I first bought a Gatco (a Lansky clone) back in 1991. Over the years I added many more sharpening systems and sharpening stones. I have a Tormek along with a 4000-grit Japanese stone wheel. I also own a TSProf K03 with the 3-axis digital angle cube built in. The TSProf is exceedingly nicely built. I also have a Chinese-made flat spinning disc sharpening machine with diamond wheels. Recently I picked up a used Edge Pro Professional on eBay. One thing that surprised me is how much I like using the low-tech Edge Pro Professional after I added a magnet to the Edge Pro blade table. The simplicity of the Edge Pro is growing on me. And, last but not least, I have many full-sized 8"x3" water stones from 80 grits all the way up to 30000 grits. I don't have a Wicked Edge and don't plan to buy one. I also had a belt sander but didn't use it much for sharpening. As I stated, I like them all. Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. No single system is perfect in all situations. Criticize me all you want. I am certifiably a sharpening and knife nut, spoken with a bit of pride.
I am getting started on knife sharpening. I really like the education. I can see purchasing all the Sharpening systems. A hobby is a passion. So enjoy it to the fullest.
I own both of this systems.I own tormek T-8 and T-7 and Wicked Edge Pro gen 3 sharpening system. At T-8 i use original grindstone and at T-7 i use japanese waterstone.I also have 2 belt grinders and scheppach Tiger 5.0 sharpener.I'm not the professionall knife turner but just a random guy that love Sharp knives . I own many sharpening systems before and I think I can rewiew some of them. Definitely the best of this systems in my opinion Is Wicked Edge with japanese naniwa stones .Before I bought these sharpeners I use scheppach sharpener ,mdf wheel,Lansky sharpeners,victorinox sharpeners,Chefs choice and much more !!!They created sharp edges and good bevels but when you bought the Wicked Edge you will seen very big difference. I've never seen that precise Edge ,precise bevels and long lasting sharpness and the same is at the Tormek.I don't say the other sharpening systems than Tormek or Wicked Edge are bad or not working.But you'll never get that precise angles than with these!When someone says that these sharpeners are worth of money or expensive let that people show me system that had this precision and quality and is cheaper than the systems which I mentioned at first These people in my opinion don't know much about how to get quality knife sharpness.I don't want to offend someone and If I do, I apologize much!I just want to say that in my opinion this systems are the best.I don't want to command anybody what he have to use.I just want to advise.That's all I want to say.Sorry for my English.Greeting from Slovakia.
Got a wicked edge pro pack 1 and it is definitely the best thing I have ever used. For me the biggest surprise was how well it reforms the knife tip. Best advice for this system is to practice on a few cheap knives and break in the stones. The first knife I did wasn't very sharp in the end, but every sharpening thereafter got better, meeting and exceeding the factory edge sharpness
I own an early version of the Tormek sharpener and I treat it like gold. Yes, it was expensive About $600.00 at the time. But, believe it or not, that's the cheap part of owning a Tormek. It's the many abhorrently expensive jigs needed to sharpen various knives and cutters. The few I've bought work perfectly. I recently purchased a set of gouges for wood turning. Before using them, I measured the angles the instructions said they should be. Most were close, but I like perfection, so I put the sharpener to the test and spent nearly a full day getting them to the angles described in the instructions. They worked perfectly. So good in fact, I discovered I could use light pressure instead of a medium pressure, thus saving the blade from excessive work. An impressive machine, no matter what the cost.
I found that I can use The Tormek parts on my Jet. Now I’m back to sharpening. I sharpened 10 pocket knives last night. Some were better quality than others, but they all slice paper. That’s good enough for my needs! My wife was surprised my knives were as sharp as they were, & ended up cutting her finger in the sink water. I’ve used the Jet to keep my expensive German & Swiss chisels sharp enough to carve wood. The Tormek would do the job too, but I spent over $600.00 on the Jet, years ago, & didn’t want to lay out anymore big bucks , if I didn’t have to. Both tool accessories are nearly identical, but Tormek seems better made. They have had time to improve, & Jet, just dropped its customers on their ear, and dropped their line of wet sharpeners. Thank you Tormek, for keeping a great system alive! I’m trying Japanese wet stones, & they seem wonderful, but slow. More for sushi knives, & I’m trying to master chopsticks 🥢! Oh, & you won’t learn much, by insulting people who actually could help you! So grow up, learn as much as you can, and have fun!👍🏻🥢
Totally with you. I'm a big Work Sharp fan, but appreciate each different tool has a purpose, application, method & price-point. I don't get all the haters! Good videos, common sense content.
On a regular basis, I need to grind primary level on my handplane blade whenever secondary bevel becomes bigger. Will T-8 and COARSE diamond wheel serve the purpose ?
I have the Lansky including all of the stones and the strop and think it is a phenomenal value. You can put a very nice edge on a wide variety of knives with as little as $30 invested. I also have a Wicked Edge and love it. Sharpening is one of my hobbies and I wanted to achieve the best possible edges. It makes me happy. I totally understand that it is overkill, but that's half the fun!😀
I like your honesty and open-mindedness and non-judgemental approach. Give people the info and let them make an informed choice that suits their needs. Rock on dude!
I fully agree with what you have to say in the video. I will add though, that I think most people just tend to see this price point as excessive. It is an awesome product and I think many knife enthusiasts would not call it over priced even at $450 or so. But at $850 (on Amazon), I think it gets well into the territory of diminishing returns. Anyway, appreciate all the videos! Cheers.
I agree. i have always bought the best tools i could within my budget. i am retired now and still own some of my tools i bought at the start of my career. The sharpeners that you have tested will most likely last for many years. i bought the tormek t-4 and am more than happy with my purchase. there are good sharpeners out there to fit any budget. I like to see what the best looks like and if that's too much for my budget then i look for something close to the best. as with any hobby or profession you can spend a lot or a little on your tools of the trade. I have never regretted buying the best that i could afford.
I have a worksharp and it's great. I have found my path in using it. It will get done what I need to get done. However, I think I would be a big fan of a Tormek. Looks like a nice set up.
Just one customer's take, mine; I've had a Wicked Edge system for years. I used to defend them, not any longer. It doesn't have the ability to sharpen my recurve blade on the Emerson Commander well. A year ago I contacted WE to purchase the small blade adapter that they used to sell for the system but they don't make it any longer, wanted to charge me hundreds more for a system upgrade. Pissed me off. I bought a Lansky system for about $50 and it out performs the older model WE, hands down. If someone wants to spend the money with a company with poor service like WE, let em. I went to culinary school after retiring as a firefighter and my take on WE is that they are like most culinary/institutional manufacturers, they inflate the cost to line their pockets because the industry is naive to that type of marketing. Not providing parts for your older models is bad form as well.
So because it won't sharpen a single style of blade you don't support it any longer??? And you say a Lansky system out performs a WE hands down??? Grow up and buy what is needed to sharpen the recurve. Lansky systems come nowhere near what a WE system can. With the Lansky you are stuck with 5 degree incriminate not the 1 degree the WE allows. Then there's the stone and strop combos available for the WE. You are clearly talking out of your ass. You can claim whatever you want but the fact remains a WE is honestly the best sharpening system available right now due to the ease of use and stone and strip availability and just how consistently it sharpens. If a $50 Lansky actually sharpened better than a WE no one would spend the $$$$ on WE. You get what you pay for. I've spent over $350 for a single 20000 grit Suehiro whetstone and $360 for a single Shapton 30000 GlassStone.
I've used a lot of different sharpening methods on a lot of blades, and I see your argument, and I love it. I use my grandfather's tormek to sharpen axes and repair knives that have major chips or broken tips, I have the lanky if I'm traveling and need to sharpen knives, and I have the wicked edge at home to sharpen all knives I come across, and as you say, there are pros and cons to every system and that's very true, so if everyone could just see that and be more open minded they will see another world of knife sharpening. Great video by the way
i have a lansky, and another sharpening system that cost me around $500. and I'll say really fast that I love my lansky. Not because I think it's the best system in the world, but because I can consistently get hair popping sharp edges quickly. I literally just finished putting a $40 edge on a $7 knife and it is surprisingly sharp. If the lansky is all that somebody has the funds to buy, then I say go for it, you'll probably have sharper knives than most people you'll ever meet.
You have a good point right now in life i don't need that grinding wheel thing. but in future i might water to get. Right now all i sharpen is my razors and few knives when they need sharpening. Though was thinking somewhere could save money maybe by making their own sandpaper. one buy a package of durage 25 percent cotton paper for like 20 bucks. maybe if some enbedded the 200-240 mesh sands from the classifying pay dirt or just dirt. that might be alot rough pieces pretty cheap. sands also speeds up flatting rocks.
I'm not a knife guy, nor am I in the market for a sharpener, but I have to say that I've enjoyed the videos and learned stuff I never knew and if I got to a point where I needed one, I'd be able to make an informed choice. Your comments about the people commenting really shouldn't be limited to this one topic as it's pretty much endemic throughout the 'net regardless of the subject. You have the right attitude and I'm glad you made this video.
100% agree. Well said! I have nice woodworking tools and expensive cooking knives. I have spent a lot of time learning to use them properly and really enjoy the experience and the skill set - it's a passion and a hobby of mine. So I did spend money on an expensive sharpening system (Tormek) to maintain my tools and knives in perfect condition because it is something dear to me and therefore worth it. For those that disagree, I have a simple solution for you: Don't buy expensive sharpening system!
I find your comparison of an expensive car at a car show vs. a Toyota Camry a bit disingenuous. There are a TON of features/components that differentiate one car from another, but on a knife it comes down to producing an accurate, repeatable and smooth edge. It really only comes down to these two factors: 1) Can you produce a quality edge, and if so: 2) how fast can you produce said edge? I would say that a machine like an EdgePro can produce just as refined of an edge as Wicked Sharp or the Tormek, but it's going to be slower. The Tormek is unequaled when it comes to how many different types of tools it can sharpen, so that is definitely an issue for woodworkers. Work Sharp? I would say that appeals to a completely different set of folks who aren't "serious" sharpeners; I admit that I have one and I use it for knives that I'm not too concerned about and don't want to spend a lot of time to get reasonably sharp. I am fully aware that it is in no way comparable to what you would get with a high-end sharpener. For the average Joe however, I maintain that you do not NEED a $700 sharpener because you can't justify the extra cost. My Japanese Chef's knives that I sharpen a couple of times a year? Edge Pro works just fine and produce a scary sharp edge. If you're a guy that has a knife sharpening business, then yes: you probably DO need a $700 sharpener. [Edited to add] Each system also seems to have certain minor shortcomings that aren't an issue with another machine. It's kind of like "THIS IS THE ONLY SOCKET YOU WILL EVER NEED" - until you come to that one application when you're working on your car where you find out that you *do* need that stupid deep socket with splines instead of the standard 6-point socket. ;)
great vid bro I agree with you 110% on the work sharp(i have one) when I spend $750 on a folding knife I'm not gonna trust that system to accurately sharpen it and not destroy the blade. it works great on large fixed blades but not smaller forking knives...keep doing what you doing always love the vids
I have a wicked edge 130 and love it. I don’t trust myself with any other free hand sharpener because of human error. So I’m set. And I lose less metal.
I have started with a Lansky when I was around 15 years old and it is a great system! Got everything from a Victorinox pen blade up to a twelve inch kitchen knife sharp and I mean sharp! But it was slow and not that ergonomic to use, not as precise as I would want and overall left a lot to desire from the experience kind of side. Then I got a classic Work Sharp and it was fast and could produce a decent edge, but was not really something I was thrilled about. Small mistakes made a huge impact, it was not very precise and the lack of angles was also not that great. Also it struggled with a lot of knives not being able to grind from the heel. Next system was a TSprof Kadet and it was amazing! Super precise, really well made, a joy to use, faster than a Lansky and overall far superior in any way imaginable. I loved it but ultimately sold it because i barely used it after whittling down my list of user knives. And now I have bought a Tormek. What a great machine it is! My main reason for getting it is me wanting to start a sharpening service, so the cost is not a big factor in that regard. Took some time to get comfortable with it, but damn it is fun and produces great edges. A step down in terms of finish for sure, as I currently only have the standard stone, so no perfect polished edges like the TSprof and even Lansky, but the sharpness is on par if not better. It is quick, not as quick as a belt grinder maybe, but the low noise and lack o dust make it more than worth it for me, as having it run all day and not needing any kind of protective gear is awesome! Also it is the most versatile system by far, pretty much anything can be sharpened, right down to specialty tools. But in the end, every system gave me good results (with the Work Sharp being hit and miss to be honest), mostly the amount of work and how fun that work was is where they differ.
Well spoken, a calm rebuttal to the anonymous commenter with nothing good to say. So many faceless experts on UA-cam. I came across your video while looking for information about the WorkSharp I own. Truthfully, I never realized the amount of contention the method of sharpening a knife would create. As an active outdoor person I own a few knives; all under $100.00 and of course a few good knives in the kitchen. I bought the WorkSharp for two reasons. I’m a nitwit with traditional methods such as a stone and I have arthritis which makes holding a knife steady difficult. If my knives and circumstances warranted I’d buy a high-end system; it doesn't. However, the WorkSharp system works for me and does a good job. Best of luck with your channel.
I had both the Tormek and WE. Bought the WE, got the Tormek from a guy that owed me money. Both do a fantastic job on knives. Money well spent if that's your thing. Sold the WE only because it was slow and I don't have a knife worth spending 20+ minutes sharpening. Actually making money now with the Tormek sharpening for other people.
I invested in the Tormek T 8 with the Japanese stone after watch your videos.... I like the one with Mr. Beech and how you asked questions and he was not use to being interviewed but responded with sincerity and honesty about the system he uses for his sharpening business.
Woodworking has the same problem. You have the folks who denigrate those who bought into Festool or Veritas or Lie-Nielsen tools. I owned a Worksharp and it didn’t work well for me so I sold it. Quietly. Not making a fuss. I went to traditional waterstones and sharpen by hand. I own nice tools because nice tools don’t require much maintenance or restoration. I wanted to get up and running woodworking rather than spending the time restoring an used hand plane/chisel. I also wanted precision and repeatability which tracksaws are really good at. Why? So I can enjoy woodworking. Isn’t the point of a hobby is to enjoy it?
Soooooo, i did some math, and if we assume that 1 kit of belts for the WS-KO Blade Grinder can sharpen 25 knives (One kit costing~25$ and the belts can last longer) you can: Completely Sharpen ~440 Knives before we catch up with the Wicked Edge in price! And that is from completely dull to ~80-85% as sharp as is physically possible in less ten 10 Minutes and with a stronger micro convex grind (wich is perfect for outdoor and pocket knives) ONTOP OF THAT! you can easily use the "base WS-KO" as a Power file and the Blade Grinder as a normal mini Belt sander to sharpen both Axes, Scissors and Shears and there even is a proper Power File attachment to do some serious work on Lawnmower blades, Shovels and other Rough Yard tools! and this is just the Powered belt systems that Worksharp Offers! The only Sharpener in the +500$ price field worth the money are the Tormek systems as there is a great variety of tools you can sharpen with it and does all of that Speedy, Quiet and water cooled! In my (arguably novice) opinion, there is only 2 reasons to buy the Wicked edge, and that is for Hunting/Country clubs that serve many people who have a lot of time as well as Enthusiasts with a large budget. Professional Knife Sharpeners tend to use either high end Waterstones, Tormeks or non specific hardware such as Paper/Felt wheels and Bench grinders to create exceptional edges in FRACTIONS of the time any Pre angled system can! The Wicked edge is slightly over Hyped and definitely Over priced for what it does. If you only sharpen Pocket knives and
i am a professional woodworker, buiding all kind of stuff for house living. As most of my products are individual and more or less hand made i often use chisel and and planes. And in my opinion there is nothing worse than a dull tool. I used a sharpening system with a grind stone with high speed on my old company and always didnt like the damger of overheating the blades. So from the first time i used a water sharpening system this is my choice.
Hey Harley; I began watching your videos about four years ago and almost to the knife sharpener you have demonstrated I have purchased each one! All in all, I have to agree with your summary about the candidate that leads them all is the Tormek. I definitely don't agree with the comment previous to mine here that the Wicked Edge is the most efficient; in fact, I sold my Wicked Edge after buying the Tormek. Yes, it does have a longer 'learning curve' before one can be proficient with it, but in the end, IMHO, it is the most efficient, professional, all-around sharpening. 'machine' that can be found today...Thanks for your commitment to uploading edifying sharpeners for all to view.
Right on... Just bought a T4 Tormek a few days ago and it's amazing. Agree there is a leaning curve, so I bought some dollar store knives to practice on, which considering the quality of the knives, they did sharpen pretty good, but I'm assuming they won't maintain an edge for very long. Trashed the the first one learning 😙.
Thanks for taking the time to publishing these videos, I must’ve watched 8 of your videos right now, and I’m definitely purchasing this unit and the Japanese stone! 😊👍🏻
If your into knives then the wicked edge is unbeatable imo, the price tag is the stopper for me, I set my edge with the edge pro and then maintain it with the sharpmaker and I have to be happy with that. when people say it's nearly impossible to get a perfect angle free hand that's not true, it's 100% impossible, in fact there's no such thing as a perfect angle but the wicked edge will get you closer than most sharpeners, the edge they produce are beautiful, alot of sharpeners out there can give you a good working edge but when your edge obsessed the WE is the way to go, imo
Fair comments... some however will talk trash and nay-say no matter what or how you say things. Looking to buy a 'sharpener /system' myself and vid's like this are great. Will you decide what I buy? No. Do I think you have anything to gain? No. You are at the very least helping me decide.... thanks. Novices like myself need help... you can read all you want but seeing and hearing advice/tips and pointers are tremendously helpful. Maybe I don't need to spend £100's but watching and listening can only help. I do not know enough to go into depth on the 'art of sharpening' , but I think ( after watching loads and loads of info' vid's) what you say regarding the process rings true. BUT if I had a point to argue, ... abuse, name calling and stupid remarks wouldn't come into it. Trolls or keyboard warriors... along with no respect, shown to someone taking the time to produce helpful video's, or at the least video's that create a debate. Pretty sure you can argue your own case :) Thanks again.
garryleerob you can look for a good quality used system. Us old men get old & tired, the useless, but our good quality tools last more than one lifetime, because it took almost a lifetime to acquire our tools. What do our family’s do with tools, they don’t want? The sell them cheap, or get an auctioneer to dispose of them. No one is going come to you doorstep to read your mind. Meet like minded persons, make connections and enjoy life, maybe even with an instructor ! Good luck👍🏻!
I like taking the skill out of sharpening. I have some great stones, but my hands can not maintain a perfect angle with every stroke. I know others can with lots of practice and patience, thats not me
I personally am a big fan of the work sharp, with that being said I have never used the wicked edge so I cant speak on it. In my experience the work sharp design is cool but not practical, when its stock, for a general use stand point. I like a lot of different types of knives and I've had a few that just wouldn't fit in the guids and I never got a great edge using the guids. The main flaw i see using the guid is at one point the belt is cutting away from the edge and the other point the belt is cutting into the edge. So to fix my problems I was having I removed the guids and started to free hand sharpen on it. The next problem I found is that I have the green cabelas model and they only make 3 grits for it(80, 120, 800) I believe. Those grits give a decent edge but nothing amazing. So i wanted to use the wider belts that go on the ken onion model and I remover the wheel attached to the motor and trimmed off the capture tab and it was good to go for the higher grit belts, after that and about 10 practice sharpenings (which were very rough) I can regularly produce a hair popping edge and a "pretty" edge. It did take a learning curve to get it right but it's faster and easy imo. I hope one day I can afford a wicked edge but that won't be for a while.
I don't have any knife sharpening system yet, but am researching different systems in preparation for choosing and getting one. One question I have is how well does the Wicked Edge system work with recurve blades? I have two, one is a ZT 0301, the other is an Emerson Commander. As I look at the WE product photos and some of the videos, I don't really see how the flat stones are going to be able to sharpen recurve blades, but maybe there are accessories I don't know about or perhaps there's some fundamental thing I haven't grasped yet. The point is, I'm not going to spend big bucks on something unless I know up front that it's going to work with all of my knives, especially one (the Emerson) that I EDC.
Hey Justin, great question. In my first video of the WE system, they sharpened my ZT0350. It has a recurve and it was not a problem at all. I've since sharpened that same knife many times on my WE. Here's a link to my sharpening playlist. I believe that video is the last one in the list, since it's my first sharpening video. ua-cam.com/video/8zQDmQ_n7wg/v-deo.html
I'm getting a wicked edge and parking it down at the tattoo shop. Most of my clients are outdoorsmen and I bet they'd appreciate getting a mirrored edge on their edc blades.
I have bench stones, a Spyderco Sharpmaker with every rod available plus different little diamond stones I can attach to said rods, a Ken Onion edition WorkSharp, and a Wicked Edge with a variety of stones/strops. They all get used, they don’t all do the same thing, and none of them are best (or even necessarily any good at all) for everything. I don’t understand how someone wouldn’t be able to see that, what douchebags. I’ll probably one day have a Tormek, too, if I ever feel like it would be better enough at one task or another than other sharpening equipment to justify its cost. I will say, the Wicked Edge is my favorite by a wide margin for most knives, because it’s just so precise, fast, and repeatable, and I can personally get the best, sharpest, longest-lasting edges for most knives with it. The WorkSharp is mostly used on hatchets, machetes, shovels, etc. The Sharpmaker is in my truck camping kit for touchups, and the bench stones are for weird stuff and wood chisels and other things that aren’t feasible with my other sharpening tools.
I've watched both your videos I'm not going to say your right or wrong but for me it's out of my price range. I have 3 systems buck hone master Lansky and work sharp. I like to sharpen by hand but the convenience of the work sharp is nice. Anyway a knife sharpener will sharpen your knife it just depends on what you want.
I have the wicked edge & worksharp knife systems. Both work for me I just find the worksharp works for me as far as sharpening kitchen knives & bigger knives easier, wicked edge I rarely use, simply to expensive. Also have a spyderco sharpener that I use just as much as the worksharp, all systems work fine. & have the pros/cons. Comes down to personal preferences.
I've watched several of your videos, I've learned a bit, I'm still undecided as to which sharpening system I'm going to get, it seems like every video convinces me to go with the model that's being demonstrated, then I'll watch another video and the same thing happens. At first I was leaning toward the wicked edge system, then I watched a couple tormek videos, then Hapstone, edge pro, kme, TS-Prof. The wicked edge system looks more precise, although it seems designed for smaller blades and won't work on blades with less than a 10 degree angle. The Hapstone and Edge Pro seemed designed to do sharper angles but they seem flimsy built. The Tormek T-8 is quick, easy, versatile but it doesn't seem to be as precise. The TS-Prof seems to be able to accomadate larger blades, is very precise, infinitely adjustable, and very over engineered and heavily built, which is perfect for me as I tend to be rough on tools! Right now I've narrowed it down to either the Tormek T-8 or the TS-Prof. Hapstone and TS-Prof both seem capable of utilized a larger selection of stones than are available from other manufacturers. The Tormek is industrial strength, and will last a lifetime, the stones as well while the wicked edge stones seem flimsy and like you could burn thru them quickly. I could use input from people experienced with them all to help me choose. Thanks.
Does anyone complain about their mechanic using Snap On Tools? Would you go to a garage that had a sign in front that said, "We Proudly Use Harbor Freight tools"? Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't, but that doesn't affect my life. It doesn't affect your life either; and, if it does, you should make some changes.
@harleywood23 I like what you're doing here. I use japanese waterstones when sharpening, and they get sharp, crazy sharp. But once I get the money to buy this Tormek, it will be mine. To me it's all about time, and I want to make more mone on sharpening, and still make the same great job on others knives. Your videos about the Tormek is great! And I never miss money spent on great tools. Keep it up!👍
thanks man. if you like the tormek and you like japanese waterstones, you're gonna love one of my newer videos. It's a japanese waterstone on the tormek. check it out: ua-cam.com/video/2VFCNxqVR3Q/v-deo.html
@harleywood23 Thanks man😊 I actually watched it before I found this video. it's an amazing stone!👊 That's exactly what I'm after. The dream of getting that mirror sharpness with less work😊👍 Thank you so much, and greetings from Sweden👌
Interesting subject. When I view a video on UA-cam, the first thing I remind myself is that someone took the time and trouble to post. No matter how much I disagree with the opinions; no matter how low the quality, I take this into consideration. When I disagree with an opinion or idea, I will post a comment respectfully. Insults and personal attacks gain nothing.
Amen. Horses for courses - I've got a wicked edge, an edge pro apex, and a work sharp ken onion. I only ever use the wicked edge on my "good" knives, and the work sharp exists purely to sharpen kitchen knives since my wife insists on using them on ceramic plates and putting them in the dishwasher. Since I'm too lazy to tape off the blades, the work sharp makes the knives "ugly" (scratches the hell out of the flats), but the edge is more than "good enough" and is achievable an order of magnitude faster than using the wicked edge (~45 minutes with the wicked edge vs 3-4 minutes with the work sharp). For a MSC or GTC... there's no chance I'd risk using that work sharp - sure it's capable of putting a sharp edge on a knife, but the speed benefit just doesn't touch the potential for damage. Don't believe me? Go look at their training videos - they feature a CRKT knife, not a Ken Onion custom. That should tell you everything you need to know. I might move to a Tormek someday (when this work sharp burns out), but I don't sharpen for profit, just to keep my collection and working knives sharp; the combo of a wicked edge (Gen 1 pro-pack) and a work sharp does that pretty handily.
Don't you love the anonymity of the internet? People attacking you because you share your latest venture with everyone on UA-cam. I'm not gonna attack you but I will thank you for sharing with us. I'm wading through the maze of different knife sharpeners trying to decide what kind of sharpener I need to buy. Thank You for your time you spent making your videos!
Bob Grigg Thanks Bob. I think people take for granted the amount of time and money that we put into our channels just to bring folks some entertainment or knowledge. It's so easy to troll from behind a keyboard. Guess it makes them feel powerful. Thanks again.
still though most of these people who are newer to making knives or bush craft that come into it with a boat load of money spend it on something like this, when they probably dont even know how to use a sharpening stone or a strop. you know what i use to sharpen my blades get ready to hear this........sandpaper?!??!?!?!. for the past 8 years i have used sandpaper a leather strop with some braso polish and for heavier work i have an old sharpening stone which cost me 5$ and some times a sharpening steel. i keep it simple like the saying KISS(keep it simple stupid) now this is just my opinion i just find a 700$ sharpening system stupid i mean unless your a person who sharpens knifes for a living on a day to day basis then i just think it is only for a person who really cares more about luxury then work. good video though i can defiantly see where hate is coming from but that should not be towards you if people really have that much of a problem they should take it up with the company.
Harley, I'm sorry that you had to feel the need of such a video. It is the 2nd or 3rd video from you that I've been watching and I would like to reassure you that I find them straight to the point with an humble approach and I found all the information I could expect in them. Yes, there are some people who only feel they exist by criticizing. Let them. Be confident about your style, the information you provide, the level of passion and professionalism that you put in your review and let the MINORITY say what they feel like saying. Yes, minority as 1.4K vs. 146 need we say more? I'm a professional knife grinder and I keep learning everyday about everything and everyone. I'm a proud owner of a Tormek T7 and a TruHone (that we could talk about between enthusiast, if you feel like) and I'm considering getting a kicked edge Pro3 but still debating about it. The only reason why I would consider buying such a system would be just because I can't afford bad quality and for its mobility, especially with the case. Any constructive feedback would be more than welcome. Thanks again and keep on doing what you do, you do it great!
Well said HarleyWood. One point to make to you. Negative or positive they are watching your video's. When i get wannabes commenting on mine I just reply Thanks for watching. Great video's HarleyWood. I'm jealous of your sharpening talent.
Honestly I agree so much! I’m gonna invest roughly a thousand dollars in an edge pro to buy tons of aftermarket stuff so I can get the sharpest edge possible and so I can make a small business out of it.
Harley, you're always gonna have the 'drive bys'. They're in love with being in love. Just bought a SG2000 as a starter. And guys like you have me perspective. Thank you.
Naniwa Chocera plus leather stropping is the best . If you have bit more mobey to spend ? then I would buy Natural Japanese sharpning finishing stone. this conbination is really called Scary sharp .
couldn't agree more. I recently got the Japanese stone for the T-8. Total game changer. Check out my review here: ua-cam.com/video/2VFCNxqVR3Q/v-deo.html I also have a complete sharpening playlist, with several Tormek and other sharpeners. Check that out if interested: ua-cam.com/video/3fEvE6FHYr4/v-deo.html
Nothing wrong to spent good money on your beloved hobby and I for sure know that nice knifes wich for itself can cost a fortune you want them as sharp as possible^^ To all the haters....knifes can be a hobby so what?!?!
I have an edge pro apex and it's good but I can see where I can fuck up and screw up an edge. it seems like a wicked edge would eliminate that chance and that makes it worth the price to me. now to just save up the money for one and not spend it on another custom knife......but anyway, great video
question can your sharpening systems put an edge that feels as personal as what i get from my ceramic stone and leather - ill never buy a system or a non stone pruduct aside from sharpens best im just curious if you get that feel
Dang dude, I have a Work Sharp & I like it & everything, but I'm looking into a Wicked Edge Go or Tormek right now. As much as I like my Work Sharp, I've had some trouble with scratching some blades, even with tape. Also, in a lot of knives I can't reach all the way to the base of the handle because the guide blocks it. But even with all that I'm still glad I bought it & will continue to use it on things like kitchen knives for quick, easy touch-ups. But for my nicer knives I want something that's not only safer for the blade grind if I hold it there too long, takes off a more controlled amount of material, & can do a mirror finish all without scratching up my knife, I'm looking at these other systems. My point is, why can't both the Work Sharp, WE, Tormek, etc all be good in different ways?
I never realized that WE put out a system like Tormek and the WE is now discontinued... have the same WE as you in this video ... will pick up a Tormek T8 next 🤙🏼
I first bought a Gatco (a Lansky clone) back in 1991. Over the years I added many more sharpening systems and sharpening stones. I have a Tormek along with a 4000-grit Japanese stone wheel. I also own a TSProf K03 with the 3-axis digital angle cube built in. The TSProf is exceedingly nicely built. I also have a Chinese-made flat spinning disc sharpening machine with diamond wheels. Recently I picked up a used Edge Pro Professional on eBay. One thing that surprised me is how much I like using the low-tech Edge Pro Professional after I added a magnet to the Edge Pro blade table. The simplicity of the Edge Pro is growing on me. And, last but not least, I have many full-sized 8"x3" water stones from 80 grits all the way up to 30000 grits. I don't have a Wicked Edge and don't plan to buy one. I also had a belt sander but didn't use it much for sharpening. As I stated, I like them all. Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. No single system is perfect in all situations. Criticize me all you want. I am certifiably a sharpening and knife nut, spoken with a bit of pride.
I am getting started on knife sharpening. I really like the education. I can see purchasing all the Sharpening systems. A hobby is a passion. So enjoy it to the fullest.
I own both of this systems.I own tormek T-8 and T-7 and Wicked Edge Pro gen 3 sharpening system. At T-8 i use original grindstone and at T-7 i use japanese waterstone.I also have 2 belt grinders and scheppach Tiger 5.0 sharpener.I'm not the professionall knife turner but just a random guy that love Sharp knives . I own many sharpening systems before and I think I can rewiew some of them. Definitely the best of this systems in my opinion Is Wicked Edge with japanese naniwa stones .Before I bought these sharpeners I use scheppach sharpener ,mdf wheel,Lansky sharpeners,victorinox sharpeners,Chefs choice and much more !!!They created sharp edges and good bevels but when you bought the Wicked Edge you will seen very big difference. I've never seen that precise Edge ,precise bevels and long lasting sharpness and the same is at the Tormek.I don't say the other sharpening systems than Tormek or Wicked Edge are bad or not working.But you'll never get that precise angles than with these!When someone says that these sharpeners are worth of money or expensive let that people show me system that had this precision and quality and is cheaper than the systems which I mentioned at first These people in my opinion don't know much about how to get quality knife sharpness.I don't want to offend someone and If I do, I apologize much!I just want to say that in my opinion this systems are the best.I don't want to command anybody what he have to use.I just want to advise.That's all I want to say.Sorry for my English.Greeting from Slovakia.
Got a wicked edge pro pack 1 and it is definitely the best thing I have ever used. For me the biggest surprise was how well it reforms the knife tip. Best advice for this system is to practice on a few cheap knives and break in the stones. The first knife I did wasn't very sharp in the end, but every sharpening thereafter got better, meeting and exceeding the factory edge sharpness
I own an early version of the Tormek sharpener and I treat it like gold. Yes, it was expensive About $600.00 at the time. But, believe it or not, that's the cheap part of owning a Tormek. It's the many abhorrently expensive jigs needed to sharpen various knives and cutters. The few I've bought work perfectly. I recently purchased a set of gouges for wood turning. Before using them, I measured the angles the instructions said they should be. Most were close, but I like perfection, so I put the sharpener to the test and spent nearly a full day getting them to the angles described in the instructions. They worked perfectly. So good in fact, I discovered I could use light pressure instead of a medium pressure, thus saving the blade from excessive work. An impressive machine, no matter what the cost.
I bought the tormek on your review and recommendations and I absolutely love it great machine!!!
Cody Caudill
Awesome. Stay tuned. I just got the Japanese water stone for it. Video coming in a week or so.
I found that I can use The Tormek parts on my Jet. Now I’m back to sharpening. I sharpened 10 pocket knives last night. Some were better quality than others, but they all slice paper. That’s good enough for my needs! My wife was surprised my knives were as sharp as they were, & ended up cutting her finger in the sink water. I’ve used the Jet to keep my expensive German & Swiss chisels sharp enough to carve wood. The Tormek would do the job too, but I spent over $600.00 on the Jet, years ago, & didn’t want to lay out anymore big bucks , if I didn’t have to. Both tool accessories are nearly identical, but Tormek seems better made. They have had time to improve, & Jet, just dropped its customers on their ear, and dropped their line of wet sharpeners. Thank you Tormek, for keeping a great system alive! I’m trying Japanese wet stones, & they seem wonderful, but slow. More for sushi knives, & I’m trying to master chopsticks 🥢! Oh, & you won’t learn much, by insulting people who actually could help you! So grow up, learn as much as you can, and have fun!👍🏻🥢
Totally with you. I'm a big Work Sharp fan, but appreciate each different tool has a purpose, application, method & price-point. I don't get all the haters! Good videos, common sense content.
On a regular basis, I need to grind primary level on my handplane blade whenever secondary bevel becomes bigger.
Will T-8 and COARSE diamond wheel serve the purpose ?
I have the Lansky including all of the stones and the strop and think it is a phenomenal value. You can put a very nice edge on a wide variety of knives with as little as $30 invested. I also have a Wicked Edge and love it. Sharpening is one of my hobbies and I wanted to achieve the best possible edges. It makes me happy. I totally understand that it is overkill, but that's half the fun!😀
I like your honesty and open-mindedness and non-judgemental approach. Give people the info and let them make an informed choice that suits their needs. Rock on dude!
I fully agree with what you have to say in the video. I will add though, that I think most people just tend to see this price point as excessive. It is an awesome product and I think many knife enthusiasts would not call it over priced even at $450 or so. But at $850 (on Amazon), I think it gets well into the territory of diminishing returns. Anyway, appreciate all the videos! Cheers.
I agree. i have always bought the best tools i could within my budget. i am retired now and still own some of my tools i bought at the start of my career. The sharpeners that you have tested will most likely last for many years. i bought the tormek t-4 and am more than happy with my purchase. there are good sharpeners out there to fit any budget. I like to see what the best looks like and if that's too much for my budget then i look for something close to the best. as with any hobby or profession you can spend a lot or a little on your tools of the trade. I have never regretted buying the best that i could afford.
Thanks Theophilus. I'm about to try out the japanese water stone for the Tormek. Should be pretty awesome. Stay tuned and thanks for watching.
I have a worksharp and it's great. I have found my path in using it. It will get done what I need to get done. However, I think I would be a big fan of a Tormek. Looks like a nice set up.
Just one customer's take, mine;
I've had a Wicked Edge system for years. I used to defend them, not any longer. It doesn't have the ability to sharpen my recurve blade on the Emerson Commander well.
A year ago I contacted WE to purchase the small blade adapter that they used to sell for the system but they don't make it any longer, wanted to charge me hundreds more for a system upgrade.
Pissed me off.
I bought a Lansky system for about $50 and it out performs the older model WE, hands down.
If someone wants to spend the money with a company with poor service like WE, let em. I went to culinary school after retiring as a firefighter and my take on WE is that they are like most culinary/institutional manufacturers, they inflate the cost to line their pockets because the industry is naive to that type of marketing. Not providing parts for your older models is bad form as well.
So because it won't sharpen a single style of blade you don't support it any longer??? And you say a Lansky system out performs a WE hands down??? Grow up and buy what is needed to sharpen the recurve. Lansky systems come nowhere near what a WE system can. With the Lansky you are stuck with 5 degree incriminate not the 1 degree the WE allows. Then there's the stone and strop combos available for the WE. You are clearly talking out of your ass. You can claim whatever you want but the fact remains a WE is honestly the best sharpening system available right now due to the ease of use and stone and strip availability and just how consistently it sharpens. If a $50 Lansky actually sharpened better than a WE no one would spend the $$$$ on WE. You get what you pay for. I've spent over $350 for a single 20000 grit Suehiro whetstone and $360 for a single Shapton 30000 GlassStone.
Great you spent over $1k on your sharpening system, congrats! Sometimes its better to let the person be wrong and not make yourself look like an ***.
I have a WE pp2 and sometimes i just do freehand. Love them both techniques. No regrets.
Really love your honesty and videos keep them coming
I've used a lot of different sharpening methods on a lot of blades, and I see your argument, and I love it. I use my grandfather's tormek to sharpen axes and repair knives that have major chips or broken tips, I have the lanky if I'm traveling and need to sharpen knives, and I have the wicked edge at home to sharpen all knives I come across, and as you say, there are pros and cons to every system and that's very true, so if everyone could just see that and be more open minded they will see another world of knife sharpening. Great video by the way
I'm just getting started in the knife world and videos like this are very helpful keep up the great work!!!
i have a lansky, and another sharpening system that cost me around $500. and I'll say really fast that I love my lansky. Not because I think it's the best system in the world, but because I can consistently get hair popping sharp edges quickly. I literally just finished putting a $40 edge on a $7 knife and it is surprisingly sharp. If the lansky is all that somebody has the funds to buy, then I say go for it, you'll probably have sharper knives than most people you'll ever meet.
Hey man don’t worry those other people. They probably can’t afford those systems anyway. Thanks for your videos and all the good information.
You have a good point right now in life i don't need that grinding wheel thing.
but in future i might water to get. Right now all i sharpen is my razors and few knives when they need sharpening. Though was thinking somewhere could save money maybe by making their own sandpaper. one buy a package of durage 25 percent cotton paper for like 20 bucks. maybe if some enbedded the 200-240 mesh sands from the classifying pay dirt or just dirt. that might be alot rough pieces pretty cheap. sands also speeds up flatting rocks.
I'm not a knife guy, nor am I in the market for a sharpener, but I have to say that I've enjoyed the videos and learned stuff I never knew and if I got to a point where I needed one, I'd be able to make an informed choice. Your comments about the people commenting really shouldn't be limited to this one topic as it's pretty much endemic throughout the 'net regardless of the subject. You have the right attitude and I'm glad you made this video.
Kurt Feltenberger
Thanks Kurt
100% agree. Well said!
I have nice woodworking tools and expensive cooking knives. I have spent a lot of time learning to use them properly and really enjoy the experience and the skill set - it's a passion and a hobby of mine. So I did spend money on an expensive sharpening system (Tormek) to maintain my tools and knives in perfect condition because it is something dear to me and therefore worth it.
For those that disagree, I have a simple solution for you: Don't buy expensive sharpening system!
thanks man. I just got the Japanese Waterstone for the Tormek. Video coming soon.
I find your comparison of an expensive car at a car show vs. a Toyota Camry a bit disingenuous. There are a TON of features/components that differentiate one car from another, but on a knife it comes down to producing an accurate, repeatable and smooth edge. It really only comes down to these two factors: 1) Can you produce a quality edge, and if so: 2) how fast can you produce said edge? I would say that a machine like an EdgePro can produce just as refined of an edge as Wicked Sharp or the Tormek, but it's going to be slower. The Tormek is unequaled when it comes to how many different types of tools it can sharpen, so that is definitely an issue for woodworkers. Work Sharp? I would say that appeals to a completely different set of folks who aren't "serious" sharpeners; I admit that I have one and I use it for knives that I'm not too concerned about and don't want to spend a lot of time to get reasonably sharp. I am fully aware that it is in no way comparable to what you would get with a high-end sharpener.
For the average Joe however, I maintain that you do not NEED a $700 sharpener because you can't justify the extra cost. My Japanese Chef's knives that I sharpen a couple of times a year? Edge Pro works just fine and produce a scary sharp edge. If you're a guy that has a knife sharpening business, then yes: you probably DO need a $700 sharpener.
[Edited to add] Each system also seems to have certain minor shortcomings that aren't an issue with another machine. It's kind of like "THIS IS THE ONLY SOCKET YOU WILL EVER NEED" - until you come to that one application when you're working on your car where you find out that you *do* need that stupid deep socket with splines instead of the standard 6-point socket. ;)
Just bought a Tormek. Be here next week. I cannot wait. Been using stones the last two years. Tired of the mess.
I agree, some people just get their kicks by posting rude comments.
I appreciate your videos and feel like I learn something from each one.
Thanks.
SDkid605
Thanks. Appreciate the support
Wicked edge brings in the bucks, so consistent , so professional. Try the .6 micron lapping paper for the shiniest mirror polish you've ever seen!
LOVE it man. The mantra I’ve developed over the years goes: “Life is hard enough. Don’t be an asshole.”
Respect. Totally well spoken and respectfully expressed opinion. Couldn't agree more.
thanks man
great vid bro I agree with you 110% on the work sharp(i have one) when I spend $750 on a folding knife I'm not gonna trust that system to accurately sharpen it and not destroy the blade. it works great on large fixed blades but not smaller forking knives...keep doing what you doing always love the vids
+Wayne Lindsey thanks man. Appreciate it.
I have a wicked edge 130 and love it. I don’t trust myself with any other free hand sharpener because of human error. So I’m set. And I lose less metal.
I have started with a Lansky when I was around 15 years old and it is a great system! Got everything from a Victorinox pen blade up to a twelve inch kitchen knife sharp and I mean sharp! But it was slow and not that ergonomic to use, not as precise as I would want and overall left a lot to desire from the experience kind of side.
Then I got a classic Work Sharp and it was fast and could produce a decent edge, but was not really something I was thrilled about. Small mistakes made a huge impact, it was not very precise and the lack of angles was also not that great. Also it struggled with a lot of knives not being able to grind from the heel.
Next system was a TSprof Kadet and it was amazing! Super precise, really well made, a joy to use, faster than a Lansky and overall far superior in any way imaginable. I loved it but ultimately sold it because i barely used it after whittling down my list of user knives.
And now I have bought a Tormek. What a great machine it is! My main reason for getting it is me wanting to start a sharpening service, so the cost is not a big factor in that regard. Took some time to get comfortable with it, but damn it is fun and produces great edges. A step down in terms of finish for sure, as I currently only have the standard stone, so no perfect polished edges like the TSprof and even Lansky, but the sharpness is on par if not better. It is quick, not as quick as a belt grinder maybe, but the low noise and lack o dust make it more than worth it for me, as having it run all day and not needing any kind of protective gear is awesome! Also it is the most versatile system by far, pretty much anything can be sharpened, right down to specialty tools.
But in the end, every system gave me good results (with the Work Sharp being hit and miss to be honest), mostly the amount of work and how fun that work was is where they differ.
Well spoken, a calm rebuttal to the anonymous commenter with nothing good to say. So many faceless experts on UA-cam.
I came across your video while looking for information about the WorkSharp I own. Truthfully, I never realized the amount of contention the method of sharpening a knife would create.
As an active outdoor person I own a few knives; all under $100.00 and of course a few good knives in the kitchen. I bought the WorkSharp for two reasons. I’m a nitwit with traditional methods such as a stone and I have arthritis which makes holding a knife steady difficult.
If my knives and circumstances warranted I’d buy a high-end system; it doesn't. However, the WorkSharp system works for me and does a good job.
Best of luck with your channel.
thank you Kevin
I had both the Tormek and WE. Bought the WE, got the Tormek from a guy that owed me money. Both do a fantastic job on knives. Money well spent if that's your thing. Sold the WE only because it was slow and I don't have a knife worth spending 20+ minutes sharpening. Actually making money now with the Tormek sharpening for other people.
I support your video. Stand your ground. Dislike the haters.
Really really cool and practical system for sharpening knives!
I invested in the Tormek T 8 with the Japanese stone after watch your videos.... I like the one with Mr. Beech and how you asked questions and he was not use to being interviewed but responded with sincerity and honesty about the system he uses for his sharpening business.
Thanks Michael. Appreciate you watching
Woodworking has the same problem. You have the folks who denigrate those who bought into Festool or Veritas or Lie-Nielsen tools. I owned a Worksharp and it didn’t work well for me so I sold it. Quietly. Not making a fuss. I went to traditional waterstones and sharpen by hand. I own nice tools because nice tools don’t require much maintenance or restoration. I wanted to get up and running woodworking rather than spending the time restoring an used hand plane/chisel. I also wanted precision and repeatability which tracksaws are really good at. Why? So I can enjoy woodworking. Isn’t the point of a hobby is to enjoy it?
Well said. I free hand sharpen personally but I still like seeing the gadgets people use. Good video.
thanks man
Soooooo, i did some math, and if we assume that 1 kit of belts for the WS-KO Blade Grinder can sharpen 25 knives (One kit costing~25$ and the belts can last longer)
you can:
Completely Sharpen ~440 Knives before we catch up with the Wicked Edge in price!
And that is from completely dull to ~80-85% as sharp as is physically possible in less ten 10 Minutes and with a stronger micro convex grind (wich is perfect for outdoor and pocket knives)
ONTOP OF THAT! you can easily use the "base WS-KO" as a Power file and the Blade Grinder as a normal mini Belt sander to sharpen both Axes, Scissors and Shears and there even is a proper Power File attachment to do some serious work on Lawnmower blades, Shovels and other Rough Yard tools!
and this is just the Powered belt systems that Worksharp Offers!
The only Sharpener in the +500$ price field worth the money are the Tormek systems as there is a great variety of tools you can sharpen with it and does all of that Speedy, Quiet and water cooled!
In my (arguably novice) opinion, there is only 2 reasons to buy the Wicked edge, and that is for Hunting/Country clubs that serve many people who have a lot of time as well as Enthusiasts with a large budget.
Professional Knife Sharpeners tend to use either high end Waterstones, Tormeks or non specific hardware such as Paper/Felt wheels and Bench grinders to create exceptional edges in FRACTIONS of the time any Pre angled system can!
The Wicked edge is slightly over Hyped and definitely Over priced for what it does. If you only sharpen Pocket knives and
AYellowPepper
Very respectful and well said. It’s just like cars. I don’t see the value in a $90K corvette, but I don’t begrudge those who do.
Ken onion is good? Come on, no way.
those precision high-end sharpeners are compelling. sure wish the prices were more less high-end
Your wish may come true. I’ll be reviewing a $425 version of the Tormek this week. Perfect for those who can’t quite justify the $700 one
i am a professional woodworker, buiding all kind of stuff for house living. As most of my products are individual and more or less hand made i often use chisel and and planes. And in my opinion there is nothing worse than a dull tool. I used a sharpening system with a grind stone with high speed on my old company and always didnt like the damger of overheating the blades. So from the first time i used a water sharpening system this is my choice.
Hey Harley; I began watching your videos about four years ago and almost to the knife sharpener you have demonstrated I have purchased each one! All in all, I have to agree with your summary about the candidate that leads them all is the Tormek. I definitely don't agree with the comment previous to mine here that the Wicked Edge is the most efficient; in fact, I sold my Wicked Edge after buying the Tormek. Yes, it does have a longer 'learning curve' before one can be proficient with it, but in the end, IMHO, it is the most efficient, professional, all-around sharpening. 'machine' that can be found today...Thanks for your commitment to uploading edifying sharpeners for all to view.
Thank you. Appreciate the support
Right on... Just bought a T4 Tormek a few days ago and it's amazing. Agree there is a leaning curve, so I bought some dollar store knives to practice on, which considering the quality of the knives, they did sharpen pretty good, but I'm assuming they won't maintain an edge for very long. Trashed the the first one learning 😙.
I'm getting my tormek 8 next week.
Thanks for taking the time to publishing these videos, I must’ve watched 8 of your videos right now, and I’m definitely purchasing this unit and the Japanese stone! 😊👍🏻
Serge Letunovskiy
You won’t regret it. Thanks for watching
I use a EdgePro and consider to buy Tormek,so I collect as much opinions as I can get,thanks for yours.
I bought a wicked edge. It works. I would have bought any other system, but wicked edge was at hand.
I literally just bought a gen 3 wicked edge system with a bunch of stones for $735 off eBay.
I'm not sure if I have or have not made a mistake yet
If your into knives then the wicked edge is unbeatable imo, the price tag is the stopper for me, I set my edge with the edge pro and then maintain it with the sharpmaker and I have to be happy with that.
when people say it's nearly impossible to get a perfect angle free hand that's not true, it's 100% impossible, in fact there's no such thing as a perfect angle but the wicked edge will get you closer than most sharpeners, the edge they produce are beautiful, alot of sharpeners out there can give you a good working edge but when your edge obsessed the WE is the way to go, imo
Fair comments... some however will talk trash and nay-say no matter what or how you say things. Looking to buy a 'sharpener /system' myself and vid's like this are great. Will you decide what I buy? No. Do I think you have anything to gain? No. You are at the very least helping me decide.... thanks.
Novices like myself need help... you can read all you want but seeing and hearing advice/tips and pointers are tremendously helpful. Maybe I don't need to spend £100's but watching and listening can only help.
I do not know enough to go into depth on the 'art of sharpening' , but I think ( after watching loads and loads of info' vid's) what you say regarding the process rings true. BUT if I had a point to argue, ... abuse, name calling and stupid remarks wouldn't come into it. Trolls or keyboard warriors... along with no respect, shown to someone taking the time to produce helpful video's, or at the least video's that create a debate.
Pretty sure you can argue your own case :) Thanks again.
garryleerob you can look for a good quality used system. Us old men get old & tired, the useless, but our good quality tools last more than one lifetime, because it took almost a lifetime to acquire our tools. What do our family’s do with tools, they don’t want? The sell them cheap, or get an auctioneer to dispose of them. No one is going come to you doorstep to read your mind. Meet like minded persons, make connections and enjoy life, maybe even with an instructor ! Good luck👍🏻!
I like taking the skill out of sharpening. I have some great stones, but my hands can not maintain a perfect angle with every stroke. I know others can with lots of practice and patience, thats not me
Don’t let the idiots of this world get you down.
Right on! Thanks for the videos.
Well obviously an edge pro is a fantastic option along with lanksys but you can't go wrong with a Arkansas stone
I use a combination of systems. They all have their strengths. Great video big thumbs up from me!
I personally am a big fan of the work sharp, with that being said I have never used the wicked edge so I cant speak on it. In my experience the work sharp design is cool but not practical, when its stock, for a general use stand point. I like a lot of different types of knives and I've had a few that just wouldn't fit in the guids and I never got a great edge using the guids. The main flaw i see using the guid is at one point the belt is cutting away from the edge and the other point the belt is cutting into the edge. So to fix my problems I was having I removed the guids and started to free hand sharpen on it. The next problem I found is that I have the green cabelas model and they only make 3 grits for it(80, 120, 800) I believe. Those grits give a decent edge but nothing amazing. So i wanted to use the wider belts that go on the ken onion model and I remover the wheel attached to the motor and trimmed off the capture tab and it was good to go for the higher grit belts, after that and about 10 practice sharpenings (which were very rough) I can regularly produce a hair popping edge and a "pretty" edge. It did take a learning curve to get it right but it's faster and easy imo. I hope one day I can afford a wicked edge but that won't be for a while.
"Just be a human"
Best thing I've heard in a long time! :)
I don't have any knife sharpening system yet, but am researching different systems in preparation for choosing and getting one. One question I have is how well does the Wicked Edge system work with recurve blades? I have two, one is a ZT 0301, the other is an Emerson Commander. As I look at the WE product photos and some of the videos, I don't really see how the flat stones are going to be able to sharpen recurve blades, but maybe there are accessories I don't know about or perhaps there's some fundamental thing I haven't grasped yet. The point is, I'm not going to spend big bucks on something unless I know up front that it's going to work with all of my knives, especially one (the Emerson) that I EDC.
Hey Justin, great question. In my first video of the WE system, they sharpened my ZT0350. It has a recurve and it was not a problem at all. I've since sharpened that same knife many times on my WE. Here's a link to my sharpening playlist. I believe that video is the last one in the list, since it's my first sharpening video. ua-cam.com/video/8zQDmQ_n7wg/v-deo.html
Love the video !
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to show me exactly what I want to see
I'm getting a wicked edge and parking it down at the tattoo shop. Most of my clients are outdoorsmen and I bet they'd appreciate getting a mirrored edge on their edc blades.
I have bench stones, a Spyderco Sharpmaker with every rod available plus different little diamond stones I can attach to said rods, a Ken Onion edition WorkSharp, and a Wicked Edge with a variety of stones/strops. They all get used, they don’t all do the same thing, and none of them are best (or even necessarily any good at all) for everything. I don’t understand how someone wouldn’t be able to see that, what douchebags. I’ll probably one day have a Tormek, too, if I ever feel like it would be better enough at one task or another than other sharpening equipment to justify its cost.
I will say, the Wicked Edge is my favorite by a wide margin for most knives, because it’s just so precise, fast, and repeatable, and I can personally get the best, sharpest, longest-lasting edges for most knives with it. The WorkSharp is mostly used on hatchets, machetes, shovels, etc. The Sharpmaker is in my truck camping kit for touchups, and the bench stones are for weird stuff and wood chisels and other things that aren’t feasible with my other sharpening tools.
I saw guys making their own belts for belt sharpeners.
I've watched both your videos I'm not going to say your right or wrong but for me it's out of my price range. I have 3 systems buck hone master Lansky and work sharp. I like to sharpen by hand but the convenience of the work sharp is nice. Anyway a knife sharpener will sharpen your knife it just depends on what you want.
I have the wicked edge & worksharp knife systems. Both work for me I just find the worksharp works for me as far as sharpening kitchen knives & bigger knives easier, wicked edge I rarely use, simply to expensive. Also have a spyderco sharpener that I use just as much as the worksharp, all systems work fine. & have the pros/cons. Comes down to personal preferences.
I honestly subscribed just because everything you said about fan boys and grown men being whiny bitches is 100% true. Great video.
True, use the tool that works best for you then get a beer not an attitude.
For me, when it comes to tools, it’s so easy to justify the cost.
I've watched several of your videos, I've learned a bit, I'm still undecided as to which sharpening system I'm going to get, it seems like every video convinces me to go with the model that's being demonstrated, then I'll watch another video and the same thing happens. At first I was leaning toward the wicked edge system, then I watched a couple tormek videos, then Hapstone, edge pro, kme, TS-Prof. The wicked edge system looks more precise, although it seems designed for smaller blades and won't work on blades with less than a 10 degree angle. The Hapstone and Edge Pro seemed designed to do sharper angles but they seem flimsy built. The Tormek T-8 is quick, easy, versatile but it doesn't seem to be as precise. The TS-Prof seems to be able to accomadate larger blades, is very precise, infinitely adjustable, and very over engineered and heavily built, which is perfect for me as I tend to be rough on tools! Right now I've narrowed it down to either the Tormek T-8 or the TS-Prof. Hapstone and TS-Prof both seem capable of utilized a larger selection of stones than are available from other manufacturers. The Tormek is industrial strength, and will last a lifetime, the stones as well while the wicked edge stones seem flimsy and like you could burn thru them quickly. I could use input from people experienced with them all to help me choose. Thanks.
You would have to sharpen lots and lots of knives to justify that kind of money.
I have a lot of knives and hi end knives tried the others my Tormek is the best I have seen Each to his on. Love your videos great job
Thanks Chuck
Does anyone complain about their mechanic using Snap On Tools? Would you go to a garage that had a sign in front that said, "We Proudly Use Harbor Freight tools"? Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't, but that doesn't affect my life. It doesn't affect your life either; and, if it does, you should make some changes.
@harleywood23 I like what you're doing here. I use japanese waterstones when sharpening, and they get sharp, crazy sharp. But once I get the money to buy this Tormek, it will be mine. To me it's all about time, and I want to make more mone on sharpening, and still make the same great job on others knives. Your videos about the Tormek is great! And I never miss money spent on great tools. Keep it up!👍
thanks man. if you like the tormek and you like japanese waterstones, you're gonna love one of my newer videos. It's a japanese waterstone on the tormek. check it out: ua-cam.com/video/2VFCNxqVR3Q/v-deo.html
@harleywood23 Thanks man😊 I actually watched it before I found this video. it's an amazing stone!👊 That's exactly what I'm after. The dream of getting that mirror sharpness with less work😊👍 Thank you so much, and greetings from Sweden👌
Interesting subject. When I view a video on UA-cam, the first thing I remind myself is that someone took the time and trouble to post. No matter how much I disagree with the opinions; no matter how low the quality, I take this into consideration.
When I disagree with an opinion or idea, I will post a comment respectfully.
Insults and personal attacks gain nothing.
Amen. Horses for courses - I've got a wicked edge, an edge pro apex, and a work sharp ken onion. I only ever use the wicked edge on my "good" knives, and the work sharp exists purely to sharpen kitchen knives since my wife insists on using them on ceramic plates and putting them in the dishwasher. Since I'm too lazy to tape off the blades, the work sharp makes the knives "ugly" (scratches the hell out of the flats), but the edge is more than "good enough" and is achievable an order of magnitude faster than using the wicked edge (~45 minutes with the wicked edge vs 3-4 minutes with the work sharp). For a MSC or GTC... there's no chance I'd risk using that work sharp - sure it's capable of putting a sharp edge on a knife, but the speed benefit just doesn't touch the potential for damage. Don't believe me? Go look at their training videos - they feature a CRKT knife, not a Ken Onion custom. That should tell you everything you need to know. I might move to a Tormek someday (when this work sharp burns out), but I don't sharpen for profit, just to keep my collection and working knives sharp; the combo of a wicked edge (Gen 1 pro-pack) and a work sharp does that pretty handily.
100 % correct !!! Stop hating, this is a GREAT system !
Don't you love the anonymity of the internet? People attacking you because you share your latest venture with everyone on UA-cam. I'm not gonna attack you but I will thank you for sharing with us. I'm wading through the maze of different knife sharpeners trying to decide what kind of sharpener I need to buy. Thank You for your time you spent making your videos!
Bob Grigg
Thanks Bob. I think people take for granted the amount of time and money that we put into our channels just to bring folks some entertainment or knowledge. It's so easy to troll from behind a keyboard. Guess it makes them feel powerful. Thanks again.
HarleyWood23 I am looking for a way to sharpen my knives mostly under 4 inches and I have more time than money and think I might try the Lansky.
Well said bro and keep up the great content!
Wallace Berry
Thanks man
Good words! The WorkSharp system does work well but it's not the best and definitely not the smartest buy!
still though most of these people who are newer to making knives or bush craft that come into it with a boat load of money spend it on something like this, when they probably dont even know how to use a sharpening stone or a strop. you know what i use to sharpen my blades get ready to hear this........sandpaper?!??!?!?!.
for the past 8 years i have used sandpaper a leather strop with some braso polish and for heavier work i have an old sharpening stone which cost me 5$ and some times a sharpening steel. i keep it simple like the saying KISS(keep it simple stupid) now this is just my opinion i just find a 700$ sharpening system stupid i mean unless your a person who sharpens knifes for a living on a day to day basis then i just think it is only for a person who really cares more about luxury then work. good video though i can defiantly see where hate is coming from but that should not be towards you if people really have that much of a problem they should take it up with the company.
Enff said brother....well said and just don't worry about them fan boys keep up the awesome work and do you....enjoy the videos keep them coming
tboy lyons
Thanks man
Well put, 100% agree with you.
+Jesse Detrick
Thanks Jesse
Harley,
I'm sorry that you had to feel the need of such a video.
It is the 2nd or 3rd video from you that I've been watching and I would like to reassure you that I find them straight to the point with an humble approach and I found all the information I could expect in them.
Yes, there are some people who only feel they exist by criticizing. Let them. Be confident about your style, the information you provide, the level of passion and professionalism that you put in your review and let the MINORITY say what they feel like saying.
Yes, minority as 1.4K vs. 146 need we say more?
I'm a professional knife grinder and I keep learning everyday about everything and everyone. I'm a proud owner of a Tormek T7 and a TruHone (that we could talk about between enthusiast, if you feel like) and I'm considering getting a kicked edge Pro3 but still debating about it. The only reason why I would consider buying such a system would be just because I can't afford bad quality and for its mobility, especially with the case. Any constructive feedback would be more than welcome.
Thanks again and keep on doing what you do, you do it great!
Hey Great video, love your videos, listen if you could only have one of your sharpening systems which one would you choose?
If money was no object, probably the Tormek with the japanese water stone.
HarleyWood23 Thanks
Well said HarleyWood. One point to make to you. Negative or positive they are watching your video's. When i get wannabes commenting on mine I just reply Thanks for watching. Great video's HarleyWood. I'm jealous of your sharpening talent.
Honestly I agree so much! I’m gonna invest roughly a thousand dollars in an edge pro to buy tons of aftermarket stuff so I can get the sharpest edge possible and so I can make a small business out of it.
Harley, you're always gonna have the 'drive bys'. They're in love with being in love. Just bought a SG2000 as a starter. And guys like you have me perspective. Thank you.
Naniwa Chocera plus leather stropping is the best . If you have bit more mobey to spend ? then I would buy Natural Japanese sharpning finishing stone. this conbination is really called Scary sharp .
couldn't agree more. I recently got the Japanese stone for the T-8. Total game changer. Check out my review here: ua-cam.com/video/2VFCNxqVR3Q/v-deo.html
I also have a complete sharpening playlist, with several Tormek and other sharpeners. Check that out if interested: ua-cam.com/video/3fEvE6FHYr4/v-deo.html
In real life you dont insult a big guy with sharp knives in his hand 👍
Amen brother! Very well put 👍👍
thanks man
I get a great hair popping sharp edge just by using rocks I find in the street....
Just found your site and subbed, great job
abner galdos
Ha. Nice. Anything with enough practice, right? Thanks for watching
Nothing wrong to spent good money on your beloved hobby and I for sure know that nice knifes wich for itself can cost a fortune you want them as sharp as possible^^ To all the haters....knifes can be a hobby so what?!?!
I have an edge pro apex and it's good but I can see where I can fuck up and screw up an edge. it seems like a wicked edge would eliminate that chance and that makes it worth the price to me. now to just save up the money for one and not spend it on another custom knife......but anyway, great video
+Thomas Fedrich
Thanks Thomas
question can your sharpening systems put an edge that feels as personal as what i get from my ceramic stone and leather - ill never buy a system or a non stone pruduct aside from sharpens best im just curious if you get that feel
You are so right in your opinion👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Dang dude, I have a Work Sharp & I like it & everything, but I'm looking into a Wicked Edge Go or Tormek right now.
As much as I like my Work Sharp, I've had some trouble with scratching some blades, even with tape. Also, in a lot of knives I can't reach all the way to the base of the handle because the guide blocks it.
But even with all that I'm still glad I bought it & will continue to use it on things like kitchen knives for quick, easy touch-ups.
But for my nicer knives I want something that's not only safer for the blade grind if I hold it there too long, takes off a more controlled amount of material, & can do a mirror finish all without scratching up my knife, I'm looking at these other systems.
My point is, why can't both the Work Sharp, WE, Tormek, etc all be good in different ways?
I need me a tormek... They OK for smaller and pocket style knives?
I never realized that WE put out a system like Tormek and the WE is now discontinued... have the same WE as you in this video ... will pick up a Tormek T8 next 🤙🏼
to my knowledge, Wicked Edge hasn't been discontinued. It's still listed on their site.
Awesome video, thank you for posting.
Could not agree more dude.....just enjoy the vid man!!!
Good video man thanks for the info