Equipment Expert Reveals Top Pick for Honing Rods



Equipment expert Adam Ried reveals his top pick for honing rods.

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35 Comments

  1. Really bad comparison!!! It‘s extremely important how hard is your knife steel you are working with. You tested the honing process with a cheap Victorinox knife it seems like… the hrc rating of this knife should be around 56ish. Good knives…especially japanese ones, tends to have a hrc rating of 59 to 66. The Bob Kraemer is made out of steel, which has probably absolute no effect on really hard steel. …Again: This is a really bad comparison for that reason because the hardness of the rod is essential! Go for ceramic with a fine grid or if you have a super hard Aogami steel consider to buy a „sinter ruby rod“

  2. Our testers preferred:
    -slightly rougher and smoother
    -a longer rod, because it was easier to get the full stroke from the base to the tip
    -less flare, because a more dramatic flare can get in the way of the stroke
    -Best Buy: I-da-ho(ne) 12-inch rod
    😂😂😂

  3. I haven’t used a steel for 2-3 years. I’ve switched to ceramic and don’t see that changing. Mine is black and 3/8” diameter and about 8” long. Picked it up at a resale shop for $2. It’s all I use. I would be interested in trying a diamond rod but too expensive for my tastes.

  4. It takes maybe two strokes per side, the longer you go the more likely you are to mess up. Two carefully done strokes per side is all you need. I use a smooth ceramic rod and hone before each use. Also it doesn't take much pressure. A gentle run down the tool is all you need.

  5. It’s just like sharpening with a manual stone- maintaining the correct edge angle when honing is a difficult skill to acquire and maintain for the ordinary home cook / knife user. Sharpening / honing doesn’t need to be done often enough to get good and stay good. Just as I recommend the Lansky system for sharpening, I recommend the Füri Diamond Fingers for honing. These hold the correct edge angle automatically, result- sharp knives.

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