WE66 or Generation 4 Pro?
- This topic has 6 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 02/07/2025 at 8:44 am by
.
-
Welcome to the W.E. Forum Lee.
First, Micro-Angle adjusters are necessary in my experiences to allow you to precisely match bevels angles as applied by the knife maker. The G4P model without the micro-adjusters will not give you the selective predictable, precision control of all your angle settings.
The WE66 and the Gen 4 Pr0 will allow for similar results with similar level of user experience. The two models are equally similar to use although the micr0-angle adjustment mechanisms differ from model to model. The Gen 4 Pro has separate gross angle and fine angle adjustment features. In the WE66, all adjustments are done with a single knurled knob. The same precision, accuracy can be achieved just as easily with either model.
The knife sharpening process or regimen and the sharpening and polishing mediums are the same for both of these models.
The WE66 is a smaller more compact model that lends itself to portability. The larger Gen 4 Pro is more of a desktop model and heavier to carry.
Here is a video I produced some time ago:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1KKb6w86FQ/
Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)1 user thanked author for this post.
The Dual-Cam vise, included with the Gen 4 Pros and WE66s, clamps and holds very well for most knives. Since I sharpen mostly full-size chef’s knives, I do always work with a Stabil-Rizer Clamping System Accessory on all my WEPS setups. This is for added rigidity, and lateral or rotational stability.
The Micro-angle adjusters allow you to utilize the full precision and accuracy the WEPS offers. With the adjusters you can match the precise bevel angle(s) applied by the knife smith.
My WE sharpeners are mounted on heavy bases to enhance user’s stability.
Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)1 user thanked author for this post.
Lee, you expressed concern about your workshop being 1.5 degrees different from one side to the other. I’m not sure if you’re talking about the room you work in or some other type of sharpening system (Worksharp?). If you’re actually concerned about your workshop, that’s not going to make any difference. All that matters is the angle adjustments on the Wicked Edge relative to the clamp, which will be the same regardless of whether you’re on a precision leveled surface or the the side of a mountain slope.
If you’re asking about how precise the angle adjustments are from side to side on the WE, I don’t know an exact number but I’m going to say it mostly comes down to play (slop) in the stones riding on the rods. Using the digital angle finder that came with the Low Angle Adapter kit from WE, I get 0.2 degrees of play. How much difference does that make in getting knives sharp? Not much as far as I can tell. Everything else on the WE feels rock solid. I got my WE Pro Gen 4 yesterday. I practiced on 3 knives I didn’t care about and then did one of our middle of the road kitchen knives (a 9″ chef’s knife). It came out sharp enough to shave.
Regarding the precision adjustment feature, get it if any of these things are true…
- you will be sharpening a lot of knives or have any sort of commercial use case
- you have the money
- you have expensive knives
I also agonized over whether to spend the money on the precision adjustment. Now that I’ve got it, I’m glad I spent the extra money. I reprofiled the edge on one of our cheap kitchen knives because it was a degree or two off from the other side and it took much longer than just sharpening. What might have been an 8 – 10 minute sharpening session if I left the bevels as-is turned into nearly an hour. Huge waste of time for something that won’t make any noticeable difference. Also about 10x or more wear on the 100 grit stone than it would have been if I’d just left it. Anyway, all that to say, get the precision adjustment if you can. It makes it significantly easier. On the second kitchen knife I sharpened, I used the coarse adjustment to get get as close as possible to the existing angle and then used the fine adjust to match it exactly. Sharpening that knife was a breeze.
2 users thanked author for this post.
The precision and accuracy is there. It’s for you to utilize. I see +/-0.03º with due diligence, effort and attention to details. It’s more work than is needed to achieve a very nicely sharpened knife. The precision will allow you to go as far as you want to, to explore “how sharp is sharp”
BTW: David N., Those diamond stones improve with break-in. Don’t fear you’re wasting them.
Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)1 user thanked author for this post.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.