Thanks! I'm anxious to hear the results. Sorry my reply has taken a few days but I've been under the weather, so I haven't been online much. Thanks again Clay!

Alot of very good advice. Thank you guys for all the info and for digging up so many links. Its amazing what can be done with some sandpaper. Ill have to look around town and see whats available. I dont want to go too fine, because I do like my edge a bit toothy, but I also like it clean and reflective. The most Ive done on an edge was on my Griptilian 550HG, I reprofiled the edge to 20* per side on my Lansky (which some people say is closer to 17*) started at 70 grit diamonds and ended with 2000 grit ceramic (Super Sapphire), then I went to the UF rods on my Sharpmaker, and ended stropping on Balsa with 1/.5 micron pastes, which got my edge to a nice polish (not a mirror polish) but kept the edge a nice and toothy-ish. That was my first hair whittling edge. I dont have good consistency with the Lansky though, thats another reason I want to upgrade.

Its good to know the leather wont completely convex my edge, Id like to try out a good leather strop now, maybe see what that Roo is all about.

Thanks again you guys, tons of great info since the last time I was online. Those micron charts are nice to have, but I know they arnt the only variable on the results of any knife. But its still good to have a chart like that to refer to.

Thanks for the advice guys! Im also on a tight budget, but Im already planning to buy the system + 800/1000 diamond stone & 1.4/.6 micron ceramic stone + the new upgrade, which all said and done is just under $100 less than the PP2. So Ill probably just get the Pro Pack 2.

If I dont get the PP2 though, I might have to try using 'the poor mans method' and get my hands on some good sand paper. It sounds like a good, cheap, substitue for those of us on budgets. Is auto body sandpaper the only kind that you use? Do you have any brand recommendations? Thanks again for the advice!

Does anybody have any feedback on what to use for strops though? Whether sooner or later Ill end up using strops, but I dont really know anything about them. So any advice would be helpful. Balsa, Nano, Leather, or Roo Leather? I was thinking of just continuing to use Balsa with compound, but Im not sure of how it would do on recurves. Does anybody know if Balsa is good, and easy, for recurves? I just like Balsa because I dont want to convex my edges...

Thank you for the Info. Now I want to get that too. I have heard about the 1200/1600 Ceramic stones but have never seen them on the site. I asked to make sure that the 1000 grit diamond to 1.4 micron ceramic was not too much of a jump and the person said that it should be fine. The new Pro Pack 2 comes with diamonds from 100 - 1000 grit, the ceramic 1.4/.6 micron, and a leather strop charged with 1/.5 micron diamond paste... so I was just wondering if the 1/.5 micron strop is really necessary if I buy the .25/.125 micron spray with a blank strop.

I really think that coming to this site is going to hurt my wallet. When I first came here I was thinking that I was going to buy the WE Field & Sport and maybe a strop... Now I want the WEPS with a bunch of extras or the WEPP2... I know either way I'm going to buy what I'm looking at, so the question is do I buy it all at once or buy just the system and a couple of stones and buy the rest after I get used to the system. I guess it really depends on how my funds are at the time. I just still feel kind of awkward because I'm planning to buy a sharpening system that is going to cost two or three times as much as my most expensive knife. But to me its still a good investment because with this one system I'll be able to sharpen, preserve, and repair all my knives. And after nearly ruining a couple of my favorites with lesser systems I am really seeing the value of a sharpener that I can count on. Thanks again for the help!

I have another, potentially dumb, question. What exactly is the Angle Gauge for and how can you use it? I've seen it attached to the arms, which I assume is to make sure your systems angle settings are correct, but is that its only purpose? I am interested in whether or not this can be used to check the factory angles on a knife, and if so, how? Can it only be used by attaching it to the WE arms? I have had a few knives come brand new with two very different angles and so I think this would be useful to find the angle on the 'good side' and match it. I think it would also be useful to check what angles my knives are after using the Lansky, which is known for having inaccurate angle settings. I was not planning on buying this, or the PP2, but if the Angle Gauge can do all these things that I'm interested in then I might just have to opt for the PP2.

I also have a question about stropping. No matter which system I buy I know I'm getting the 1.4/.6 micron Ceramic Stone, so my question is, what strop/micron would be the best next step? I see the PP2 comes with the Ceramic that I want plus a 1/.5 micron leather strops, but is there a better option instead of this particular strop? And what kind of strop would be best for polishing without convexing my edge? Right now I use Balsa with 1/.5 micron paste but only for my straight (non recurve) blades, I do this by hand though because I don't have a WE system yet. I was thinking about Balsa with .25/.125 spray but I'm not sure if this is adequate after using the 1.4/.6 Ceramic. But I've seen that Nano and Roo are really popular so I thought I would ask and see if Balsa is the best option for me or not. I've never tried Leather for two reasons; first reason is that I just started trying to learn how to strop and if I mess up on Leather I might ruin it and if I mess up on Balsa and ruin it I can just sand it down and start over, second and really the more important reason is that I don't want to convex my edge and I read that over time stropping with leather WILL convex the edge. But I have no experience with Nano or Roo Leather, and even though I believe they would both probably convex my edge, I still wanted to ask and make sure that I'm not missing out on the best possible option because of an assumption.

Again, thank you ALL for the help!

Sorry to hear about your thumb Michael! When I first started getting really into knives (a few months ago) I had just received a Spyderco Zulu in the mail (hollow ground, S30V) and I was really excited to check her out. I was walking to my couch and opened her up and really wasnt paying attention to anything but my gorgeous new knife, I sat down while looking at the knife in the opened position and it slipped out of my hand as I sat down... The knife fell to the carpet and I picked it up, but when I bent my knee I felt a sudden pain. I sliced my knee open, about an inch + in length and 1/3+ inch wide, but it was so sharp it didnt bleed for about a full minute and I didnt even feel it until I moved and bent my knee. I needed six stitches, and even now that its healed, it still hurts if I bend my knee too much or too long. But it was definitly a learning experience for me. I am just lucky that it happened before I sharpened the knife, or I would have needed more than six stitches.

Anyway, I just thought Id share. I hope your thumb heals up quickly.

Yes thank you very much Clay. Im glad to know that, I was really on the fence about the F&S because I travel with my knives and go on extended hunting/camping trips and the F&S would be perfect for those settings, and its smaller size would be a big plus for me. Maybe by the time I can make my order there will be enough interest in this to make the changes happen. Thanks again Clay!

Im not sure if anyone will read this since the last reply was over a week ago. But Im new and I thought Id chime in. I just found this forum which I already really like, Im also a member on JerzeeDevil.com which is a good forum (but really not for everybody), but the first forum I ever posted at was BladeForums.com.. and it has always been my favorite. I havent been spending much time there lately though. Partly because of this forum and JD.com and also because of my home life. I must warn though, JD and BF are two completely different worlds... BF is more like here, a nice place with good info and respect, and at BF there is a great sence of brotherhood... while at the JD theres still some good info about knives the real difference is how the members interact, some would call it immature because they joke around and trash talk alot, but they still have a sort of brotherhood with eachother as well. I like all three of these forums though because of their different characteristics, they all fit my needs as a knife nut. And, for the most part, everytime I visit any of these forums I learn something new and meet great people.

You earned a + and 'Thank You' from me.

I got it! I forgot I had Chrome on my computer too, I just never really use it. But I switched to Chrome and got it working. Thank you very much!

It wasnt letting me change anything because I was on IE, so I switched to Chrome and got it working. Thank you!

Well now Clay added the upgrade to the page, and IF I understand correctly, only the Pro Pack 2 comes with the upgrades.. all others will have to buy it separately. But the price on the upgrade kit isnt bad at all. My price limit $500 is shattered though. Oh well, I really believe that it will be worth every penny. Thanks again for all of your help! BTW, the links are working now and thank you for them, they are much help.

^I didnt notice there was a second page with Clay answering this himself.

About my User name and profile, it wont let me change it.. maybe because of IE (as stated above by Billabong).

Nice. Now I have one more thing to add to the list. Is the upgrade compatible with the Field & Sport Kit? I wanted the F&S because of its small size and ease of transport, but I would like to add the upgrade kit to which ever system I buy.

Off Topic: How can I change my User Name?

Thank you very much. That is exactly what I needed to know.

Does anybody know how much it costs to buy the upgrade (new vice and arms) for the basic and pro pack 1 kits? And does anybody know when they will be available for purchase?

Ive been reading and now Im confused, again. Does the Wicked Edge Precision Sharpener have the new upgrades or just the Wicked Edge Pro Pack 2???

Thank you for the help Mark! The links you posted are not working for me though, they just send me to the WE home page. Could you PM them to me or email them to me? My email address is ares1307@live.com . BTW, do you know how I could change my User Name?

Thank you very much for the information! The WE being able to sharpen recurves with the flat stones and the fact that I can go from the 1000 grit stone to the 1.4 ceramic has really put my mind at ease. I just learned how to strop so now I want all my knives to be scary sharp, but I lack the skill to get these results with my recurves. Ive tried to use the Lansky on my Kershaw Speed Bump and ZT 350SW but I ended up having to send them both back to the factory for resharpening because I messed them up. I didnt ruin them or anything, but they arnt perfect anymore so I sent them to the spa. I just want a system that I can use and not have to be afraid that Im going to ruin my knives. But my choice is made, the Wicked Edge will be MINE. Although, I was thinking of buying the Field & Sport model, so I can take it with me when I go hunting and what not and it would take up less room here at home or even in hotels, but if it did not receive the new improvements then Ill end up buying the Precision model.

I dont do alot of reprofiling or repairing, except for some kitchen knives and my fixed blades when they take their beatings, so the 100 grit diamond will probably be fine for me, Im guessing it will probably be faster than the 70 grit on my Lansky because of its size (it being wider will allow it to cover more area) but thats just a guess. I might buy the Ultra/Extra Coarse but I might wait to see how the 100 grit performs first.

The only real problem I have right now, is the wait. I know that the WE is on backorder because of the upgrade, but thats not the only wait for me. I promised my Wife (The Boss ) that I would wait until after the holidays to make my order. But hopefully, by the time I make my order the WE might be in stock. That would be great. Again, Thank you for your help Mark, your info has made me feel very confident in my choice.

Ive been considering updating to a better sharpening system, the two Ive really had my eyes on are the Edge Pro Apex and Wicked Edge systems. Lately Ive been leaning towards the Wicked Edge because of huge variety of stones and strops and because of some of the reviews Ive seen. But I really need to keep the price as low as possible, around $500 probably, but I want to get the most performance for the money, which is why Im leaning towards the Wicked Edge. I still have some questions that Im hoping someone on the forums can answer for me. I have a Lansky Diamond Deluxe with all the extras and a Spyderco Sharpmaker with Ulta Fine Rods, and those are the only sharpeners I know how to use.

1. First and most important question: How is the WE at sharpening Recurved blades? And Will I be able to sharpen my recurves with the flat stones or will I NEED the curved stones? I have a Kershaw Storm, Speed Bump, ZT 350SW, ZT 303, and Custom Recurved Fixed Blade (10inches overall) that I am very concerned about.

2. I am considering getting the normal system plus the 800/1000 grit diamond and 1.4/.6 micron ceramic stones, but is there too big of a gap inbetween the 1000 grit diamond and 1.4 mircon ceramic? If this does work, what kind of results should I expect? If this would not work what stone do I need to bridge the gap? Im trying not to spend too much money, I have a young growing family so I need to buy only what I NEED. So please remember this when referring stones and accessories.

3. Is the 100 grit stone efficient for reprofiling? Is it better or worse than the Lansky 70 grit? I know that sounds like a stupid question and it probably is, but Ive heard that some stones cut faster due to size and maker...

4. Does the Wicked Edge Field & Sport have all the new upgrades that were done to the arms and vice of the WEPS 2? Im not sure if Im referring to the right system, but I know that some (or all?) WE sharpeners have been upgraded and Im just wondering if the WE Field & Sport was also upgraded.

Thank you all very much for any help!