So I need some expert help. I’ve noticed lately that my angles look different when I’m done. So i put the angle cube on the knife and I’m getting a 2 degree difference from left to right. I just checked 4 knives and they’re all almost identical. The degrees are different from knife to knife, but all about 2 degrees different. All knives are leaning to the left. Now when I back the screws all the way out and push the vise together, the top doesn’t touch. I’ll try and get a pic now.
Is this normal? Thanks in advance for your help guys
Edit: when I checked I made sure I checked not using any flat grind blades.
[quote quote=“Mikedoh” post=17992]Looks like it’s bent.
Pertinent thread. https://www.wickededgeusa.com/forum/8-sharpener-and-accessory-maintenance/12837-bent-clamp#16222
Call WE and explain your problem with the vise.[/quote]
Really. I really thought I made sure not to over tighten. I wanted to sharpen an esee 6 but couldn’t get it to not move with out more tightening, so I didn’t sharpen it.
I didn’t start to notice this until about a week or two ago, but I wasn’t looking for it in the beginning. I’m not saying it came like this, but I didn’t notice it until I started getting decent edges and trying to perfect them.
As you’ll see in the thread Mike suggested, this has happened to a few others before you.
I’m pretty sure that it’s caused by over-tightening. Occasionally you’ll find a blade which is really hard and isn’t held properly by the bite of the vise. Imagine trying to hold a piece of glass with a pliers. Too hard, too slippery. So the tendency is to over-tighten. The mechanical advantage provided by the clamping jack screw is really high - and capable of distorting the clamp jaws.
If you have a blade which doesn’t clamp securely with normal pressure (less than about one-half turn past contact on the jack screw) try putting tape on the blade to give the vise something to bite into, or add some form of liner to your jaws - like chamois. I prefer something thin to reduce the chance of angular mounting errors. I use a small patch of Scott Shop Towels.
Mine did the same thing. Not to happy about it either. For the cost of the WE you would think it would’ve came with better materials for the vice.
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[quote quote=“tcmeyer” post=17995]As you’ll see in the thread Mike suggested, this has happened to a few others before you.
I’m pretty sure that it’s caused by over-tightening. Occasionally you’ll find a blade which is really hard and isn’t held properly by the bite of the vise. Imagine trying to hold a piece of glass with a pliers. Too hard, too slippery. So the tendency is to over-tighten. The mechanical advantage provided by the clamping jack screw is really high - and capable of distorting the clamp jaws.
If you have a blade which doesn’t clamp securely with normal pressure (less than about one-half turn past contact on the jack screw) try putting tape on the blade to give the vise something to bite into, or add some form of liner to your jaws - like chamois. I prefer something thin to reduce the chance of angular mounting errors. I use a small patch of Scott Shop Towels.[/quote]
Do you know the price to remedy this? Are they both bent or just the right usually?
[quote quote=“cakes072185” post=17997][quote quote=“tcmeyer” post=17995]As you’ll see in the thread Mike suggested, this has happened to a few others before you.
I’m pretty sure that it’s caused by over-tightening. Occasionally you’ll find a blade which is really hard and isn’t held properly by the bite of the vise. Imagine trying to hold a piece of glass with a pliers. Too hard, too slippery. So the tendency is to over-tighten. The mechanical advantage provided by the clamping jack screw is really high - and capable of distorting the clamp jaws.
If you have a blade which doesn’t clamp securely with normal pressure (less than about one-half turn past contact on the jack screw) try putting tape on the blade to give the vise something to bite into, or add some form of liner to your jaws - like chamois. I prefer something thin to reduce the chance of angular mounting errors. I use a small patch of Scott Shop Towels.[/quote]
Do you know the price to remedy this? Are they both bent or just the right usually?[/quote]
normally it’s both… you won’t have to pay anything. Call WE and ask for kyle. he will fix you up. the Wicked Edge team takes care of us =)
[quote quote=“razoredgeknives” post=17998][quote quote=“cakes072185” post=17997]
Do you know the price to remedy this? Are they both bent or just the right usually?[/quote]
normally it’s both… you won’t have to pay anything. Call WE and ask for kyle. he will fix you up. the Wicked Edge team takes care of us =)[/quote]
Yup, give them a call. This has happened before and as far as I know they’ve helped everyone for free. Customer service is very good.
Regarding the comment about material choice; something else to consider is that the vise jaws could be made of tool steel or something that absolutely would not bend but then you’d mar the blade instead of the clamp. An ideal solution would be a harder/stiffer vice with softer pad inserts… Clay, I’ll chew on this and send you some thoughts for a prototype. =)
For the record, I’ve never had a problem with clamping force across many different blade shapes and profiles (e.g. FFG, 3/4-grind, etc), and I haven’t bent my stock jaws either.
Always amazed with the excellent customer service. Truely painless. Call and speak to Kyle
[quote quote=“blacksheep25” post=18002]Regarding the comment about material choice; something else to consider is that the vise jaws could be made of tool steel or something that absolutely would not bend but then you’d mar the blade instead of the clamp. An ideal solution would be a harder/stiffer vice with softer pad inserts… Clay, I’ll chew on this and send you some thoughts for a prototype. =)
For the record, I’ve never had a problem with clamping force across many different blade shapes and profiles (e.g. FFG, 3/4-grind, etc), and I haven’t bent my stock jaws either.[/quote]
I would be in favor of harder material. Even the current vice will scratch some finishes if not careful. I always tape the blade or have moleskin on the vice.
Is it posible (with normal human strength) to over tighten using the WE hex key and bend the vice?
I would expect to bend the vice if i used a full size T handle hex wrench or a “L” hex wrench that was long enough.
[quote quote=“blacksheep25” post=18002]Regarding the comment about material choice; something else to consider is that the vise jaws could be made of tool steel or something that absolutely would not bend but then you’d mar the blade instead of the clamp. An ideal solution would be a harder/stiffer vice with softer pad inserts… Clay, I’ll chew on this and send you some thoughts for a prototype. =)
For the record, I’ve never had a problem with clamping force across many different blade shapes and profiles (e.g. FFG, 3/4-grind, etc), and I haven’t bent my stock jaws either.[/quote]
Hey Brian, you need to come around more often! 
I had a custom vise made out of A2 tool steel and then hardened. I bent two stock jaws (and yes, WE’s customer service rocks. I currently have an un-used brand new stock vise as a back up, not that I will ever need it.) I did not feel as if I was over-tightening the stock vise either. The way I determine if it is “tight” is by grabbing the handle and using relatively light pressure to try and move it up and down. if it moves at all then it is not tight enough… thus my custom vise
It is a beast and I have yet to fear breaking it (and man have I TWEAKED on that thing). I normally use an ‘L’ shaped allen wrench so I can really clamp down. I do not have any issues of marring any of the blades that I sharpen. Of course, if I am sharpening high end customs I do tape the blade or use some sort of padding (just to be safe).
[quote quote=“razoredgeknives” post=18015][quote quote=“blacksheep25” post=18002]Regarding the comment about material choice; something else to consider is that the vise jaws could be made of tool steel or something that absolutely would not bend but then you’d mar the blade instead of the clamp. An ideal solution would be a harder/stiffer vice with softer pad inserts… Clay, I’ll chew on this and send you some thoughts for a prototype. =)
For the record, I’ve never had a problem with clamping force across many different blade shapes and profiles (e.g. FFG, 3/4-grind, etc), and I haven’t bent my stock jaws either.[/quote]
Hey Brian, you need to come around more often!
I had a custom vise made out of A2 tool steel and then hardened. I bent two stock jaws (and yes, WE’s customer service rocks. I currently have an un-used brand new stock vise as a back up, not that I will ever need it.) I did not feel as if I was over-tightening the stock vise either. The way I determine if it is “tight” is by grabbing the handle and using relatively light pressure to try and move it up and down. if it moves at all then it is not tight enough… thus my custom vise
It is a beast and I have yet to fear breaking it (and man have I TWEAKED on that thing). I normally use an ‘L’ shaped allen wrench so I can really clamp down. I do not have any issues of marring any of the blades that I sharpen. Of course, if I am sharpening high end customs I do tape the blade or use some sort of padding (just to be safe).[/quote]
Where did you get it and how much?
It was around $125 if I am not mistaken… but he cut me a deal and didn’t charge me for HT since he threw it in with a batch of other items. It was done through a local metal fabrication shop… I took my existing vise in and said “I want an exact replica of this made out of tool steel and then hardened” and they did it!!
I would check with some of your local shops to see what they can do for you…
New vise is installed with 2 knives mirror polished! Working perfectly. Now I am taking great care to not over tighten. I will say this: I used to see if it was tight enough by trying to move the end of the handle up and down. I’ve learned that is not a reasonable test. Even if I can move the end of the handle up and down, the stones won’t. I’m not saying it’s loose, but the leverage the handle test uses is way more that the stones place on the blade. Just wanted to share me thoughts, hopefully some newbie like me will avoid the same mistake. Also, WE customer service is the best I have ever dealt with.
Thanks Cakes, nice photo.
Most of my knifes are 3" blade folder, so not too heavy.
For some larger knives, I trace with sharpie on the blade a straight line from the top of the vice. That way if it moves it is easy to see. Sharpie comes off with alcohol for me, but be careful, I don’t know if this is 100% true.
I also use moleskin they vice. I found if I use both moleskin and tape on the blade it slips real easy.