Even if it was a couple days late… no worries though. B)
Hey all, I’m Brian and I am NOT a knife geek. I know, what the heck and I doing here? Well, I’m an obsessive individual, if I’m going to do something I want to do it right… helps keep down the “doing it over” aspect. I’ve lived with dull knives for 38 years… well, maybe not Quite that long, but the sharpest knives I’ve owned were when they came out of the factory packaging. Heh, I know, that’s just where most of you folks Start from to get sharp.
Anyway, about a year ago I stumbled on a WEPS listing in a professional/trade web listing ~ it absolutely didn’t fit in but I had time and clicked through. That led to a few dozen hours of research over the next few weeks. WEPS, Edgepro, Sharpmake, water stones, paper wheels… you name it, I probably researched it (I did mention I’m obsessive, right?) I initially went with hand sharpening with an old oil stone my father gave me once upon a time. After hours of trying to get the stone flat, and then days of trying but only scratching the snot out of my knives and never really getting anywhere, I tossed in the towel. Meanwhile, that WEPS listing in my trade listing was still there, taunting me (because I had concluded that this system was the best fit for me while in my initial research). Well, right after T-giving a bonus showed up in my hands and I made the WEPS order.
I ended up purchasing the WEPS, the 50/80 and 800/1000 extra stones and a paperstone base.
Wow, those 50/80 are abrasive! I probably should have opted for the next higher option above the 800/1000, but c’est la vie .
So the first logical thing to do is just dive right on in, so I did. I probably should have used one of my kitchen knives, but the Leatherman was already in my hand from opening the box, so in the vise it goes. Of course, it’s so small that I can use the alignment guide or I’d be “sharpening” the top of the vise. S’ok, I’m adaptable. Next, I see that Clay makes the process look Way easier than it is for a rank nooB… so I focus on just one side at a time. The burr comes up fairly fast and I do 25~30 swipes per side with each grit and 30 minutes later I finish and pull the knife. MUCH sharper than it was initially, or than I remember it ever being. Good 
I’ve since done 3 more, one of them a Very ruined Chicago Cutlery that I did most of my “practice” on the stones with. That one I even re-profiled to have a wider bevel at 18* and the edge at 20* (and those 50/80 have left a mess of metal all over now… heh, should have done the Clay thing of using soap on the paddles). All the knives now will shave arm hair, though nothing like a real razor would. Still, much sharper than I’ve probably ever owned.
This is my Henckels 1-man chefs knife (yes, lots of scratches from trying to use stones.. ugh :unsure: )
I do have one question that I just haven’t stumbled upon yet… mirror finished bevel, mostly a show thing? I understand about the micro scratches and that as you make those finer you approach the mirror finish, but on a given blade/steel that sees the same use (kitchen knife used for all meal prep) will that result in longer time between touch-ups or some other benefit?
In the end, I’m VERY happy that I made this purchase. I’m sure that as soon as I let it leak I own this, I’m going to be bombarded with family requests… thinking about a $1/knife charge to them just to slow down the tide. :evil: Looking forward to learning to use it better, and achieve better results… but I’m pretty darn happy right now.