After weeks of patiently waiting, I came home to a package from Wicked Edge. I carefully unpacked everything and looked it over. This is a really, really nice piece of equipment. I am very impressed with the build quality and though that went into the design. Easily worth the price of entry. I can’t wait to sit down and work on some knives this weekend!
Quick question for Clay - do you recommend any sort of lubrication for the cam that engages the spring(s) when activating the clamping mechanism? I noticed that as I was sharpening, the metal shavings/dust would fall down and make the mechanism feel a bit gritty. I plan to blow all the dust off with either my vacuum or air compressor after each use to try and keep it clean and working smoothly.
Nice! Let us know your thoughts after you’ve sharpened some knives!
Well last night I spent some time on the WE with one of my favorite knives - the Kershaw Shallot. I love the blade shape and size of this knife. It disappears into my pocket, but is bigger and stouter than the Leek (which I also own). I am pleased to say that the WE handled the gentle recurve on this knife beautifully! I probably progressed through the stones faster than I should have, but still ended up with a near-mirror edge that follows the recurve. I measured 14 degrees per side on my angle cube.
The result was a scary sharp edge that you can barely touch without cutting yourself! I don’t consider this to be a “hard use” knife, and tend to use it more for steak and whatnot, so I thought the narrow angle would be well-suited to this knife. Pictures to follow 
Pics of the edge. Thinking I’ll add a microbevel to this.
looks pretty good! what was your stone progression?
Seriously that edge looks awesome! Can’t wait to get my Gen 3 Pro. Could you measure the height, width, and depth of your Gen 3 Pro please? I’d like to know the exact size of it. Thank you.
Started with 100, went up step by step including 1200/1600, then 1.4 and .6 micron ceramics, then stropped with 5 and 3.5 micron leathers. Not perfect but a good start Id say! My Kershaw Leek turned out even nicer!
I just finished up a Benchmade 950 Rift that turned out really nice. My GF saw the edge and now wants a mirrored edge on her Kershaw Needs Work.
The physical size of the system is 12" wide X 6" deep and about 12" tall. This doesn’t include the rods or stones.
[quote quote=“Inspiribomb” post=23688]
Quick question for Clay - do you recommend any sort of lubrication for the cam that engages the spring(s) when activating the clamping mechanism? I noticed that as I was sharpening, the metal shavings/dust would fall down and make the mechanism feel a bit gritty. I plan to blow all the dust off with either my vacuum or air compressor after each use to try and keep it clean and working smoothly.[/quote]
This is a really good question. For now, don’t lubricate it. We’re still doing some testing to see what works best. I’m worried that lubricants will attract and hold grit and worse, diamond bits. Once we’ve finished with our study, I’ll post the best practices.
[quote quote=“wickededge” post=23718][quote quote=“Inspiribomb” post=23688]
Quick question for Clay - do you recommend any sort of lubrication for the cam that engages the spring(s) when activating the clamping mechanism? I noticed that as I was sharpening, the metal shavings/dust would fall down and make the mechanism feel a bit gritty. I plan to blow all the dust off with either my vacuum or air compressor after each use to try and keep it clean and working smoothly.[/quote]
This is a really good question. For now, don’t lubricate it. We’re still doing some testing to see what works best. I’m worried that lubricants will attract and hold grit and worse, diamond bits. Once we’ve finished with our study, I’ll post the best practices.[/quote]
Thanks Clay, really appreciate the response. I figured “dry” cleaning would be best since the particles are free and not gumming anything up. I’ve been wiping everything down with microfiber cloths and it seems to be working well so far.
Slightly off topic, I will be needing to order some extra leather strops as I’ve had a couple “oops” moments where I sliced into one of them :oops:
Also, here’s a pic of a Benchmade 950 Rift that I sharpened over the weekend. I’ve got a ZT 0801BW and some Wustof kitchen knives in the queue as well
[quote quote=“Inspiribomb” post=23688]
Quick question for Clay - do you recommend any sort of lubrication for the cam that engages the spring(s) when activating the clamping mechanism? I noticed that as I was sharpening, the metal shavings/dust would fall down and make the mechanism feel a bit gritty. I plan to blow all the dust off with either my vacuum or air compressor after each use to try and keep it clean and working smoothly.[/quote]
I think perhaps I would put some tape on the sides of the clamp vertically to help reduce the shavings that might get into mechanism. What do you think?
[quote quote=“Inspiribomb” post=23719]
Also, here’s a pic of a Benchmade 950 Rift that I sharpened over the weekend. I’ve got a ZT 0801BW and some Wustof kitchen knives in the queue as well :)[/quote]
The Benchmade looks great!
As a user getting the edges you do, can I ask how accurate the angle is
from left to right side of the blade? Obviously you make one angle adjustment with
the lever, but does that give consistent angle accuracy on both sides?
Once calibrated with the angle cube using the fine adjust screws, my gen 3 has stayed perfectly equal for hundreds of knives sharpened. Fire and forget. Very pleased.
Thanks again for your helpful information. Very reassuring
Sorry for the stupid question, but how do you calibrate the gen 3?? Do you use a knife on the clamp?
I calibrate with no knife, jaws in closed position, using 1000k grit paddles held to each side in the same manner (take up paddle/arm slop same fashion each side). Angle cube checked for zero. 23 on the paddles equals 23 on the adjusto lever markings and leaves equal thread on the ball fine adjust. I check things now and then with a flat ground knife that I trust.
I just traveled with the gen 3 and had to pull the arms off. Used the same method to assemble and calibrate and be up and running in 5 minutes.
Today I calibrated my gen 3 and started to sharpen a kitchen knive, I did not check the angle when I started, I got up to 400 grid when I grabbed the angle cube and checked the angle my left side was 19.60 and the right side was 20.50 should I be worried? Do I continue to sharpen one side until the bevel is even? Thanks in advance.
I received my vise upgrade last week and finally got around to installing it and taking it out for sea trials this week. I immediately noticed that the cam follower mechanism isn’t following the cam very well. When you start the release stroke, there’s a sudden, loud snap as the follower breaks loose from the guide bore and hits the cam. Is this normal? It doesn’t seem right.
It also seemed to me that I could feel a “scratchiness” as the cam drove the follower up, so I lubed it with some Outer Gun Grease I had laying around. If I had some resizing lube, I think that would be better. Resizing lube is designed for situations where two metal faces are slid, one along the other, while under high pressure. The lube has properties which resist being squeezed out of a pressurized joint. Resizing is more properly termed as swaging. Swaging is where you force five pounds of something solid through a two-pound hole.
Of course, lube attracts dust and grit, so I chose to put aluminum foil heating duct tape over the sides of my new vise. check it out.
That’s a great idea with the tape on the sides. and exactly what I was thinking I would do as soon as I get my Gen 3 Pro. I’m also going to see about getting some magnets. Keep us posted on your thoughts!
