This steel works quite well for maintaining your edges. The oblong shape takes a bit of adjustment coming from a round steel but the directions on the package are clear. Seems to be well made, was concerned because there's some like white spots in the coating but other reviewer's photos have them as well so I'm assuming it's just part of how its manufactured. Packaging is pretty terrible to get this out of, especially if you want to try and preserve the insert with the instructions. One thing to note though, if you ever need to rinse this off that water gets into the handle real easy. Anything coming from a factory for food I always want to rinse off at minimum, even if it's not going to be making direct contact with food it's going in a drawer with stuff that will be. Had to give it quite a number of hard shakes to get the water out of the handle. Read more
This is actually a honing rod, not what is usually known as a knife sharpener. I've been meaning to get a honing rod as it is my understanding -- some I learned from the famed Milk Street Cooking School -- that honing a good knife before each use is much better for the knife than constantly sharpening it. Honing pushes the metal of the blade back up straight because it gets bent over after use, whereas sharpening physically wears away some of the metal. I used this honing rod once I got it on my best knife, and it definitely acted like it was sharper. Milk Street taught me that one should hone their knife every time they use it, using a few quick 20° swipes on each side. I look forward to many years of use with this honing rod. Read more
I received the 10 inch diamond sharpener rod, well packed and protected in a plastic package. The “diamond coating” has been applied to the rod uniformly from tip to base for smooth operation. If you haven’t used a sharpening rod before, don’t be intimidated by it, you see tv chefs whipping a blade down a sharpening “steel” at a blurring speed, but it doesn’t have to be used at that speed. Slow and careful also works and allows you to hold it at the correct angle to effectively maintain the original sharpening angle. I sharpen most of my knives at 15 to 17 degree angle for extreme angle. I requested the specific “grit’ used and got a response from the seller that it’s 1,000 which is what I had hoped it was. I use this on several of my better knives and then use my ceramic rod to “hone” them after to finish the edge. The oval shape makes it so much better than a round rod since it gives me a lot more surface to work with, the diamond grit will wear down after a while, so the extra surface will allow it to last a lot longer. The diamond works great for a quick sharpening, but I still use my silicon carbide 1 inch sanding belt every once in a while to reshape the blade when required. Read more
I’ve tried plenty of honing rods over the years, but this 10” professional-grade diamond-coated beauty is in a league of its own. The diamond coating is seriously impressive, it brings my knives back to razor-sharp with just a few passes, smoothing out nicks and keeping the edge pristine. I love the oblong profile; it feels so natural in hand and makes honing effortless, even for a non professional like me. The extra surface area means I’m covering more of the blade with each stroke, and it’s a breeze to maintain consistent pressure. At 10”, it’s the perfect length, long enough for my chef’s knives but not so bulky that it’s awkward to store. The quality screams “pro-grade," sturdy, well-balanced, and built to last. My kitchen prep’s gotten faster and safer since I started using this, and it’s honestly a joy to use. If you’re serious about keeping your knives in top shape, this rod’s a must-have. Worth every penny! Read more
Easy to hold, great sharpening surface - oblong, not round. I have never used a knife sharpening tool like this so the enclosed instructions helped me understand the correct angle for use. It worked very nicely putting a sharp edge on my large chef's knife. I noticed some metal dust on my counter after using the sharpener. Read more
I've never used a honing steel this shape nor this material before, and I think it's superior in every respect. My slightly-dull knives perked right up. The only drawback is the coating means you can't stick this on a magnetic knife rack, as it won't stick. Read more
This is another level of knife sharpening for me! I loved my old ceramic sharpener, and when the handle cracked off, I thought I'd never find anything as good. But actually, this one might be even better. The long length intimidated me when I first saw it, but it didn't take long to get used to it. Its well-balanced. I like the shape and grip of the handle. Its comfortable and I can get a good grip. Just a few swipes keep my knife edges perfectly sharp. Read more
Restaurant quality knife sharpener. I like that it’s diamond coated creating precise razor-sharp edged knives. The sharpening tool is also comfortable to use. I like that the oval sharpening steel covers a large surface area to sharpen the knife. This also stores away in the drawer easily. Read more
