N o matter how great you think the quality of the blades of your knives is, one thing is for certain, more precisely that they become dull and lose their cutting capabilities after being subjected to intense use. This is why the demand for knife sharpeners is so high as they provide blade resharpening in a matter of minutes without requiring much effort on your part. A great option to consider is the WE100 Precision knife sharpener, an item that you can have at your disposal for a spicy but understandable price.
Wicked Edge WE100 Precision
Design
It measures 8 inches in width, 5.75 inches in depth, 4.75 inches in height, and it weighs 3.6 pounds. The compact and lightweight design make it a breeze for you to set it up and work with it, and to store it where it belongs when you’re done. Best of all, it boasts a durable construction due to the fact that it is made with stainless steel and 6061 T6 aluminum, thus assuring you that it will stay in perfect shape for a long time.
Performance
It can be used to sharpen all types of blades, and it can even be used on small knives, although it will be a tad more difficult to do it without the help of a small knife holder that you place into the clamp. Performance-wise, it is tough to beat as it comes with no less than 8 diamond stones that guarantee the blades will be sharpened to perfection.
The angle range that it offers is from 15 to 30 degrees, and you have to manually adjust the angle on both sides of the unit. Just know that micro adjustment isn’t possible, so you will be capable of adjusting the angle only in 1-degree increments. In addition, when it comes to the adjustment of the blade depth, you have two settings that you can choose from in order to fit the knife that you intend to sharpen.
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| Dimensions | 8” x 5.75” x 4.75” |
| Weight | 3.6 lbs |
| Material | Stainless steel and 6061 T6 aluminum |
| Abrasives | 2 x 100 grit diamond stones, 2 x 200 grit diamond stones, 2 x 400 grit diamond stones, 2 x 600 grit diamond stones |
| Edge angle | 15 – 30 degrees |
| Serrated knife sharpening | Yes |
| Straight edge knife sharpening | Yes |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Features and Accessories
It features a ball-joint, L-bracket guide rod that pivots and measures 8 inches. The clamping system has parallel-face jaws that you must manually operate with the help of an Allen key. It comes with no less than 8 abrasives, more precisely two coarse 100 grit diamond stones, two medium coarse 200 grit diamond stones, two medium 400 grit diamond stones, and two fine 600 grit diamond stones.
It also comes with the necessary alignment tools that allow a precise mounting, and a knife brace that allows you to sharpen flexible blades. On the downside, the base must be purchased separately, so you have to pay extra if you want to have it.
Ease of Use
How long it takes for it to sharpen a knife solely depends on how fast you move, generally taking only a couple of minutes. When using it, you must first mount it to a stable surface to ensure that you won’t injure yourself.
Next, you must mount the knife in an approximately central position in the vise jaw with the blade facing upwards and the handle resting on the depth key’s prongs. Afterward, tighten the top screw with the vise key for the knife to be held in place without tightening it too much, set the angle at which the blade must be sharpened, and set the 100 grit stones on the guide rod.
Now, you can proceed to sharpen the blade in an up and forward movement while rotating the strokes from side to side. You must do about 30 passes with the 100 grit stones, then switch to the 200 grit stones and repeat the procedure, and so on until you have advanced through all the stones. After you finish sharpening the blade, don’t forget to wash off any dust and debris that have gathered on it.
Warranty and Support
The company offers a lifetime warranty for it. As long as you don’t inflict direct damage on the sharpener and you use the stones and strops under normal conditions, the manufacturer will fix the defective parts or replace it completely without charging you a cent.
Another aspect that you will surely like is that whenever you have problems operating it or you have any questions about it, you can call customer support on the telephone number posted on the manufacturer’s website, or you can send them an e-mail in order to receive the needed help.
Pros & Cons
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Final Verdict
The 8 abrasives and the alignment tools that it comes with offer a precise mounting and a professional sharpening regardless if you are looking to refine the edge of a kitchen, hunting, or pocket knife. Another aspect that made us rate it so well is that it’s extremely durable and reliable, being praised by customers who have already bought it.
When it comes to our opinion after testing it, what we can assure you of is the fact that it’s easy to use, almost as easy as an electrical model. Overall, the WE100 knife sharpener is a force to be reckoned with and an investment that you surely won’t regret making as it will save all the knives in your collection, prolonging their life by keeping them sharp.
