Chazz

Maybe this article about edge retention VS edge angle will help.

I’ve started another thread to address “expidia’s rolling edge issue” to not hijack this topic anymore so then we already have.

Keith, I purchased my first W.E. to sharpen my collection of Wustoff knives.  Since then I have found many Japanese Chef ‘s knives made with, IMO, better steels, at less expensive prices.  I suggest you shop these befoe pulling the trigger on the Wustoff.

Michael, I find the ceramics to be an individual entity all unto themselves.  I can’t compare the results from the ceramics with any other sharpening/polishing medium.  Even the micro-fine ceramics, (1.4µ/0.6µ, my preferred ceramic) differ from the super-fine ceramics, (1200/1600 grit).  They are made with two different methods. Be aware that the…[Read more]

Woody, I really believe the most important aspect is the grit of the stropping compund you’re looking to use.  All the different types you mention are strictly a way to apply and distribute the grit particle to your strop medium.  I honestly have only used the paste and the diamond emulsion spray.  The diamond spray, from what I understand, is ju…[Read more]

Who’s to say where a handle would suit you best.  Possible you can strap a handle centered on the the top to give it a try.  Then maybe strap it the other way to see if two side mounted handles wouldn’t serve you better.  After you decide what works you can mount the handles permanently.

My question to you is how often and how far will you be tr…[Read more]

My new style, larger diameter rods are like your’s 0.254″- 0.2545″.

The older rods were 0.25″.

Also, the bore size on the “new style” plastic platens have been tightened slightly with an improved manufacturing process and materials.  The older style platens had black centers with color coded insert mounting plates.  The new handles are b…[Read more]

You may be able to reinsert it if you have the appropriate sized helicoil tool.  I don’t know if they are just fitted into place or if a glue is used.  I have no personal experience with the system.

There’s still plenty of usable area on that strop, (like 2/3 of it).  That being said the only way to have peace of mind that the strop is not the cause of your problems is to replace it.

The balsa is the stiffest, least compressible stropping medium.  It’s usually recommended for edge maintenance with the the higher grit strop pastes.  The fi…[Read more]

welcome to the Wicked Edge Forum almost Rahman.  I believe, based on your description, the spring is the helicoil thread insert,that became dislodged.

I believe you’ll need to cal Wicked Edge Customer Service for a replacement.  I don’t believe they will repair it.  I suggest you read the manual or watch YouTube videos on clamping knives with th…[Read more]

The (cow) leather was glued directly to the plastic platens on all of them I have replaced, and on all other W.E. (cow) leather strops I own.  On the balsa wood strops, the balsa was mounted directly to the plastic.  The nano-cloth strops appear to have a backing plate.  I have no experience with the Kangaroo strops.

Thanks for that information keith.  Based on my personal experience and product knowledge, I suggest that most of the “play/wiggle” you noted between the stones and guide rods has been reduced in newer models with larger diameter guide rods and improved manufacturing techniques and the plastics used in the newer style W.E. platens.  There has b…[Read more]

Keith, which model do you use and how old is it?

The leather is attached with a hot glue adhesive.  The leather pulls off fairly easily then the residual glue scrapes clean easily too.  I glued my new leather on with 3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive from Home Depot.  It’s a spray on contact cement.  Then I clamped the leather flat for a few hours.

I don’t know how difficult the leather will be to rem…[Read more]

I’d limit the layers.  When I was first getting started with W.E. I tried a lot of cominations. Thicker, layered and more compressible materials, including multiple layers of blue painters tape did shift or slide on the layers, (despite the adhesive).  One layer seemed more stable and effective then any other method.

It is an advantage using t…[Read more]

Another advantage to sticking with the cow leather strops is the leather is durable, inexpensive and easy to source then replace when it becomes damaged beyond usefulness.

PM sent

Tony, I think you need to not take the chance with any knife, that any sort of damage, however slight, would really harm the knives appearance.  I generally use a small rectangular patch of real leather chamois, dry, between my knives and the vise jaws. (All my vises are Gen 3 vises).  It serves two purposes.  It allows for a more secure cl…[Read more]

I think sticking to a size referencing or size numbered nomenclature makes more sense to most experienced users then adopting a new arbitrary though ordered nomenclature like a,b,c or 1,2,3.  At least the old nomenclature though not perfect gives the user an idea or sense of size comparison as it fits into, or compares with, our past user experiences.

I forgot to tell you, you will have to subtract the readings from 90º when using the bottom magnet. I like the Wixey because it locks in readings quickly and I got consistent repetitive readings.  It lacks the resolution of some more expensive models.  But the wixey’s precision was enough for my purposes.