It would be nice if the stones were broken in when we bought them. I’m not sure what they would cost but I doubt the machines that broke the stones in would be inexpensive.
I used the new stones on purpose for the article and they didn’t do too bad. The practice knife cut the printer paper. And I didn’t fake it either - I’ll take a polygraph test, laughing gas, truth serum, or whatever someone wants to pay for, that doesn’t involve torture. LOL! But I couldn’t leave the edge on my leather knife. So I cleaned the edge up on it with my broken-in 800/1000 grit stones.
All I know is the original WEGO, (WE50) was an extruded base. This new WE60 is machined. The WE60 is a single, stand alone model, it is not upgradeable. Another, better optioned model, based around this compact WE60 format is slated for release this fall around Nov.
Did you not see the link for the article that I wrote on the WE60 above? Post# 58069.[/quote]
Of course I did, perhaps I didn’t explain what I’m asking well enough?
Having not looked at WE GO’s before and having an interest in the design and manufacturing of what is new from WE. I decided to go back and look at what you got with the GO50, to my surprise I felt the WE50 was a complete package and offered more than the new GO60 in some area’s.
So what was the motivation to change so much?
I can’t see an advantage with the new arm joints, I’m assuming this is a production cost saving? I mean now the arms are exclusive to the GO60 and you can’t use your longer one’s if needed from your WE130 etc. How long before those little white balls get lost in setup in the bush, obviously the tension screw will be upgraded to a Delrin Star Knob, so no screwdriver needed, a late improvement.
You get a bag tailor made to contain the GO50 but nothing with the GO60?
We get a jaw upgrade (fingers) but still the same basic animal, admitting that this (clamping) is still an ongoing problem with non-cam clamps.
I’m not sure what the GO50 retail cost was, but I assume the GO60 is no cheaper @ $275?
So I’m curious, why would I upgrade to a GO60? I can only wonder what the next models to come will be priced at, with a cam-vice upgrade. Considering that to purchase the latest gen vice alone as a part now is $240.
Just my thoughts, if I seem too critical with my questions here let me know and I’ll ask somewhere else. Thanks for your input.
Having not looked at WE GO’s before and having an interest in the design and manufacturing of what is new from WE. I decided to go back and look at what you got with the GO50, to my surprise I felt the WE50 was a complete package and offered more than the new GO60 in some area’s. So what was the motivation to change so much? I can’t see an advantage with the new arm joints, I’m assuming this is a production cost saving? I mean now the arms are exclusive to the GO60 and you can’t use your longer one’s if needed from your WE130 etc. How long before those little white balls get lost in setup in the bush, obviously the tension screw will be upgraded to a Delrin Star Knob, so no screwdriver needed, a late improvement. You get a bag tailor made to contain the GO50 but nothing with the GO60? We get a jaw upgrade (fingers) but still the same basic animal, admitting that this (clamping) is still an ongoing problem with non-cam clamps. I’m not sure what the GO50 retail cost was, but I assume the GO60 is no cheaper @ $275? So I’m curious, why would I upgrade to a GO60? I can only wonder what the next models to come will be priced at, with a cam-vice upgrade. Considering that to purchase the latest gen vice alone as a part now is $240. Just my thoughts, if I seem too critical with my questions here let me know and I’ll ask somewhere else. Thanks for your input.[/quote]
The little white "keeper" balls need to be saved to reposition them whenever the ball-end guide rods are removed. These "keeper" balls hold the delrin pivot sockets in place so they won't fall out and get lost.
Marc, I am guessing a tiny dot of grease on the shaft of the “Jesus sockets” before putting them on the housing would help in the not getting lost department. I can not see the balls being successfully kept with the way the product is packaged, the fact the are tiny balls and no big warning on the package saying not to toss them out when you assemble the sharpener.
I assume that part rotated in the housing if need be, have not taken mine apart to look at it, grease be it petroleum or silicone would cause the socket to “stick” in the housing but still move as it would be lubricated.. Not sure if that part is supposed to rotate but I assume not so sealant would be fine if that is the case.
Having not looked at WE GO’s before and having an interest in the design and manufacturing of what is new from WE. I decided to go back and look at what you got with the GO50, to my surprise I felt the WE50 was a complete package and offered more than the new GO60 in some area’s. So what was the motivation to change so much? I can’t see an advantage with the new arm joints, I’m assuming this is a production cost saving? I mean now the arms are exclusive to the GO60 and you can’t use your longer one’s if needed from your WE130 etc.
I'm kinda new to WE and don't know anything about the WE50. I'm not sure about those changes but I like them. The new guide rod slide tensioning is simpler and easier to use than ball joints. I haven't had a problem using my WE60. But the guide rods are exclusive to the WE60.
How long before those little white balls get lost in setup in the bush, obviously the tension screw will be upgraded to a Delrin Star Knob, so no screwdriver needed, a late improvement.
You can put the plastic balls in a baggie to keep from losing them or just remove and keep the Delrin guide rod sockets in a baggie after you are done sharpening to make sure that you don't lose them. I still have a strong grip and haven't needed more than finger tightening to keep the guide rods tight. But I do know that the hex end on the new guide rod tension screw and the slide locking screw will benefit many people.
You get a bag tailor made to contain the GO50 but nothing with the GO60?
I believe that there will be a WE60 bag coming but I might be wrong. There's also going to be a mounting plate coming soon for the WE60.
We get a jaw upgrade (fingers) but still the same basic animal, admitting that this (clamping) is still an ongoing problem with non-cam clamps.
I showed the advantage of the new vise jaws in my article. They clamp my FFG leather knife great, and I didn't even use a paperboard or leather shim. I didn't notice any tilt in the blade while clamped.
I’m not sure what the GO50 retail cost was, but I assume the GO60 is no cheaper @ $275? So I’m curious, why would I upgrade to a GO60? I can only wonder what the next models to come will be priced at, with a cam-vice upgrade. Considering that to purchase the latest gen vice alone as a part now is $240. Just my thoughts, if I seem too critical with my questions here let me know and I’ll ask somewhere else. Thanks for your input.[/quote]
As I understand everything, the WE60 is a entry-level sharpening system for people that want a good sharpening system at a lower price. It is not meant to replace the higher end Wicked Edge systems.
It would be interesting to put a white dot of paint or similar on the edge of the “Delrin Pivot Race” (as WE call it) and watch when moving the arms to see if it actually rotates. My guess is that it does assist the process of smooth movement or else it could have been threaded and tightened.
And if it does, will lubricant be advised in the future?
I’m told here in the comments area of a WE video that a “Star Knob” will be implemented.
Quote: we have already identified a design change that we’ll be implementing which is to change the head to a star knob making it unnecessary to use a tool at all.
It would be interesting to put a white dot of paint or similar on the edge of the “Delrin Pivot Race” (as WE call it) and watch when moving the arms to see if it actually rotates. My guess is that it does assist the process of smooth movement or else it could have been threaded and tightened. And if it does, will lubricant be advised in the future? A video here advises about the white ball. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6Ya5hxxSnn0[/quote]
I could not tell if the Delrin retention socket moved while I was sharpening knives. It looked like it stayed put, but I didn’t mark it to see for sure.
Thanks for the great pic’s Marc, I was hoping to get a look at the parts close up. It’s a shame you can’t just use a longer screw to hold the cup part. I can see it would reduce the ability to achieve a lower angle though.
