A dull knife can cause cutting problems and safety issues. These problems can be solved if you start using the Lansky sharpening system. These systems deliver a consistently sharp edge every time you use them. Is it the best sharpening system? That would be a heavy question. With easy-to-use multi-angle guides and a range of honing stones in different grit sizes, virtually any knife can be sharpened. This system is one of the best sharpening methods we have ever used.
For this review, we received two different test kits. One set includes 5 different synthetic sharpening stones and the other set includes 3 diamond sharpening stones. Each kit ships in a convenient custom-molded carrying case. It keeps everything organized and in place. Also includes a 1-ounce bottle of honing oil and easy-to-follow instructions. Once disassembled, everything in the kit fits neatly into the hard case. When setting up the sharpener, both assembly and disassembly seemed easy.
Each whetstone comes with a color-coded and labeled handle. Each side of the handle has molded finger grooves to make them easy to grip. There are small details that make this kit durable. For example, Lansky offers metal socket inserts for threaded thumbscrews and guide rods so the plastic won't be abraded. The included honing oil is perfect for a Lansky sharpening system or any other sharpener. Lansky offers several different sharpening configurations and systems. We've picked two of the more popular reviews.
Lansky Sharpening System (Deluxe Edition)
- Contains grinding stones (artificial stones): Extra Coarse, Coarse, Medium, Fine and Extra Fine
- Model: LKCLX
- Price: $44.99
Lansky Sharpening System (Standard Diamond)
- Honest Include (Diamond): Course, Medium & Fine
- Model: LK3DM
- Price: $79.99
Lansky knife sharpening system test and use
To test the Lansky sharpening system we of course sharpened a few different knives. We took a 12" Farberware kitchen knife, an 8" A Colman hunting knife and a 6-1/2 inch Kershaw pocket knife were tested separately. First, we took the blade clamp (which also doubles as the angle rail) and attached it to the midpoint on the back of the blade. We then took the appropriate grinding stone we needed and attached the guide rod to it. We choose our abrasive grit according to the condition of the blade to be sharpened.
All the knives we have to sharpen have a clean edge and retain a small amount of sharpness; that's why we choose high-quality diamonds and high-quality gemstones as our starting point. The next thing we did was insert the guide rods into the rails at every possible angle. We checked by eye which one best matched the existing angle of the blade.
set your blade angle
The angle at which the edge is sharpened is critical to the end use of the blade.
As a guide, Lansky has the following advice – their guide follows these same angles:
- 17° Angle – Recommended for large angles on razor blades, X-Acto blades, scalpels or similar implements. This angle provides a very sharp but refined edge.
- 20° Angle – Common angle for higher quality blades, provides an excellent edge on kitchen utensils and fillet knives.
- 25° Angle – The recommended angle for most knives that require a durable, sharp edge. This angle is perfect for hunting and outdoor knives.
- 30° Angle – Excellent angle for heavy use knives cutting cardboard, wire or carpet. Mainly recommended for heavy knives.
sharpen
With the angle determined, we added some honing oil to the stone and began sharpening our Kershaw Zing folding knife. After sharpening one side of the blade, we flip the knife over and do the same on the other side. Both systems allowed us to comfortably sharpen every different size knife we tried. Both clips fit on the blade without any difficulty. The guide rod also proved to be long enough to allow us to reach the full edge from tang to tip.
As with any tool that requires some physical activity from the user, sharpening knives requires some technique and skill. Of course, with the Lansky sharpening system, most of the guesswork is taken out. With a little practice, you can restore all your knives to tip-top condition.
Conclusion and value
While the Knife Sharpening System may not be a new tool on the market, we think it's well worth taking the time to test and review it. This system is one of the best sharpening systems we have used. It won't carry as much material as some belt drive systems. It also helps to find and maintain the correct sharpening angle – another common problem among inexperienced users.
Made of high-quality materials, really anyone can sharpen any knife to a razor-sharp edge with any of these Lansky knife sharpening systems. With prices between $43 and $80, you should be able to find a set that fits your specific needs and budget.