SHARPAL 194H Whetstone Knife Blade Sharpener Sharpening Stone Angle Guide, Chisel/Plane Iron Blade Honing Guide, Knife Edge Angle Finder, Knife Sharpening Trainer (Angle from 15° to 45°)

I'm fairly new to using Japanese water stones for sharpening knives. The most important skill you need to develop is to keep a consistent angle on the knife. I have tried the little pyramids that show you the correct angle, but I found it hard to maintain the angle as I moved the knife away. And I've tried the little device that is often included with water stones that you clip onto your knife blade to hold the knife at the correct angle. But I quickly realized that relying on this crutch was not helping me learn to hold the knife correctly and was probably even allowing me to develop bad habits in terms of technique.Enter the Sharpal 194H Angle Guide. This little doodad securely attached magnetically to the 7" santoku knife I was sharpening. Before starting the stroke, I could establish the correct angle. Then I could watch what happened to the level bubble as I continued the stroke. At first I went slowly to establish the muscle memory. Then I found I could take my eyes off the level and only check it occasionally. Very soon, the bubble stayed centered throughout the stroke. This happened in the first session I used it, so it was a very quick aid to developing good sharpening technique.There are a couple of shortcomings to the device. For one, it does not clip securely to a small paring knife or pocket knife. You could still use it to establish the correct angle at the beginning of a stroke and stop mid-stroke to check it again until you were confident you were maintaining the correct angle. The second limitation is that it does not have a setting below 15 degrees. The markings are at 5 degree intervals between 15 and 45 degrees. You can estimate angles between the markings. If you are sharping a knife below 14 degrees using whetstones, you are probably already an advanced sharpener. If you need a reference point for a narrower angle, you could try Wedgek angle reference guides, which go from 10 to 20 degrees.All in all, I'd say this is a great little device for keeping your angle consistent while sharpening and improving your sharpening technique. Highly recommended.

This is a clever and inexpensive device that can help you get a consistent edge. However when I checked its accuracy against my Wedgek wedges it seemed off. Then I realized the wedges were measuring the angle of the bottom of the knife (the part being sharpened), while the SHARPAL was measuring the angle of the top of the knife, which is effected by the thickness of the knife spine. So the SHARPAL was slightly off. I fixed this by ignoring the scale on the SHARPAL and adjusting it until the bubble was centered on the wedge I was using. Then just sharpen as you normally would.

I recently started using the SHARPAL 194H Sharpening Angle Guide, and I have been thoroughly impressed with its performance. This simple yet effective tool has helped me achieve consistent and precise sharpening angles every time I use it. One of the standout features of this Sharpening Angle Guide is its ease of use. The clear markings and easy-to-follow instructions make it simple to set the desired angle for sharpening. It securely attaches to the blade of my knife and holds it in place, ensuring that I maintain a consistent angle throughout the sharpening process.Its versatility is another aspect that I appreciate. It is adjustable and can accommodate a wide range of blade widths, making it compatible with various types of knives, including kitchen knives, hunting knives, and pocket knives. This makes it a versatile tool that can be used for sharpening different types of knives in my collection.The build quality of it is also impressive. It is made from durable materials that feel sturdy and reliable during use. I appreciate the attention to detail in its design, as it holds up well even with frequent use and doesn't show any signs of wear.Since I've started using this small item, I've noticed a significant improvement in the sharpness and performance of my knives. The consistent and precise sharpening angles have resulted in razor-sharp edges that make my knives more efficient and effective in their cutting tasks.Overall, I highly recommend the SHARPAL 194H Sharpening Angle Guide for anyone who wants to achieve professional-level sharpening results. Its ease of use, versatility, and durability make it a valuable tool for maintaining sharp knives. With the SHARPAL 194H Sharpening Angle Guide, I can confidently sharpen my knives to perfection every time, and it has become an essential part.

Not the best solution for sharpeningA little unstable but usable with a little care

I love sharpening my knives (meditative and can be done while watching youtube or podcasting), but if you're getting in to finer sharpening (like with straight razors or tactical knives), with a little research, you can learn the ideal angles to sharpen and hone your knives. This has a pretty good range from 15 - 45 degrees, and the magnetic bubble helps keep things in to perspective. Place it on the knife, and adjust as you sharpen. Eventually, it'll become muscle memory, and you'll begin to "feel" which is the right angle.It's crazy, because I've turned simple steak knives in to slicing machines (using the 20 - 14 degree angles), and it simply glides through uncooked or cooked food like butter.My only minor complaint is for smaller steak knives, it's a little too big. However, the magnet works by having half hang off the back end, so it'll still display the right angle, so it redeems itself.Overall, if you get in to sharpening knives and buy something like a 300/1200 grit diamond sharpening stone (or other stones), and you want to prepare perfectly-sharp knives to make cooking endeavors safer, then this device is a must companion for beginners, or people needing to verify alternative angles for various projects. Great value.