Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This thing will, with time and care (though not likely as much as needed on a traditional whet stone) put a *wicked* edge on your knife/knives. That said, here are a few pointers I've figured out while using my kit: * If you're going to buy a base/stand along with it, spring the extra money and get the metal one. The plastic one is loud and not great. I have one, I never use it. I just hold the whole setup in my non-dominant hand. * Use a finger (I use my left hand's index finger) to keep the guide rod in the same area of the guide slot throughout. I just make it so that the rod rests on top of my finger, between the 2nd and 3rd knuckles. This eliminates any extra 'wiggle' in the angle of the hones. * I spend most of my time using the coarsest and finest hones, but I had a few knives that needed some serious edge work. This did the trick, though I imagine the diamond set might be a bit faster. I have the time, and don't mind committing it, to get great results out of this kit. * Before transitioning to the next grade fineness of hone, make sure that you cannot see any scratches from the previous coarseness. So, if you're on the 2nd-coarsest (120 'grit'), before you stop using it and switch to the 280/medium, ensure that you can't see a single scratch left from the 70/extra coarse. Doing this, along with keeping your angles of attack as tight as possible, will ensure fantastic results. *When mounting a blade into the holder, follow Lansky's guides. Should be about 5/8"/11 mm from the edge of the jaws to the blade. Also, and this is more important in my experience, make sure that you center the blade along it's cutting edge inside the jaws, or get it as close as you can. This ensures that the angle of attack from the hones remains as close to the same along the entire edge as possible. * Along those same lines, longer blades seem to offer a bit of a challenge, especially around the tip, if it curves at all. I find that I will work my BK7 in sections about 4"/100 mm long, and do the tip last. Shorter blades aren't as finicky about this. But think about it this way. If the angle of the hone is at 20° right in front of the clamp (approx. 5/8" away), then when it's 4" away, working the tip, it's angle is going to be more shallow. So, in conclusion, this system isn't perfect. It's got a character, and can be a little wonky. But, if you're willing to spend the time in prep, and pay attention while sharpening, you can get some fantastic results. The photos show results, and my techniques for proper setup and holding. Of course, do what you want. This is just what I've found works for me. :D