Vise and Low angle adapter issues
- This topic has 42 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 01/04/2021 at 4:25 pm by
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When we redesigned the jaws and added the center split and the tension adjust, we redesigned the pads so that they now slope continuously as seen in Precept’s photos.
For those in this thread with the more noticeable pads from the earlier design – can you confirm that you are able to get a better grip on thin blades with parallel sides and with the Low Angle Adapter?
Clay this is the original thin steel alignment guide, that came with the very first W.E. I started with years ago…a Pro Pack 2 with the Standard Vice WE120 Setup. I cannot confirm “I’m getting a better grip”. I don’t think I have any basis for comparison to something else.
This 0.5mm, thin parallel sided strip of steel, clamps and holds tight enough with the early design jaw set, (with the tensioner set to the lightest setting), that I’m able to lift this WE130 mounted to the granite base, up off the table. You can see I didn’t need to use tape or a chamois to enhance the thickness so it would hold tighter. The LAA holds just as securely.
The jaw set will clamp and hold phone book paper strips tightly, with out slipping, when tugged in all directions.
Marc
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We’re currently working on a new design for the jaws to solve the issue
Perhaps you should look at the V-shape solution that Work Sharp uses in their new Precision Adjust system which centers and holds the spine of the knife when clamped in the jaws.
Frans
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When we redesigned the jaws and added the center split and the tension adjust, we redesigned the pads so that they now slope continuously as seen in Precept’s photos.
For those in this thread with the more noticeable pads from the earlier design – can you confirm that you are able to get a better grip on thin blades with parallel sides and with the Low Angle Adapter?
Clay I can say based on the shared experience from the W.E. users to which I gifted my first original Gen 3 vises, the first version released. That vise version without the tensioner feature or the split jaws, does not hold a clamped knife as tightly and securely as this current version gen 3 vise does with the split jaw set and tensioner feature. (Even with the tension setting turned all the way to (-)).
That is, the current version vise/jaws included and used with the Gen 3 model version being sold and shipped now, included with the WE130, the Pro Pack 3, the Gen 3 Pro and the Commercial Series sharpeners, clamps knives tightly and securely.
Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)1 user thanked author for this post.
When we redesigned the jaws and added the center split and the tension adjust, we redesigned the pads so that they now slope continuously as seen in Precept’s photos.
For those in this thread with the more noticeable pads from the earlier design – can you confirm that you are able to get a better grip on thin blades with parallel sides and with the Low Angle Adapter?
Clay I can say based on the shared experience from the W.E. users to which I gifted my first original Gen 3 vises, the first version released. That vise version without the tensioner feature or the split jaws, does not hold a clamped knife as tightly and securely as this current version gen 3 vise does with the split jaw set and tensioner feature. (Even with the tension setting turned all the way to (-)). That is, the current version vise/jaws included and used with the Gen 3 model version being sold and shipped now, included with the WE130, the Pro Pack 3, the Gen 3 Pro and the Commercial Series sharpeners, clamps knives tightly and securely.
I know that mine clamps great! No complaints here. It even holds my M7 bayonets well that are pretty heavy. I am reprofiling them.
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This is a repeat of the post that I put in the second thread that was started on this:
I think that the root cause of your issue is that the current jaws no longer have the square flats on them (see pic). I have the Field version from ~5 years ago. I setup my kitchen knife to check for wiggle and there is none either with my chamois insert or without it. I use the chamois to protect the knife surface from nasty little marks due to clamping. I also designed a simple fixture to handle flexible knives and low angles – cost = $5. No wiggle there either.
To add a correction to my earlier post, I erred in saying that both of my Gen 3 vises had the vertical slit – in fact, one does and the other, being an earlier design, does not. Both hold my collection of knives securely, except that the vise without the slit does not do well with the smallest, most steeply angled knife as shown in this photo:
The vise with the slit (and flat corner pads) holds the same knife very securely.
Readheads, just to be clear, Clay and W.E. are always working on and striving to advance and improve their current designs and sharpener models. He is not currently actively working to design a new vise and jawset to overcome a holding/clamping problem being experienced by some W.E. users. The vise introduced some maybe 3 years back for this current model Gen 3 vise, the one with the integrated tension adjuster, is the most versatile and tightest holding vise setup W.E. has produced, marketed and sold to date. This jawset design is the same original design included and sold with every Gen 3 vise setup since W.E. first introduce this model version. This combination’s main limitation, up till now, has been dificulties clamping thicker knives. This is why the optional 1/4″ jawset is offered.
Precept’s wobble issue is bewildering to those of us experienced W.E. users who participate regularly on this forum because this is the first time hearing such a complaint. The knife holding ability, stability and secure grip of this current design, for this Gen 3 Vise is the best functioning vise/jaw combination of all previous models W.E. has produced and sold, till now. Bar none… I have used every model produced in at least the last 6 years.
IMO, this tapered pad jawset with the vertical center split that is there to allow these jaws to grip tighter and flex to conform to thin and tapered ground knives better then any predecessor models. That’s not to say there aren’t design changes that may possibly result in an even better functioning jawset, sometime in the future. A redesign is a long slow and expensive process. It’s a big deal when machining precision interchangeable parts. Then it takes a long time and a lot of testing and trials to determine if indeed, the new design is truly better.
Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)I acquired my WE130 this December and came here looking for a solution to the exact issue as shown in Precept’s video. Glad to know I’m not an anomaly and posting to let it be known Precept is not an anomaly, either.
As a solution, perhaps a simple Delrin sleeve to fit over the end of the LAA that goes into the vice to eliminate the gap between the end of the LAA and the vice jaws would be viable and cost effective for everyone experiencing this… or the the part of the LAA that goes into the vice is left thicker so the vice jaws only move by the thousandths so the base of the LAA is in contact when inserted?
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