SHARPAL 118H Ceramic Honing Rod - Professional Knife Sharpener Steel, Ceramic Sharpening Rod for Kitchen Knives, Built-in Angle Guide, Anti-Break Cap, Durable Sharpening Stick

I'm very pleased with this honing rod. It has a nice, solid feel to it, and the handle is comfortable to grasp and hold. The rubber end tip is effective to keep the rod firmly planted in place when it's used vertically, and can be removed should you want to use it in a more freehand fashion. The 20 degree angles on the handle are helpful. One quibble is that I would have liked to see a 15 degree guide in addition to the 20 degree ones, but it's not a significant issue.This works great to hone an already sharpened blade to an excellent edge. I use it before each knife use and it has significantly extended the time before the blade needs a full sharpening. It's quick, easy and effective -- the three criteria I look for the most when it comes to keeping a blade at peak sharpness. Very good value for the price.

The most important thing to me for a honing rod for use with hard Japanese blades is the quality of the ceramic. I've used a different ceramic hone of similar length, purchased from Amazon a few years ago for less money, but its quality was not what I had hoped, having a somewhat irregular contoured surface (i.e., not perfectly cylindrical), and some indented molding marks that had to be avoided with the blade.In contrast, this Sharpal 118H hone looks to be perfectly cylindrical, perfectly smooth, finer grained (as a finishing hone should be), and more dense. I suspect this is a better-engineered extruded rod, whereas the other one was molded. The quality difference is significant. The blades run over the Sharpal hone with a satisfying smooth glide. It is a joy to use.The other features of this hone are nice (e.g., angle guide, end cap), but it is quality of the ceramic rod itself that makes the biggest difference to me.

*UPDATE*I was contacted by the manufacturer who explained the difference between the product and its intended use, which wasn't exactly what I was looking for. But even though it was my mistake, they were willing to help make sure I was satisfied with the purchase. Note, this item is intended for maintenance and keeping up of your blades as well as polishing their current sharpness, not really to completely sharpen the blade from dull. It's great to extend the life of your knives, since it's not as harsh on the material. If that's what you're looking for, then go ahead and order from this seller! And if you have any questions, they'd be more than happy to help!~I was hesitant to try this item because I understood once it was open and utilized I wouldn't be able to return it, since the packaging has to be broken to take it out. But once I did I noticed that the build quality seemed good (other than the fact that the tip rubber cap literally came broken) and I was excited to see it work...But work, it did not. I used the item first on my "cheaper" knives and it seemed to only dull the blades even more. I followed the instructions on the product listing and even looked online to make sure I was doing it right, but it only seemed to make things worse. Then I risked using it on one of my "fancier" more expensive knives, and I immediately regretted it. It seems to only "clean" the edge of the blade, but by no means did it sharpen it or make it better.Now I'm stuck with a product I won't ever use again and that I probably can't return because the packaging won't allow the seller to "repack and resell" once it's open. But I do NOT recommend you buy if you're considering it. Better go with a different style (non-ceramic) or maybe try another brand.

I should have bought one of these decades ago. I have a great Japanese ceramic stone (1000) and know how to use it. I have a fine leather strop and use it well, also. But using this hone after both of those improves the sharpness of my knife VERY significantly. I was astounded. I can now shave teenie tiny little strips of paper consistently. I now use this hone each time before I cut vegetables with my main kitchen knife, and to touch up my everyday folder without having to use the stone and strop. Excellent value.

Excellent sharpeners for my kitchen! Love the angle guide handle and the bump stop end. Makes for easy ergonomics! Purchased one for my daughter and son. They found them functional and easy to use as well!

This is very nice indeed. The faceted angle guide is extremely helpful, and the ceramic rod makes quick work of a dull edge. After about five to ten strokes on each side, the honed edge is nice and toothy. I'm very impressed, and definitely recommend this honing rod, especially if you have Japanese knives. It has become my favorite in the drawer. Cleans up nicely with scouring powder.

I am a fanatic about maintaining razor sharp butcher knifes. There are a lot of fine finishing stones for touch-up while filleting fish or beef. However, I find them tricky to hold and use properly. I never had used a ceramic rod before until I purchased this one. I tried it on two of my dull knives, giving them each a few strokes. Wow! Each one returned to razor sharpness!! I did not expect that great a result. Best buy ever.

Must have for sharpening