My Wicked Edge Journey
This is not for the Wicked Edge masters out there. (You know who you are!) It’s meant for those considering the WE and trying to decide which particular WE version is the “right” one. It is also a small chronicle of my WE journey. In my mind, choosing which WE version depends on what type of knives you sharpen (or plan to sharpen) most often. Let me say that I don’t sharpen knives as a business, nor do I claim or attempt to fully understand edge geometry. I’m just a retired guy afflicted with the addiction of collecting pocket knives! I currently have over 100 in my collection (and have sold or given away more than double that number). I like to refine the edge on virtually every knife I own (as I am rarely satisfied with the original maker’s edge). Hand sharpening got to be iffy as I got older … the dexterity in my hands seemed to decrease. So, I started to look for a guided system.
My Wicked Edge journey started almost 4 and a half years ago, when I bought my Wicked Edge 100. After much research and carefully considering the top two contenders in the guided system sharpeners (the WE and the EdgePro), decided the WE was for me. I opted for what is basically the Pro Pack 1 system (minus the base, since I wanted to use my own bamboo block base).
I was amazed at the results I was able to achieve right out of the gate with the WE. After it arrived, I spent a while practicing on some cheap “who knows what kind of steel” knives. I tested different edge profiles and grit progressions. I also practiced on enough of them to give the diamond stones a good break-in. In January of 2012, I sharpened the first knife from my collection. It was a Spyderco Perrin PPT. I chose that one for two reasons. It was not very expensive and it had a Wharncliffe blade. I wanted first to master clamping the FFG blade and not worry about positioning to accommodate a large belly. The results were very good in my opinion.
It wasn’t long before I was able to achieve an outstanding edge on virtually every knife I mounted. I did, however, notice that some well documented wobble in the original arm collars did affect the geometry of the tips of some of the larger belly knives I had. I opted to upgrade to some modified arm collars (which basically reduced that wobble significantly.
This made a huge difference in my opinion and I was quickly on my way to becoming extremely comfortable with the WE system. Sometimes, however, being too comfortable leads to mind lapses. One day, in mid-2012, I quickly reached for my angle cube (on the back side of the WE) and accidentally ran my hand over the edge of a knife I was sharpening. Needless to say, my sharpening session was interrupted by a quick trip the the ER for some stitches!
Next lesson, work area and accessory positioning is also a very important factor!!! I started keeping all my supplies the right/left of the WE and nothing on the far side!!!
Eventually, I upgraded the WE 100 platform to essentially a ProPac 2 by adding the ball-joint arms, new vice and base rod. I found that this set-up was perfect for me to start achieving very nice mirrored edge bevels as the ball joints eliminated just about all of the (minimal) play experienced with the original arms/collars. This set up could/can handle just about any knife you can throw at it. I was soon tackling knives with compound grinds, huge bellies, and even mirror polishing some relatively expensive knives.
After a few years of using the WE, I found myself becoming less obsessed with mirror polishing every knife I sharpened. What was more important to me was maintaining an extremely even edge bevel and an edge which easily cut what it was intended to cut! Some knives I still sharpen to a virtually scratch-free mirror polish (that pass the hanging hair test with ease), but most often my progression goes through the 1000 K diamond stones ( starting stone depends on the condition of the original edge, as I don’t often grossly re-profile), 1500/2000/3000 grit sand paper (sometimes lapping film), and finish up with a little stropping (leather with some semi-liquid chromium oxide compound and balsa with .5 micron diamond spray). Both help with the polish and the diamond spray on balsa seems to help the blade bite a little. This process will usually take me around 45 minutes to a hour. The frustrating part is that a lot of that time is spent on set-up and angle adjustment when changing to different paddles. This is what prompted me to add a complete Gen 3 system last month.
The Gen3 is truly a marvel in terms of set-up. No more messing with individually setting two arms, measuring the actual angle of the arms, readjusting, and then again readjusting the left arm to compensating a particular blade grind. Could I have omitted much of that readjusting? Sure … and I would have still gotten a wicked sharp edge. But … I am obsessive when it comes to an even symmetrical edge bevel! This is where the Gen3 shines. Here is the very first knife I put the Gen3 to task sharpening:
Outstanding results in far less time. Is the Gen3 perfect … no. Do I regret adding it … absolutely not. For me, the biggest deficiency is the fact that it is difficult, if not impossible, to use for some of my knives with very short and/or very thin (width not stock thickness). It is just too difficult to get good clamping on a knife like this. You could use a small knife device like the Tormek (which I have and really don’t much care for). I prefer to use my old WE 2 for those knives … which is why I did not just upgrade the 2 to a Gen3. Keeping both systems lets me handle every knife in my collection. Here is a pic of my workbench sharpening station:
Which do I prefer to use … the Gen3, of course. If you are considering a WE … you need to ask yourself that important question I mentioned at the beginning of this long-winded post. What type of knives will you be sharpening? If you are unsure and want to provide some flexibility … the WE2 is the obvious choice. There will be virtually no difference in your ability to achieve fantastic results with either version. The big difference is, as I said, in overall set-up and sharpening time. That said, if you know that most of your knives will be larger (2.5” and longer and .75-1” or wider blades) and can afford the higher price tag … the Gen3 will certainly bring a smile to your face. And … if you do ever have to sharpen a small blade … the Tormek small knife adapter does work very well. (It’s just not for me. I have arthritis in my hands and significantly reduced feeling in my fingers. As a result, I have to grasp the paddles with far more force than I should to make sure they don’t slip from my hands. That makes it tough on small thin blades mounted in the Tormek.)
So, after nearly 4.5 years, I am still a very happy WE user. Would like to thank Clay and crew for an outstanding device, their continued efforts to improve an already fantastic product, their willingness to continue to educate the sharpening community … and their OUTSTANDING customer support.
Happy sharpening!
