Miyabi Tungsten 9 Sharpening Steel

am I ever glad I bought this today. it seems I bought the last one currently in stock, although there are some on the way, but I truly have learnt that 't'is better to have one in hand. actually, this is my second one, purchased because I found the first one so extremely effective. I had a couple of traditional steels, both from fabled German makers, and both I can also say quite superior to the Victorinox that I used for 3 years when I was a Kuchen Boersche. let's say, I was simply surprised to find such a light almost toylike rod so much more effective maintaining the cutting qualities of my knives. the grooves on this steel are really modest, even shallow, so the amount of metal you're taking off is minute, probably virtually nil if you're using honing movements. I tap it once a week and the blade is virtually flawless. i'll add that if you use tungsten knife sharpening tool as a search qualifier, you'll get a slough of quick "sharpening" blobs, and one rod, this one, and I hope there will be more. they're good.

For most of my knives, this actually IS a _sharpening_ steel. Most steels are for realignment and tend not to remove steel in order to refine an edge. The tungsten present in this honing rod / sharpening steel tends to be harder than the knives being honed. If you examine the blade of the knife, you'll see marks along the sharp edge as if the knife had been run over a 2000-grit whet stone. For my stronger steel Miyabi knives, this steel still appears to nibble off steel, but not a lot of it. Honing the edges of those knives is a delicate process.

Awesome sharpening steel. It has a fine texture so it doesn't remove too much material. Ideal IMO. I only wish it was offered in a longer size.

You get what you pay for in this case. I like the EZ lap diamond sharpening steel, too, but I prefer this one. It feels like it leaves a finer, less toothy edge. Also won't wear out like some of those synthetic diamond coatings. It keeps a great edge on my cheap stainless steel knife as well as my two japanese knives with white #2 a blue #2 cores. UPDATE: Two years of moderate/heavy use at home and work, I've never used a better rod than this.

I ordered the black tungsten model and received a normal honing steel. It was steel colored with rough ridges that put a very coarse edge on my knives. I was not impressed at all and may have been sent the wrong product. I returned it.

Was not what was advertised

its easier to hold than the zwielling steel i used.

This product may be good for home use, but I strongly recommend a different steel If it is for work.