[quote quote=“PhilipPasteur” post=7323]Hi Ted, and accept my welcome as well.
For me, my diamond hones had not settled in until I had done 10 to 15 knives. Even now, after a few hundred knives, they subtely change with use.
My thoughts on jdavis992 review (which was not done. I have done reviews on things like stereo equipment in the past. When doing a review you try to find anything that is an observable difference in the equipment. I have measured things and shown that some aspect of the equipment did not measure as well as other equipment in its class. In most cases those aspects would not even be apparent to the end user. When doing such reviews you try to be a perfectionist. Reviews are not usually considered complete without something in the “cons” column. It is also worth noting that the original vidoe where he compared the EP and WE, he did not really dwell on the arms. Apparently when he picked it, he was getting very good edges, or I have to assume he would have if it was a “problem” for him in getting good results. This should help in getting past your “BIG” concern. He did get good results!
All I can tell you is that I had my WEPS with the original unmodified joints for over a year and a half. A long time before anyone ever commented on the joints. I sharpened well a few hundred knives, many for customers. They were very sharp, and no one complained. In fact they were ecstatic at the edge on their knives.
Unlike jdavis992, I found it easy to find and use a technique that mitigated the minimal amount of play in the system. Maybe this is an example of “ignorance is bliss”. I just got the system and started sharpening without any preconceptions. It worked, fabulously, as far as I was concerned!
I came from sharpening with bench stones. Any play in the WEPS does not prevent angle control far better than what I could ever do by hand, and I get very sharp knives with my bench stones.
I promise you that you can get knives sharper than you will believe with your system as it is. If it is something that will be a constant worry for you, get a set of the arms with modded joints. They will make you feel better about things, but the difference will not be earth shattering in your results. I say this from direct experience. As I got such great results with the original arms, I don’t consider this to be a “problem”. I am results oriented. I agree that is is an area where improvement is possible and Clay recognized that and offers methods to get those improvements.
Play with your system, read what has been posted here about technique, sharpen some knives, and you WILL be getting extremely sharp blades.
I suggest that you don’t agonize over the situation. Use your system and form your own opinions. Then make changes if you feel it is required.
Phil
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This is what I was getting at. There is nothing “wrong” with the arms as they come out of the box, there is room for improving them.
Look at it this way. It’s like buying a high performance car. It will go fast and handle really well. But how many drivers will leave it bone stock? Probably a majority. But then you’ll have some that will want to squeeze out more performance. Swap out tires and rims, add a cold air intake or a chip. This would be analogous to the washer and screw mods. Then you have the few who would not be satisfied with that and want ALL the performance there is to offer. Now you’re talking about shock tower braces, carbon fiber body panels for lightening, engine mods, nitrous systems, etc. on and on… Now you’ve met the group that wants/needs the ball joint upgrade.
Now, can 90% of the buyers can use the stock arms and get fantastic results. I know I did. for some of the rest of us, we can see room for improvement in play/slack reduction either through our own mods or having Clay handle it for us. If you think about it, most of the people on the forum that have wanted the mod, have done it themselves. That in itself should tell you those people, myself included, love to tinker.
Then you have the elite few/OCD tinkering crowd that need the ball joint arms, again I am in this group as well as a tinkerer, I’ll leave the elite title to Phil and those that have earned it!
I’m not sure where Chris falls since he’s gone and modified the ball arms…which if you put that in the car analogy, he’s building one off race cars…:blink:
Call it anal or OCD or whatever…whether it’s a choice or a drive or an obsession it is still a very personal experience. Most people will be fine with the arms in the stock form. Obviously a few of us won’t be. But I’m not sure the few of us that decide to take it to the next level or strive for perfection should expect a complete retooling and the added expense it would mean to future kits. The WEPS system is adequate for most people as it comes out of the box. Is it perfect? No. Can you make scary sharp edges out of the box? Yes, with a little break in. Can the arms be improved? Of course! Not many things around that can’t be improved in some way or other.