First the good....this rod keeps my edges like razors.
The bad.... I was somewhat disappointed with the quality of the materials used in construction....everything from the plastic used in the handle to the grit itself. The entire piece just feels flimsy in your hand and i feel like if it slipped away from me and hit a hard floor it might break. The abrasive surface does an excellent job on my blades but for what little I use this piece, I already feel like it is wearing out and don't expect this tool to last long. And no...I don't abuse it when I use it.
I don't want to be too negative. This rod does do a good job, there just might be better out there. It looks a little out of place in a block of high quality blades and will probably wear out sooner than you wish.
"Just as sharp as you start with"
2009-01-20
- Reviewed By User: A2V3C20TBOG1KH
This is an excellent tool. However you need to start with a nearly perfect blade. If you start with an unsharp blade this fine tool will be unable to help. You should use a regular steel or even better a more coarse sharpening stone/steel then follow by this for final honing.
It does give a really fine edge to knives and the few that are sharp enough to take it in my house really show a difference in use against typically difficult items like mincing really fine onion.
This steel is terrific for keeping a keen edge on my knives. I have a really good electric sharpener, but find I only have to use it about once a year. It's not only the diamond finish on this steel, but the oval shape that is so important. Unlike a regular steel that is only good for realigning an edge, this one actually sharpens. I don't use it every time--maybe once a month and 15 passes on each side is generally enough to give me a razor sharp edge. I can't imagine that the vastly more expensive steels offered could do a better job than this one. Highly recommended.
"A good sharpener"
2008-07-31
- Reviewed By User: A16AXQ11SZA8SQ
My son is apprenticing under the tutelage of a butcher, and his mentor recommended an oval sharpener. My son says it works well for sharpening the knives he uses during his workday.
There isn't much you can say about a sharpening steel. It sharpens well, and is extremely fine for keeping already sharp blades at their sharpest. The handle is ugly gray plastic, but it seems solidly put together, and is easy to work with.
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Expedited Available
"works well but poorly built"
"Just as sharp as you start with"
"Keeps your knives sharp"