Even more than I'd hoped for. I'm very fussy about my knives. My dad was a butcher for many years and instilled in me the appreciation for a truly sharp knife. Nowadays, I use the Ken Onion version of a Work Sharp knife sharpening system. It's performed flawlessly, but there's always this little voice in the back of my head that I've not really "finished" an edge till I run it down a good steel. Back when I learned from my dad, there weren't any ceramic rods to be had. So, I've come to using ceramic on my own. The difference is actually noticeable, and this rod does an AMAZING job of truing the edge to give an outstanding result. The rod is much "beefier" than I expected. I'd definitely call it "heavy duty." The handle is solid, and the guard will prevent the rod from rolling on a flat surface. The ceramic is ultra smooth, and you can feel any tiny imperfections on the blade as you draw it down the rod. A pass or three and it's smooth like baby's butt! The tip on the end of the rod is a nice touch, although I don't know that I'll use it that much. It does provide protection for the end and if you stand the rod up to sharpen your knives, it's definitely going to be useful. For under $20, you'll be getting a VERY useful tool that will put a FINE edge on your knives. After a bit of use, I just run the knife over the rod for maybe ten or twelve strokes and the edge comes back to scary sharp. Along with my Work Sharp system, I've given my Wonder Wifey Kate some exceptionally sharp knives and my other knives, pocket, hunting and even my Bowie knife are truly ready for anything. I most definitely recommend it! Read more
The only thing about this is, because it’s white, it stains when you use it. So you have to clean it after every use. I like it a lot though, it keeps my knives sharp for a while. Edit: I’ve had it for a couple months now, and I still love it. It is a hassle to clean it and the metal from my knives is part of its entity now. I’ve gotten lazy and don’t clean it after every use, maybe once a month, if I’m feeling productive, but more so when I’ve noticed that it has too much metal gunk on it. My rod looks used and abused and it rly matches with how I feel now a days (lol). Solid rod tho. I rly love the protection rubber part on the bottom, and it’s super cheap for what it is. My coworkers always uses it and they like it too. It was worth every penny, it it will most likely last me years. Read more
Well built and has a consistent quality throughout. The ceramic rod is a little over 1/2" in diameter, so it is stout. The total length of the rod is about 9.5", which gives plenty of surface area for honing an edge. The handle has a hexagon protection end to prevent the entire sharpener from rolling on a flat surface. The tip end of the rod comes with a rubber cap and also has a hexagon shape. They may appear to be small details, but I thought they were well thought out, especially in the prevention of the rolling of the sharpener. The sharpener could be used standing up at the tip end or just free hand. The plastic handle is a little slippery when my hand was wet. Otherwise, it is comfortable to grip. Read more
I'm just starting out on how to sharpen knives using whet stones, so all of this is relatively new to me. But I can attest that, with practice, and with the use of this rod, I can finally achieve "pretty sharp" knives of different varieties. I am not getting razor-sharp knives yet, but I'm getting there. I think this is a good skill to have in your life, the ability to sharpen knives. Read more
Looking for a ceramic hone ? well, this might be good for you . No it's not the best ,but as much as I use it ,it works very well and does what is should . At the price it should be considered . IMO . I'm no expert but this works nicely . Will it hold up ? I don't know , but if it doesn't I'd buy another(not a lot of money) . It gives good hand protection , so you shouldn't cut yourself . The base is large enough . The sharpener appears to be a "good" quality and for the light use I give it ,it should last for a long time . Read more
This sharpener works very well, just remember that it is a finish sharpener. You will need a heavy sharpening steel to use if the knife is very dull. But we're very happy with it. It should last for years. It is comfortable to hold and easy to use. Good price. Read more
This is an excellent ceramic rod. The length is good for easily honing my 10" kitchen knives, bringing them back to sharp with just a few strokes. I love the rubber tip on the bottom, it allows me to place it on my countertop and easily lightly slice down the length. I've used ceramic rods for many years but this one is by far the easiest. The rod is very smooth, it isn't a coarse rod. I start by looking down at the sharp edge of my blade to see if I see any reflection, indicating the sharp edge has been slightly rolled over. When I see that reflection, a few strokes on this rod and it's all good again. Absolutely recommend this rod! Read more
My wife makes terrific sourdough bread, but it is CRUSTY and if our bread knife isn't wickedly sharp, there's no proper slicing that bread. While I use a nice tapered diamond coated steel to sharpen my knives, this ceramic steel is the finisher and all I need for my Misen and Wusthoff bread knives at home. What a difference they make! Read more
