James

Henry, I use whetstones that are cut and mounted on Wicked Edge paddles to sharpen my harder steel high-end Japanese Chef’s knives.  Actually for me, at HRc 60 an above, depending on my experience with the particular steel, the whetstones may be my preference.  I have experience carbide tear out when using the W.E. diamond stones which led me s…[Read more]

I’m just finishing up a batch of five new “Rack-Its” that were recently ordered.  These reflect just some of the different size and build options I offer.  They’ll be packed and shipped to their new homes the first part of this week.

I concur with Jim’s assessment.

First question I have, are you using a lighted magnified device to help you to see well?  Many of use work with a USB microscope.  Also I use a red or blue colored Sharpie.  The color stands out and is easier to see where the ink is removed.

If it is as you describe, you may be sharpening a knife with a convex bevel.

The  ceramics have their fans.  Some tout them for the resulting enhanced sharpness they experience.

With the 1500 grit diamond it’s pretty clear, it’s a finer grit diamond stone.  It can refine edge keenness and improve the polished appearance.

The lapping films are essentially just a very fine diamond sharpening stone.  But due to their  base…[Read more]

Welcome Kevin.  I do have both the Micro-fine ceramic pair and the Super-fine set.  I have used both of these enough that I am comfortable sharing my experiences.   I do not use them on a regular basis any longer.   When I started with my first W.E. setup, a Pro Pack 2, maybe 5 or more years ago, the ceramic sets were the finest grit sharp…[Read more]

The 800/1000 used last, when the progression up through there is done well, will leave you with a very sharp “working” edge.  I finish every sharpened knife with at least the 4µ/2µ strop combination (on plain cow leather).

Results are more about the quality of the sharpening process used with each and every grit in your progression,  the tim…[Read more]

For every sharpening job, reprofiling or even just touch-ups for that matter, there’s the right grit for the job.  It’s always prudent to start with a higher, finer grit and step back down to lower coarser grits only after you tried the finer less aggressive grits and learned that those grits required too much time and too much effort to remove…[Read more]

Brewbear, I sent you a pm.

I do the conceptualizing and some of the designing.  NotSharpEnuff and airscapes do all my 3D printing.

MIKE, no disrespect intended….. but I beg to differ with your limited point of view which is based on the relatively small amount of time you’ve had and been using your WE130. With the limited experiences you’ve had, so far, sharpening Japanese Knives with it, what you share is appropriate.  Although not actually correct.

Many of us using the…[Read more]

There are micro-angle adjusters available for the both the Gen 3 Pro and the WE130 models.  I have the adjusters on my Gen 3 Pro pictured above.  I’m already ahead of you.  See email.

Thanks

I purchase my Gen 3 Pro with the granite base directly from W.E..  The granite base was drilled with four mounting holes.  You can see two of the screws in the front corners of the Gen 3 Pro’s black base plate.

I’d think that any local stone shop that could cut and and polish the granite could also drill the mounting holes.  Just take with yo…[Read more]

The only place I look when I’m having difficulty sharpening any knife is right back at me.  I haven’t come across a knife or knife steel yet that I couldn’t sharpen to my liking with the W.E. once I found the balance between the proper sharpening technique and the appropriate sharpening medium.

That’s why we call it going down the “rabbit hole”.  If your like many of us it grows on itself.  We get more and more into achieving that perfect sharp and polished edge.  We get into more equipment and accessories.

If that’s not for you,  not where your interests lie, you may prefer to enjoy using your knives sharpened by a professional.  It’s…[Read more]

Apology heard and accepted.

We’re getting off the topic subject here, “Japanese H C” but…

I’m confused by your characterization of Buck steel as ” so hard”.  My understanding is its 440HC SS at HRc 56-58.  Which in today’s popular knife steels is just a moderately hard steel. I don’t consider a steel as “hard” until at least HRc 60.  But th…[Read more]

000Robert, this very wierd.  Am I missing something?   I feel like you think your confronting me or challenging me to something.  Like I’m hiding something.  I have nothing to hide or to prove to you or anyone else.   I share my personal sharpening experiences when using the W.E.  That is all.

I have had these experiences not being able to shar…[Read more]

I have both.  They both have good and bad points.  The WE130 is better suited to sharpen knives with asymmetrical bevels which are not uncommon in Japanese Chef’s knives.

I have my Gen 3 Pro model mounted directly on a granite base with out shelf unit.  It simply unscrews.  That’s an option if you want to keep the Gen 3 Pro model with it’s single lever that adjust both side’s angles simultaneously.

I have no personal experiences with Optic’s Planet.  This is a recent post on this fo…[Read more]

I have been using Shapton Glass Stones mounted on Wicked Edge paddles for years now. They are still my favorite whetstone variety I have used, so far.  I have been hesitant to mention or discuss these particular Shapton Glass type stones on this forum because Shaptons had quit making these stones without the glass backings sized for mounting on…[Read more]