Sharpener Set Dual Grit Diamond Sharpening Tool, Coarse Griding 400 Grip and Fine Griding Use 1000 Grip, Premium Knife Sharpener Rod for All Knives, Lightweight & Durable

One of the key characteristics of a sharpening device - a stone, a rod, whatever - is its grit, which is a measure of its roughness. Just as with sandpaper, a finer grit carries a higher number. The listing for these diamond sharpening rods gives no indication of their grit, which is really an inexcusable omission. Nonetheless, at twenty bucks for 2 rods, they were worth a try just to see what i got.I received them and tried them out today, and I estimate them to be around 250 grit. I have a set of diamond plates in a range of grits, and by fingertip feel these rods (both have the same grit) are a little smoother than my 220 grit plate but substantially rougher than my 320 grit plate, so call it 250 grit. 250 grit is quite coarse, suitable for the initial sharpening of a very dull knife, which is just what I was hoping for. I have a Wusthof diamond sharpener steel having fine grit, and a ceramic rod in very fine grit, so a coarse diamond rod for initial sharpening is just what I needed. I am using the 12" rod for kitchen knives and the 5" rod for my folding pocket knives. They both work great.I own some very nice and costly Japanese and German kitchen knives, and I sharpen them with a grit progression of very expensive Japanese water stones. Sharpening fine knives in this way is almost a mystical Zen-like experience - you become one with the knife - and the result is a magnificent razor edge. However, good results require experience, sharpening is a fairly slow and messy process requiring preparation and a sink full of water and, honestly, regular kitchen knives are just not worth that time and effort. Inexpensive sharpening rods a just the thing for regular workaday knives.Diamond sharpening rods are much faster and require much less practice to master. Synthetic diamond grit has become surprisingly affordable and good diamond sharpeners are available at a very reasonable price. That's what these rods are: good quality, genuine diamond grit, outstanding price. I think they are equal in quality to my 9" Wusthof diamond sharpener steel, which carries a shockingly high price tag (several times the total for both these rods - look it up), so they really are a great bargain.Notes on usage: I dribble some water over the rod before sharpening the knife. This is not required but I think it keeps down local edge temperature and might help to prevent clogging of the grit, so I do it. I rinse the rod with water when sharpening is done and pat it dry with a cloth (just pat, do not rub). Use only very light pressure when running the knife over the rod; the diamond grit is bonded to the rod, and high knife pressure tends to rip the grit from the rod, thereby ruining it. Diamond is very hard and sharp, and very light pressure is all that's required, and only a few strokes per side (maybe 5, no more than 10) are all that's needed for even very dull knives. I recommend using at least one finer rod after the initial sharpening with this coarse rod; it's not essential, but it will give a much nicer edge that is more pleasant to use.

The LEVINCHY Outdoor and Kitchen Diamond Knife Sharpener Set is a nice addition to any sharpening toolkit. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of both a shorter and longer sharpener, with the only difference being the length of the diamond elliptical rod. As someone who often works with woodworking tools like gouges and shapes serrated blades like bread knives, I find oval or elliptical sharpeners to be ideal for these tasks.While I typically prefer using flat stones for blade sharpening due to their precision, I understand the appeal of rod sharpeners and other rapid sharpening devices for their convenience. During testing, I noticed a rapid decline in particle sharpness once I finished sharpening my serrated knife. However, this is a common experience with diamond stones during the break-in period. Good stones typically maintain diamond particle consistency throughout their lifespan.I only tested the sharpener on one straight-blade knife—a paring knife—as I reserve flat stones for chef knives. Based on my experience, I initially felt the grit level to be around 220, but after the break-in period, it improved to around 600 to 1000 grit.Unfortunately, the manufacturer didn't provide any information on the expected grit level of these stones.While there are some drawbacks, the LEVINCHY Diamond Knife Sharpener Set offers versatility and convenience for various sharpening needs.

These diamond honing rods from the LEVINCHY Store on Amazon will put an edge on your knives quite fast. One thing that's important to note is that these are not the same thing as the sharpening steels that you see chefs using on TV. I used to cook for a living in the dark ages, and have a few sharpening steels, including one that you would find in many professional kitchens.Technically, a sharpening steel is like a very fine file. As a knife is used, the fine edge gets microscopically rolled over, and the sharpening steel brings that back into the correct profile. A sharpening steel is not intended to remove metal, or at least extremely little. While I've seen chefs sharpen their knives, using stones, most chefs I've known send their knives out to a professional. They use the sharpening steel to maintain the edge between sharpenings.These LEVINCHY diamond rods are quite different. They do actually remove metal, and are actually great for knives that are not professionally maintained, such as knives in a home kitchen. They will actually sharpen a dull knife. Will that be an edge with accurate bevels? No. Does it matter to most people? No.I have a few knives I would never use these rods on, but I'm no longer a professional, and for most of my knives these are perfect. I don't use my knives all day, and there aren't any critics judging my knife skills.These are perfect on the home kitchen. They don't require a lot of skill to use, but do learn how to use them properly and safely, and they will give you a very sharp edge quickly.