbear, Haffner, Richard, Marc H

[Marc H]

The Low Angle Adapters, (LAA) allow for angles as low as 10º-12º.  You are not excluded from setting wider bevels when using the LAA.

Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)

[Nicko]

Organic wrote:

What you are experiencing is normal. Small knives at low angles is a difficult combination for the WE. The low angle adapter doesn’t clamp these knives very well either which you have clearly observed as well. Your best bet is to go for a more obtuse angle. Some people have modified their sharpeners to have a riser block between the clamp and the base plate to allow narrower angles and this is a successful strategy.

Can someone pls show me one of these?

[Marc H]

Here are photos of my modified, (modded) Wicked Edge Set-ups:

WE130:

Gen 3 Pro:

 

 

Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)

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Brewbear, Organic, NotSharpEnuff

[Dennis Hibar]

Dnjiemor wrote:

Amazon has a jig by tormek. Think it solves this issue

Be advised that while the Tormek does offer some advantages for smaller knives with narrow blades, it may prove frustrating to use with the Gen 3 … UNLESS you are able to clamp your knife in the Tormek so that the blade is perfectly aligned (perpendicular to the base).  Unlike the the WE models with the individually adjustable arms, you may not be able to adjust the Gen3 to achieve a symmetrical edge.  This is exactly why I kept my original WE (rather than upgrading) when I purchased my Gen 3.  I have a lot of small knives with narrow blades.  I do have the LAA, which I occasionally use with the Gen 3.  However, I do find that it is often hit or miss with particular small blades.

 

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[Richard]

Bought the Tormek for testing on my 3″ blade and it solved the problem.

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Marc H

[Connor J]

Thanks for the help guys!!

[Dnjiemor]

I think if your knives have a clip you should be able to use shim stock or key stock to even out the sides for the tormek to clamp uniformly. Hope so anyways because that’s wha I’m counting on. Will find out end of the week

 

[Ralph]

I have the Gen 3 Pro and the low angle attachment jaws, and I used it to sharpen my Benchmade 940 just fine. It basically raises the knife higher so the stones don’t hit the jaws. So you can either raise the jaws with a block underneath, or you can use the low angle attachment. I thought about using the Tormek adapter, and I still might get it, but that grabs the handle of the knife, not the blade, so the blade might not sit exactly vertical. One thing on the 940, I took off the thumb stud to keep the stones from grinding on it.

[Marc H]

I own and make use of all of these three, : A)  riser blocks, B) L.A.A., (low angle adapters) and C) the Tormek Small knife holder.  Each one has it’s place and it’s value.  My preference is the W.E. vise on the riser block but that doesn’t always hold a small knife.  Then I’ll try Plan B and if that fails,  Plan C.  All three are worth owning for the few instances I may need to employ them.

I sharpen predominantly larger knives; kitchen and fish cleaning knives.  For those of you who sharpen folders and EDC (every day carry) knives you’ll certainly find use for these adapters.  Every once in a while I get the privilege to sharpen a friends multi-blade SAK (Swiss Army Knife), with it’s off-center blade array.  Then I have to employ an alternative sharpening method like the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker.  I use whatever means I need to to get their knives sharp.

Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)

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Brewbear, Haffner, NotSharpEnuff, Organic, wickededge

[Kevin]

Are the riser blocks homemade or are you getting them from Wicked Edge or someone else?

 

[Marc H]

My riser blocks are Wicked Edge parts, no longer made or used, repurposed, from previous hardware upgrades we used in the past, during the evolution of the WEPS models over the years to the current version models. So in short, they are obsolete used W.E. parts.  It is my understanding that W.E. does not sell these or any other parts.

Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)

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Brewbear, NotSharpEnuff, Organic

[rummels]

I recently purchased a 1″ riser block from Kyle at Wicked Edge

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Kevin, Dwight Glass, Organic, Marc H

[Author]

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