I have two WS sharpeners - MK and KO Elite. Your experience matches mine. The belts break far too easily and far too often, particularly the fine grit. I have broken several belts, with very little pressure. One of the belts broke before I began sharpening. I put the belt on the wheels, started it up, and it broke immediately. Never even got the chance to use it. Really frustrating. But I'm encouraged there is another source of belts besides WS.
In case my experience helps. Agree that Cubitron and Trizact improve the results and are even a good value. But I also had some trouble with the WS cloth belts, mainly that they resisted tracking adjustment to center them on the wheels, instead tending to migrate either far left or far right. While carefully inspecting them, I found that they should be considered "directional" belts because they have a "lap seam," not a butt seam. In my view, the WS product description and instructions are faulty in this regard. I went back to a leather belt and have done well since. One more thing. You mentioned a felt belt for this 1x18 system. I am interested in buying a felt belt but have not found a supplier in the 1x18...please advise. THANKS
You bring up a good point that sadly I had not considered. I may have had the belt on in the wrong direction. I'm used to the Trizact belts on my AMK sharpener. And you may be right about the felt belts too I have not looked yet. Which sucks. Thank you for watching and the comment. It is appreciated.
I have two Elite blade grinder set-ups and both are finicky tracking depending on the belt brand and thickness of the backing. Other than that I love them and may buy a third. I found a good balance between speed and sharpness having one running an X-65 or X-22 the other the cloth belt with a light coat of green rouge then switch out to the leather stropping belt with a light smear of diamond juice. Sometimes I'll use the Sharp Worxs hand honning system with a 400/1000 diamond plate then move to the Ken Onion Elite system for finishing. Soft buffing on my two speed Buck Tool will ocassionally hightlight a spot that needs more work. To remove a large nick from a blade I go to the Razor Sharp gritted paper wheel then to the Elite, saves on belts. Just thought I would share what works for me with limited space.
I'm on the same, 3M Trizact are awesome, and in Czech also cheap. I can get one belt 1x18" for something like 0,75$. It is a pity, that an 3M A6 is just something like P2000 Grit, I would also like to have something like Norax X4 witch is about P3000.
I have 2 of the elite systems I have also broke cloth belts, they keep failing where the belt is joined. I now have 3 leather belts I first treated with leather treatment so belt doesn’t dry out, one belt has green compound and one leather belt has red compound. I am on wait list for very fine black compound.
Try the 3M Trizact belts. You can get them from www.currycustomcutlery.com......so much better in my opinion. I have been using them for years on my AMK75 sharpener.
@@sharpenrightservicesllc . Thank you for link, Currently I have worksharp Firm belts set x 3, X-65, X-22, X-4, 6,000, 12,000 belts, I have around 3 boxes of each belt, I have got 3 leather belts, I had 3 boxes of cloth belts I put I only use the green and red compound as I had total of 3 cloths belts come apart on me, one cloth came apart before I even had chance to apply compound. The other belts haven’t split on me yet. I will get some of those 3 M Trizact belts at some point. I currently use the Work Sharp firm belts currently to repair knife edges with chips and to repair tips. I really like the elite system. I eventually plan on getting Tormek T-8 but I am currently waiting for accessory that they will be launching in a few months.
I have a Tormek and I rarely use it. If a need to sharpen a chisel I'll break it out. It's too slow for knives in my opinion. I like the WorkSharp a lot I wish I had bought one sooner. It's so lite and easy to use especially for pocket knives. I'm a fan. I have another video coming out this afternoon sharpening pocket knives. The more I use it the more I like it.
@@sharpenrightservicesllc . Currently use my 2 elite systems for most of my straight edge knives, single and double bevel. I typical get to 220g on Bess C scale and I have gotten down to 95 g on single bevel high end Japanese knife, on my Kershaw End Game knife I typically get down to 146 g on BESS C scale. For kitchen knives I target to get between 200 g and 225 g. If I get lower I typically stop there. I have gotten a number of kitchen knives to 160g to 175g. I like how fast I can do it on the Worksharp Elite system.
@@sharpenrightservicesllc I meant links to the belts. But, I would love to know what size belts work with it, what you have tried, etc. I can google the first one I suppose :P
Oh ok. Well I am assuming you have the Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Edition sharpener? That machine uses 1"X18" belts. I use 3M Cubitron and Trizact Belts. They are super quality belts compared to the ones that come from Work Sharp. One use and you'll know the difference. I get mine from Curry Custom Cutlery: shop.currycustomcutlery.com
@@sharpenrightservicesllc Thanks for the response. I'll get some from there when I do end up upgrading. I am still trying to get decent with this machine..
@@sharpenrightservicesllc The products 3M attaches their name to will always be the best buy because the quality that comes with that brand. I don't own stock, I'm just experienced and pay attention to quality products and companies, 3M is better than any company I know of, and not with just one product but with every product they produce.
I have one. I'm not sure I would call it ideal. I think it depends on what you connect to it. My dust collector is not strong enough to really pull enough on the Shop Fox, but if I block off some of the vents and then place the WSKO on the open area, it seems to do just fine.
I will mention that if you are considering a power bank/solar generator to buy something with more output and storage. The EB3A was my first experience with these power stations and it is fine for small tools but will not run my larger tools like my miter saw or even the Harbor Freight bench grinder. The next one I buy will be able to provide at least 2400 watts. Yes much more expensive and heavy but a great addition to my shop and house when I need temporary or portable power. You probably knew this but thought I would mention it for anyone who might watch this video.
The more I use this little sharpener the more I like it. I talked smack about these for a long time.
I have two WS sharpeners - MK and KO Elite. Your experience matches mine. The belts break far too easily and far too often, particularly the fine grit. I have broken several belts, with very little pressure. One of the belts broke before I began sharpening. I put the belt on the wheels, started it up, and it broke immediately. Never even got the chance to use it. Really frustrating.
But I'm encouraged there is another source of belts besides WS.
The 3M belts are a much better than the WS belts. Check out Curry Custom Cutlery
In case my experience helps. Agree that Cubitron and Trizact improve the results and are even a good value. But I also had some trouble with the WS cloth belts, mainly that they resisted tracking adjustment to center them on the wheels, instead tending to migrate either far left or far right. While carefully inspecting them, I found that they should be considered "directional" belts because they have a "lap seam," not a butt seam. In my view, the WS product description and instructions are faulty in this regard. I went back to a leather belt and have done well since. One more thing. You mentioned a felt belt for this 1x18 system. I am interested in buying a felt belt but have not found a supplier in the 1x18...please advise. THANKS
You bring up a good point that sadly I had not considered. I may have had the belt on in the wrong direction. I'm used to the Trizact belts on my AMK sharpener. And you may be right about the felt belts too I have not looked yet. Which sucks. Thank you for watching and the comment. It is appreciated.
I have two Elite blade grinder set-ups and both are finicky tracking depending on the belt brand and thickness of the backing. Other than that I love them and may buy a third. I found a good balance between speed and sharpness having one running an X-65 or X-22 the other the cloth belt with a light coat of green rouge then switch out to the leather stropping belt with a light smear of diamond juice. Sometimes I'll use the Sharp Worxs hand honning system with a 400/1000 diamond plate then move to the Ken Onion Elite system for finishing. Soft buffing on my two speed Buck Tool will ocassionally hightlight a spot that needs more work. To remove a large nick from a blade I go to the Razor Sharp gritted paper wheel then to the Elite, saves on belts. Just thought I would share what works for me with limited space.
Nice watch
Thanks for watching........I love my Casios.....you can't hurt them! :-)
I'm interested in this, but I can't find them. Could you put the 3M reference? Thx
Contact www.currycustomcutlery.com/
I'm on the same, 3M Trizact are awesome, and in Czech also cheap. I can get one belt 1x18" for something like 0,75$. It is a pity, that an 3M A6 is just something like P2000 Grit, I would also like to have something like Norax X4 witch is about P3000.
ahoj, mohu se zeptat, kde si ty brusne pasy 1x18 od 3m koupil?
I have 2 of the elite systems I have also broke cloth belts, they keep failing where the belt is joined. I now have 3 leather belts I first treated with leather treatment so belt doesn’t dry out, one belt has green compound and one leather belt has red compound. I am on wait list for very fine black compound.
Try the 3M Trizact belts. You can get them from www.currycustomcutlery.com......so much better in my opinion. I have been using them for years on my AMK75 sharpener.
@@sharpenrightservicesllc . Thank you for link, Currently I have worksharp Firm belts set x 3, X-65, X-22, X-4, 6,000, 12,000 belts, I have around 3 boxes of each belt, I have got 3 leather belts, I had 3 boxes of cloth belts I put I only use the green and red compound as I had total of 3 cloths belts come apart on me, one cloth came apart before I even had chance to apply compound. The other belts haven’t split on me yet. I will get some of those 3 M Trizact belts at some point. I currently use the Work Sharp firm belts currently to repair knife edges with chips and to repair tips. I really like the elite system. I eventually plan on getting Tormek T-8 but I am currently waiting for accessory that they will be launching in a few months.
I have a Tormek and I rarely use it. If a need to sharpen a chisel I'll break it out. It's too slow for knives in my opinion. I like the WorkSharp a lot I wish I had bought one sooner. It's so lite and easy to use especially for pocket knives. I'm a fan. I have another video coming out this afternoon sharpening pocket knives. The more I use it the more I like it.
@@sharpenrightservicesllc . Currently use my 2 elite systems for most of my straight edge knives, single and double bevel. I typical get to 220g on Bess C scale and I have gotten down to 95 g on single bevel high end Japanese knife, on my Kershaw End Game knife I typically get down to 146 g on BESS C scale. For kitchen knives I target to get between 200 g and 225 g. If I get lower I typically stop there. I have gotten a number of kitchen knives to 160g to 175g. I like how fast I can do it on the Worksharp Elite system.
That’s great! I wonder how you can get the rpm’s on it? You’re right about freaking hot in Texas🥵
I'm a native Texan and this has been the longest and hottest heat wave in my 58 years. I'm ready for fall and I hate cold more than I hate the heat.
@@sharpenrightservicesllc yeah for some reason North Texas has been blistering worse than south Texas.
I would love to have some links in the description. I am very new (work sharp is still shipping to me) so I am afraid I'd buy the wrong thing :)
Thanks for watching. What specifically are you wanting to know?
@@sharpenrightservicesllc I meant links to the belts. But, I would love to know what size belts work with it, what you have tried, etc. I can google the first one I suppose :P
Oh ok. Well I am assuming you have the Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Edition sharpener? That machine uses 1"X18" belts. I use 3M Cubitron and Trizact Belts. They are super quality belts compared to the ones that come from Work Sharp. One use and you'll know the difference. I get mine from Curry Custom Cutlery:
shop.currycustomcutlery.com
@@sharpenrightservicesllc Thanks for the response. I'll get some from there when I do end up upgrading. I am still trying to get decent with this machine..
@@sharpenrightservicesllc The products 3M attaches their name to will always be the best buy because the quality that comes with that brand. I don't own stock, I'm just experienced and pay attention to quality products and companies, 3M is better than any company I know of, and not with just one product but with every product they produce.
I wonder if a shop fox table would be ideal for dust collection?
I'm not familiar?
I have one. I'm not sure I would call it ideal. I think it depends on what you connect to it. My dust collector is not strong enough to really pull enough on the Shop Fox, but if I block off some of the vents and then place the WSKO on the open area, it seems to do just fine.
What was the power source?
BLUETTI EB3A
@@sharpenrightservicesllc thanks.
I will mention that if you are considering a power bank/solar generator to buy something with more output and storage. The EB3A was my first experience with these power stations and it is fine for small tools but will not run my larger tools like my miter saw or even the Harbor Freight bench grinder. The next one I buy will be able to provide at least 2400 watts. Yes much more expensive and heavy but a great addition to my shop and house when I need temporary or portable power. You probably knew this but thought I would mention it for anyone who might watch this video.