Gary

[Gary]

No doubt that the floating clamp and the easy dial are the big plusses for the 3 Pro. They are great! Very convenient for a fast setup on basic sharpening tasks. I have a couple of fixed blades that are .250″+ thick (and some of my friends have some as well) and will not work in the 3 Pro so that is why I prefer the 2 Pro if I had to chose just one.
If you don’t have any blades that honking wide, you will have no problems with the 3 Pro. I might add that the cabinet base is very nice too. I’m happy I don’t have to make a choice to give up either. From the description of your situation, I think you will be very happy with the 3Pro. Some of the real pros may be along later with different opinions, but that is my take on it. I know you will be pretty much blown away by this awesome piece of equipment once you have it in hand and start learning to use it. Best of luck to you.

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Wellokaythen

[Gary]

From one relatively new guy to another, “welcome” to the forum. You can learn some serious stuff about getting the ultimate sharpness in a blade here. These guys are a living encyclopedia of Wicked Edge sharpening strategies,

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Gib Curry, CliffCurry

[Gary]

I had the Gen 2 PP and saw a place for the Gen 3 PP. I added the Gen 3 and use them both for different jobs. I would have to say though that if it came down to one choice, it would be the Gen 2 because it will accommodate wider blades than the Gen 3.

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gregory mais, Wellokaythen

[Gary]

Welcome aboard Ranger. I assure you that your WE will be capable of producing the sharpest knives you have ever handled. I’ve been sharpening some knives from some of my hunting camp brothers and they were in terrible shape…literally, as a result of their attempts to sharpen them on wheels, stones, and other gizmos. Reprofiled and hair popping sharp now. Flesh will slice faster than paper on any of them after their time on the WE. You’re gonna be happy with it!

[Gary]

Excellent ideas there, thank you. Mark, I had thought of doing the very thing you show in your photo. How do you stabilize the ax head when sharpening this way? I’m going to pursue this further.

[Gary]

ET, thats a good looking job on the ZT. Looks like you’re an old hand at this already. Even better, it speaks not only of your skill but of the ease of use of the WE system. It may look complicated to the masses, but its really very simple to use if one understands just a few basic things about sharpening.
Great job.

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[Gary]

You nailed the truth there ET! The cost of a set of stones is minimal compared to the cost of the equipment. I have no complaints about either I guess I have learned that buying the best is worth it in the long run.
Until I got my WE and started sharpening my knives, I did like most of my friends…made a terrible mess of blades trying to make them sharp. Once the guys I hunt with saw my WE sharpened knives, they started asking questions. I started sharpening theirs too, without charge of course. In the past month. I have sharpened over 50 knives for them. Believe me, some of them required major surgery! So, if I keep this up, my stones won’t last me a lifetime…I hope!
I enjoy it though and my buds appreciate it, so all is good.

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wickededge

[Gary]

Well, I have had to re-calibrate my newest Gen 3 settings. I followed the procedure above and got pretty close but somehow when I got one side set correctly, the other side was a bit off. I will keep working at it. The discrepancy lies in the greater than .50 degrees variance of the settings between the two arms. Apparently the shipping loosened the set_nuts. On the first few knives measured, it was within spec, then it began to vary outside specs. I know that this machine is a dream machine when set and working as it should. I love it and will get it right soon. By the way, I currently have: 1) the Gen 2 Pro without modifications, 2) the Gen 2 Pro with upgraded arms and Gen 3 vise, and 3) the Gen 3 Pro complete system. Yep, I am a nut! But I use all 3 as they are set up for different type blades and I’m crazy about tools and gadgets.
Thanks to all for the help and suggestions.

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wickededge, Alan

[Gary]

I suppose the best way to tell your stones are worn out is by their lack of performance? By that I mean they just stop working effectively on the blade. Correct?

[Gary]

I haven’t tried using tape to compensate for the blade lean since it was mind understanding that the Gen 3 jaws were designed to eliminate this issue. Ill try it and see if it makes a difference. The weird thing is that the one I returned to WE had the right side angel off, and on this one the left side angle is off. Kyle mentioned that they would calibrate this one before sending it out, but I haven’t talked to him since I received it and discovered the problem. The tolerances are supposed to be within .50 degrees between each arm reading from the Angle Cube and also with the dial on the Gen 3 angle setting.
I will be one the phone Monday with WE to see if I can find out how to “calibrate” this thing.
Thanks for your suggestion about the tape. I will try it, but really think this Gen was designed to make that not necessary.

[Gary]

Alan, thanks for your suggestion. I’m having a little difficulty describing the situation. Here is the setup now: both micro adjust arms are screwed in and tight against the post into which they fit. Placing a straight edge in the jaws of the clamp exactly 5/8″ above the jaws, with the angle degree dial set on 24 degrees. The right side measures 24.15 degrees while the left side measures 22.20 degrees on two different Angle Cubes. As many blades or knives as I place in the clamp, all 5/8″ above the jaws, I still get the same unequal readings. The right side will be within acceptable tolerances and the left side will be from 1.00 to 2.0+ degrees off. On the first set which I returned, the opposite was the case: the left side was correct and the right side was out of spec.
Anyone who can help me see that I am going about this in the wrong way, please chime in. I am wide open to suggestions. Thanks for your help. I love this system…if I can just make it work right!

[Gary]

Thanks ET, but the Gen 3 does provide micro adjustment on the individual arms. The problem I have is that the left side is maxed out at its lowest setting, so in order to micro adjust and make the arms equal the reading on the angle indicator, all the adjustments must be made on the right side.
Ive gotta be missing something here, right?

[Gary]

Im completely new here as far as posting, but Ive been lurking for about a year. i have learned much and realize there is so much more to learn. Cliff, I have enjoyed reading your posts and watch you experiment and discover mods that really work. I am thankful there is a place like this for folks who are OCD about sharpening blades with the best system on the market in my opinion. Thanks to all for letting me tag along.

[Gary]

No, this is a completely new WE Gen 3 Pro Pack complete. I have in addition to it the Gen 2 Pro Pack complete with the upgrader riser and arms. Two totally separate units. The Gen 3 Pro Pack is complete as from WE and this is what was giving me incorrect readings on my first one which was returned and now the one sent to replace it is doing the same thing.
I know this seems like I am a dummy or something, but the risers and arms are not mixed up. Two separate units.
Thanks for your answer. Ive learned so much from your Youtube videos. This has me really frustrated though. If the settings on the Gen 3 Pro are not reliably giving the correct angles, that defeats the purpose for which it was made it seems.

[Gary]

I”m a very new poster here, but you guys have tremendous knowledge and have helped me much as I have read the threads. Looking forward to becoming proficient on the WE soon.
Merry Christmas to all!

[Author]

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