Wicked Edge GO Precision Knife Sharpener - WE60

My wife sent me to a knife sharpening class a few years ago in the futile hope of having sharp knives. The class taught me the basics of high end whetstone knife sharpening. Unfortunately it's such a pain and a mess that I didn't do it often enough to become proficient, and when I did spend the time I had trouble getting a sharp edge. The problem with whetstones is that you never quite know whether it's your angle, your technique, or you just need more time per stone for a given knife. This is even worse with high-end knives made from very hard steel... Recently, I decided to try again, and after a bunch of research I bought the wicked edge we60. Long story short, a bunch of our knives are extremely sharp now, even some of the harder steel versions, and I'm writing this review. Marital harmony has been restored. Caveat being that I would recommend getting a digital angle gauge, the 800/1000 grit stones (extra $$), and maybe a cheap leather strop (no need to get the expensive WE version). After sharpening a few knives with the included 200/600 grit stones, they were obviously sharper than when I started, but not "wave it at a piece of paper and it falls to the floor in ribbons" sharp. After I got the 800/1000 stones and the strop, they are really that sharp. The benefit of this kit over whetstones is that it takes the technique guesswork out of the equation -- I know that every stroke is the same angle, so if I'm having trouble creating a burr, I just need to keep going, it's not a failing of my technique. It still takes a bunch of time per knife, btw, at least for a new user. Don't believe the videos that show sharp knives in 10m... I was able to fully re-profile and sharpen a softer knife in about an hour, but a better (harder steel) knife took longer than that. Possibly more practice or maybe the 100 grit stone would have helped, but it seems silly to buy that for something you really only need to do the first time. For those new to knife sharpening, just make sure there's a full length heel-to-tip burr on both sides on the first stone and you won't have any problems. Watch some videos and read the WE forum to understand the geometry of the thing for different shaped knives as well. The one issue I had was that the plastic shim that holds the bottom of the metal rod fell out after my first use and I lost it. Turns out there's a reason that they ship the unit with white plastic balls holding everything in place. Keep either the balls or the rods in place at all time to avoid this issue. WE was great, btw, they immediately shipped me new shims under warranty. Have fun!

Reason for one star review is purely because I received a used item that had presumably been returned. Not acceptable when paying full price so returned and purchased elsewhere (Heinnie Haynes) and I am delighted with that one!

great product for the person who needs the practice and time taken out of successful knife sharpening. I’ve tried almost all so called knife systems and this one actually does what it’s supposed to. It’s a bit pricey but “buy once cry once” as you will love your sharp knives and will forget the price longer after enjoying your sharp knives. Bought the WE60 as I will only use it every now and then.

This thing got my knives shaving sharp in minutes and reprofiled a chipped blade quickly.

I sharpened about 20 of the wife's kitchen knives in about an hour and half and made them all the same 20 degrees.