King KDS 1000/6000 Combination Grit Whetstone, for Sharpening Harder Steels

1st time using a stone, which took well about an hour of messing around to achieve a beveled sharp edge on my old 20+yr old chef knife with the help of youtube. Definitely more practise to get it perfect. Not knowing over the years, the use of a sharpening steel has 'honed off' the bevel edge ie taking off the sharp edge. This stone is perfect size & weight. I've made an ad-hoc sink support which works perfectly with this stone. Strongly recommended even for beginners like myself

Arrived earlier than expected, in perfect condition and packaged really well. Perfect whetstone for those not wanting to spend an unnecessary fortune but still wish for the best results even if it means putting in a little more effort. King as a brand is time tested and a well trusted and known brand providing you with a quality product at a truly remarkable price point. Stones above the capability of the King KDS provide no exceptional relevance other than the time you put into sharpening your blade and honestly I enjoy the experience of honing a blade to perfection so the more time I get to spend sharpening the better the experience. The 1000 and the 6000 grit combo is a great place to start and if you wish to polish further then king also offer a further selection and also at a great and affordable price.

The King KDS is a staple in the sharpening community, often recommended as a classic "first real stone" for home cooks and hobbyists alike. Performance: The "Muddy" Workhorse 1000 Grit Side (Sharpening): This side is a "soaking stone" that produces a significant amount of gray slurry (mud). This slurry is actually beneficial, as it helps prevent the stone from clogging and aids in a smooth sharpening feel. It is effective for restoring dull edges and creating a solid, "toothy" edge suitable for most kitchen tasks. 6000 Grit Side (Polishing): This side is much smoother and is designed for refining and polishing the edge to a mirror-like finish. Many users find it performs best as a "splash-and-go" surface rather than a full soaker. Key Characteristics Feedback & Feel: Known for providing excellent "tactile feedback," making it easier for beginners to feel if they are holding the correct angle. Softness & Dishing: Because it is a softer stone, it wears down (dishes) relatively quickly. You will eventually need a flattening tool (like a diamond plate) to keep the surface level. Size: The KDS model is larger than the KW-65 economy version, providing more surface area for easier strokes on longer knives.

I've been using this stone for about 6 months now and have used it dozens of times to sharpen a number of different types of knives, from butcher knives to bushcraft knives to small pocket knives. This stone does exactly what it's supposed to do, and well. It feels high quality and the grits seem fairly accurate to what they're claimed to be - the 1000 side sharpens, while the 6000 side polishes. I often find that I don't need to use the polishing side to get an acceptable edge if I'm in a hurry, but after a polish the blade is sharp enough to shave with. It produces a nice slurry as you go, and has not deteriorated or begun to dissolve with usage like some of the cheaper ones tend to do. Overall a great product, would buy again.

excellent.