Thomas Meeks

[Thomas Meeks]

I lapped them with all stones 100#-1000# and the with a 3um bench stone I have though I doubt is was necessary to go that far.

Sorry, one of the noobs here joining in the discussion with noob qeustions…

Are you telling me that you took the 100 grit diamond stones and rubbed them together with the microfine ceramics (thereby abrading away ceramic material and roughening the surface) and then progressed up to the 1000 grit doing the same? This seems scary as $h1t to me! LOL I thought the benefit of the ceramics was their super smooth surface? Could you please elaborate on this process or even do a video of this?

Thanks!

[Thomas Meeks]

Not only do I believe that the stones are mislabled, but if you look at this image (below), how COULD they be correct?
The same side of one of the plates on one end says 800 and the other says 1000.

I’m glad I wasn’t losing my mind, but sorry some of you guys have experienced the same issue. I have postponed calling the folks at the Wicked Edge office because I knew the diamond stones are on backorder anyway. After all, all I gotta do is flip the stones over and use the “wrong” side.

Clay,
Could you let us know when we may be able to send these in to have them verified and corrected? I don’t have the scopes like most of you have so I’m going by feel and looking through a loupe.

[Thomas Meeks]

I believe that link to my post is incorrect.
Here it is:
http://www.wickededgeusa.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=view&catid=6&id=3928&Itemid=63

[Thomas Meeks]

I appreciate it.

I’m so new to this, I’m not sure yet what I do like. I have learned what everybody refers to as a ‘toothy’ edge though. And I can see where a polished edge seems to lose some of it’s bite.

I did this one up to the 1000 diamond stones and then the 2 sets of ceramic paddles (I skipped the 1200) and finished with just the 5 micron strops. Sort of a semi-polished edge. I think I like this so far.

[Thomas Meeks]

Thank you Sir! Much appreciated.

[Thomas Meeks]

nice pics! great job man!

Much appreciated!

[Thomas Meeks]

Great edge and great photographs! I hope you’ll post more photos.

Incidentally, how could you see the 800 and 1000 stones had been switchend? Have you got any photographs schowing that?

Thanks! I definitely will once I get a bit more time to sharpen another one.

It was more of a “feel”, though I also believe I can actually see the difference with the blind eye as well.
Kyle at the WE office also included a small 60x scope to check. I need to phone up and let them know my findings.

[Thomas Meeks]

Sorry to keep ya’ll waiting!

I’ll start off with the gothca…
What’s wrong with this pic?

Yep, the stones labels are wrong. Not only that, but I’m pretty sure the 800’s are on the 1000 grit side and the 1000’s are on the 800 side.

So, getting my first mirror edge took a bit longer than normal. I had the Pro Pack I on order and they shipped me everything but I had also ordered the 1200/1600 ceramics set which was still on back order.
While I waited on my ceramics I got started right away practicing using my new weps system. I could see what everybody has meant when they said the stones had to “break-in” because i was getting sharp knives but they seemed still very toothy. It was about my 4th or 5th knife when I started to suspect a discrepancy when I got to 1000. It almost seemed to get “rougher”. So this week on Wed I got the email that my ceramics were shipping and since I had been considering adding the new MicroFine ceramics I quickly called the W.E. office and Kyle answered. I ID’d myself and asked him if it was too late to throw the extra ceramics in the box and he said No. So I paid up and then asked him about my suspicion of the 800/1000 stones being switched. He said he’d also throw in a little “scope” to help me see the grain on the blade, and if I still suspected they were switched they would make it right once the stones came off backorder.

To my surprise the ceramics and the scope arrived on Friday! Cool, now I can go home and try them out!

When I got home I grabbed the Pacific Salt and started back at 600, when I got to the 800/1000 stones that’s when I noticed it! “Holy cow, they ARE switched” Not only are the stones on the wrong side but even the indicators are wrong!!! Well at least I felt better about my suspicion.

So I progressed correctly through the 800/1000 stones and the 1200/1600 & MicroFine cermamics, then the strops! I could see the mirror starting on the Fine side of the MicroFine’s and then it just came alive once I hit it with the strops.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I didn’t get a “Perfect” edge on this blade, but I got a pretty darn good one. I need to perfect my technique a lot more and I can tell the “Play” in the rod joint does affect the angle as much as 1.5 degrees. I need to get that play taken care of. I also need to practice with the lightness of my strokes so I don’t have those random pseudo-large scratches on the edge that are hard to polish out.

Anyway, here are some pics. I’m somewhat a photographer at heart, so I pride myself on good pictures and these aren’t the best because I was in a hurry. I’ve never photo’d Knives before! LOL

[Thomas Meeks]

Good to have another newbie on here. Though it sounds like you are coming into this with some sharpening knowledge. I too just got my WE and have sharpened 4 knives now. While they are much sharper than they were, I’m not where I’d like to be.

If you (or others) don’t mind… Where are you purchasing these high-grit sandpapers?

My highest grit stone right now is the 1000 diamond plate that comes with the WEPS and then I have the strops, but I think the strops aren’t really able to do much with the 1000 grit scratches. So while I’m waiting on my ceramics, I may try some sandpaper if I can find it.

Thanks!

[Thomas Meeks]

I think that I will give the alcohol a try. Probably would be better than the water and soap, thank you.

This brings up a good point. Is Alcohol a recommended cleaning agent for the stones? What is the “official” recommendation for cleaning them?

[Thomas Meeks]

Seems there are several of us noobs (I am one) here on the WEPS forums. I think we’ll all be on the learning curve together. This is gonna be cool!

My set arrives tomorrow, it’s going to be a long day at work!

I, like you, was between the Edge Pro and WEPS and chose WEPS because of the clamp and being able to get consistent angles etc. On EP, the knife is hand held to an extent and therefore variable.

At any rate, good luck in your research!

[Thomas Meeks]

Those knives look great. The edge on the third one looks especially sharp! Good job.

[Thomas Meeks]

So how’s it coming along Mark? Any progress?

[Thomas Meeks]

Thanks Philip and cbwx34 for your insight.

cbwx34,
Me, knowing zero about this process other than what I’ve read, your reply is kinda what I was leaning towards, my only concern being the increase in grit from the 1.4 / .6 ceramics to the 5 / 3.5 strops. But that makes sense to go from the finest stone/ceramic to finish off with the strops. I will certainly be experimenting a lot as well. I’ve got some Loops on order from Amazon.

I say this and I don’t even yet have my Pro Pack! LOL I’m a techie guy so I love to analyse.
My kit arrives tuesday without the Super Fine ceramics. So to complete my “ultimate” set, I’d need to still order the new Micro Fine Ceramics and the 1 & .5 diamond strops. Then I’m sure I’ll be set.

So proposed progression will be this:
100/200 (shipped)
400/600 (shipped)
800/1000 (shipped)
1200/1600 Super Fine Ceramics (ordered, waiting)
1.4/.8 Micro Fine Ceramics (need to order)
5/3.5 Leather Strops (shipped)
1/.5 Leather Strops (need to order)

[Thomas Meeks]

Welcome Mark! I’m a newb here myself.

I have a good selection of Spyderco knives myself (though I’m sure not as many as some).

My first “good” knife was/is a Spyderco Pacific Salt that I got for use when fishing here in Florida. That has been the best knife ever! Would you believe I’ve had it about 5 years or so now and have never sharpened it! And it’ll still cut through a 1/2″ anchor rope like its nothing! LOL I know this because I’ve had to leave a few anchors on the bottom in the last 5 years.

Anyway, I can’t wait to put a whole new razor sharp edge on it when my WEPS arrives on Tuesday.

Good luck!

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