KME Precision Knife Sharpener System with 4 Gold Series Diamond Hones - Base Included

The price is a pretty high for what it is but I really like it. Sharpens my knives nicely.

Knife sharpening with zero learning curve.

Made my pocket knives shaving sharp. Fairly easy to use after watching some online demo's. Worth the expense if you struggle with whetstone sharpening. Only negative is the high cost of replacement diamond stones.

Increíble sistema, muy fácil de usar y con resultados maravillosos, muy versátil tanto para, cuchilos de cocina y navajas de filo liso.

I have great admiration for those experts that can "freehand" to perfection. Freehand sharpening knives is a time-honored tradition. However, if (like me) you just can not consistently get the results you want by "feel", this is a great option. Diamond is the best choice for cutting tough material like AUS8 and harder. I chose this guided system with Diamond Plates because I have some experience with other types of "stones", and often find the need to re-profile. Some other sharpener makers do NOT even recommend heavy re-profiling with their device. THE PAST: I liked a triple-sided hone for some steel, especially the mundane kitchen utensils, but I could not correct (re-profile) the finished edges that were uneven/off-center ground. That system is very inexpensive, but the triple stones also seemed too soft for harder steels. I started considering diamond plates. However, I had scratched the coating off my Cryo II by accidentally freehand sharpening it too close to one of the coarser stones on the triple stone. Ugh. This happened in an instant. I started researching all guided sharpeners. I went with the KME gold diamond kit because of the steels used in the higher-end blades are hard to grind, and the sturdy design of the fixture. The fixture angle guesswork (left side/right side) and constant blade re-mounting I saw in other systems are non-issues with a KME. The rotating fixture has a secure, adjustable detent, or "stop" point. It does not wobble. It saves time and guesswork. Oh, man. A TRULY inspired design. Atta boy, KME. NOW: The KME sharpener arrived with some VERY detailed instruction that emphasize what needs to be kept in mind. Just "heed" the instructions. I learned that clamping your knife in the fixture securely, and not having to move (or remove) the knife from the rotatable fixture during the process (like other systems) is a big plus. Huge. If you are not a big reader, BladeForums has a cool pictorial-tutorial written by Moosez45. YouTube has plenty of info about this system, also. The edges shown are fabulous. You can do that.THE NITTY: In some cases, I start with the very aggressive 140 grit to "set" the profile angles that all the other stones work to refine. It doesn't take much work at all. If you desire, adjustments on the fixture allow you to significantly change the bevel angle of a knife with ease. Primary bevels of under 14 degrees (like serious kitchen knives) are "hackable", by flipping the angle guide over. A simple Sharpie line on the bevel you are working is a good guide, and a jewelers loupe is even more revealing. I use the 40x25mm with Led Lighting sold on Amazon for less than three dollars. Once you have experienced about 5 minutes of working this system, your muscles will know enough to get the job done quickly and near effortlessly.This sharpener is very impressive for speed, design and results. The tan-colored diamond "break-in slurry", seen during the first 2 cuts with the Diamond Plates is normal. Scary, but normal.The base is well worth the money, because it fits snugly into the handle/bushing of the fixture. I weighed the options and savings, but I am now sure I could not make a substitute. Saved-up gift cards softened the expense. I purchased an additional Chosera 5000 grit stone to take my edges much closer to a "surgical" glint at the end of the cutting process. The included 1500 grit plate requires just a bit more stropping to "get there" than I care to perform. MANY stones are available for this system. I even used the El Cheapo double-stacked 10000/3000 Sedeta stone, sold by FDS, in the tool holder. With slight adjustments for angle and clamping, even that worked!(5 STARS?) This sharpening device quickly produces excellent edges. Product reviews for other (more expensive) sharpeners are very mixed. The KME design does a good job of preventing damage to edges or finish. (Good for me). It has a very solid feel. It is not rickety plastic. It holds the knife in precise alignment during the entire process. This item is MADE in the U.S.A... a bonus point for that. KME offers custom-fit strops and "exotic" compounds.What I REALLY LIKE: The repeatable, astounding results. Impressive edges are easy and satisfying to attain. I will never again have to rely on "freehand" sharpening. It works great on tougher steels. I am constantly impressed with the results I get using this system.