Professional Knife Sharpening Stones | Dual Grit Whetstone 3000/8000 | Premium Whetstone Sharpening Blade Kit | Wet Stone Knife Sharpener Set | Two Sided Polishing Stone for Kitchen & Chef Knives

I got much more than I expected from this sharpening set. First of all, the box is heavy precision plastic, not cardboard; there is merely a cardboard sleeve over the whole thing, and once that comes off, quality appears in every aspect. The instructions are clear, thorough, and in plain English--not a poor translation that leaves a user scratching their head! The double-sided waterstone is not only color-coded but very clearly labeled on the side (3000 or 8000 grit). There is a cast urethane sleeve that cradles each side of the stones, preventing chipping and providing an incredibly handy non-slip surface if you use these on a workbench or countertop. So you can remove the sleeve from the side you're using and leave the other one on, and it won't move a millimeter.Of course, you will want to remove both sleeves to soak the stones for ten minutes first, using tap water. I used a loaf pan from the kitchen although it seems you could use the plastic box these came in. I don't think that would give you quite enough of a reservoir, but the way the case is designed, it has a high enough lip you could, theoretically, submerge the waterstone like you're supposed to. The idea is to soak the stones until tiny bubbles quit coming out. In actual use, the stones are so well-made and dense that hardly any bubbles appeared the first time I used them, which is much better than waterstones I bought in the past from Japan. (I should note that, although the name makes this sound like a Japanese set, and they're Japanese-style waterstones, they are made in China. The factory must be really good in terms of quality control!)So for the sharpening: I put a fine edge on my set of Misen kitchen knives, which have always been the sharpest I have ever used, but now... oh my gosh, I have used surgical scalpels that aren't this sharp! And then I went to my workshop and brought out the real reason I bought this set: I have a heavy antique jointer plane with a 2 1/2 inch blade. And to my surprise, this stone set was wide enough to sharpen the blade. After the sharpening, the rough inch-long curls that had been shredding away from the Honduras mahogany I was smoothing now became six-foot long paper-thin shiny curls. I've never worked with a better hand plane blade. And my woodworking chisels quickly got much better as well.But here's the bonus of this set! Nestled into place in the bottom of the tray are two items I wasn't expecting. One is a dressing block, which appears to be ceramic, which I expect I can use to flatten the stone after heavy use, which is better than the silicone carbide paper on glass I usually use. The other turns out to be a knife holder, which spring-clamped onto the backbone of my knives. The surface of the knife holder seems to be ceramic or extremely hard white plastic rods, which glide over the waterstones and hold the knifes at a consistent angle. I pride myself on being a good hand sharpener, but I do appreciate a clean and easy jig to make things more consistent.Did I make it clear I loved this set? One of the best accessories my workshop could have, even if it's geared toward the kitchen.

I read many of the positive reviews prior to purchase and some are wonderful technical documents. From my perspective the packaging is fantastic to look at and very functional as a storage and protective system. Also included is a small pamphlet from James Denham, CEO/Founder, of MIKARTO that reads in a very thankful and sincere style of when people and companies had (and have) pride in what they do and how they are perceived. I certainly respond well to that attitude. James mentions an area on his website that when you register (takes about 30 seconds) you are emailed a very nice guide for using their products. I have almost any knife you can think of and use them constantly for cooking BUT I have been looking to purchase another Gyuto or Santuko without spending more than $200. MIKARTO has beautiful knives for less than $100 so I may be getting both.Regards,MLE

I will leave the technical review for the experts... I am not one. I bought the 1000/6000, the 3000/8000 and the 400,1000. I used all of them and got sharp kitchen knives. Still learning, but good start.What I want to mention is that soon after I used them for the first time, I got a very nice email from Mikarta that asked about my satisfaction. Perfect timing, because while using the stones on the first use, I had a manufacturing product failure - hey, it happens!Their customer service was OUTSTANDING! replacement product on my doorstep within a week. No questions. No hassle. Guys. Everyone gets a 2nd chance - These guys made the most of their 2nd chance. KUDOS and many thanks to Mikarta.

I have the King 1000/6000 whetstone (Amazon purchase) for the last year.I bought the Mikarto 3000/8000 whetstone because I did not find this combo for King.After comparing the King 1000 grit to the Mikarto 3000 grit, the difference is very minor (which is needed for sharpening). However, the King 6000 grit vs Mikarto 8000 grit, King's was MUCH SMOOTHER.For this reason, my approach is: King 1000, Mikarto 3000/8000 and then King 6000.Best advice, STICK with ONE brand for quality consistency!Im glad I noticed the stone's difference.Hope this helps you!

I tried finding videos online on how to use it. The instructions were very vague. I tried doing as instructed but it did not sharpen the knives. I don't know if I am doing it wrong. But what I do know is that they need to add a video showing how to use it and give better instructions.

Wasted my money on an electric knife sharpener. Knives never got sharp no matter how I tried. I finally decided to go Old School. Found this on Amazon after researching. When it arrived, I pulled out all my knifes and went to town. Took me a while to get the motion right, but didn't take too long. End result: really, really sharp knives that makes cooking so much easier! Definitely worth the effort to learn the technique.

I've used this to sharpen both kitchen knives and hair clipper blades, and it's performed exactly needed with no issues. It takes some practice to get the results I want, but 1) I expected that with new stones, and 2) my experience has been that with some reasonable care mistakes don't create any issues. The only real challenge for me has been sharpening a serrated blade, but again with a little practice I am getting exactly the results I want. Also the seller responded to feedback quickly and helped me with an issue (getting a copy of the user guide).

This is a great tool that will last a long time. But I think that if someone is unfamiliar with sharpening knives they may feel overwhelmed. They’re assuming you know there is a wrong and a right way to sharpen a knife. I love it. And if you don’t know what to do what a YouTube video. You’ll get the hang of it. Just don’t start with your most expensive knives first.

When I receive the cleaning stone it’s already broken, can I return the item?

Love it, so easy to sharpen my knives, the guide that is supplied is a great help, my knives are like brand new again.