Best Sharpening Stones

Pros

• +The classic learn-to-sharpen stone: soft, fast-cutting, and endlessly forgiving of a wobbly angle
• +1000 and 6000 grit covers the whole home-cook job — set an edge, then polish it
• +A thick 1½-inch block — years of stone to wear down and re-flatten

Cons

• −Soft binder dishes (hollows out) quickly — you'll need to flatten it regularly
• −Requires a proper soak before use, so it's not grab-and-go
• −Sold as the bare stone — no base or holder, so you'll need a damp towel or a stand
• −Wears faster than a hard ceramic or diamond stone

Pros

• +Diamond stays dead flat forever — no dishing, no flattening, no soaking
• +Fast on hard modern steels that wear a water stone down quickly
• +Also flattens your water stones, so it earns its place even if you sharpen on softer stones

Cons

• −Diamond gives a toothier, less polished edge than a fine water stone
• −Coarse/fine only — no true polishing grit for a refined finish
• −Diamond plates lose a little aggression as they break in

Pros

• +No soaking — a splash of water and it's ready, which removes the biggest barrier to sharpening often
• +Hard binder stays flatter far longer than a soft King, so less flattening
• +Cuts quickly and cleanly on both German and Japanese steels

Cons

• −Single grit — you'll want a finishing stone or a strop to go with it
• −One grit for a similar outlay to a King combination's two, so grits-per-dollar is poor
• −Harder stones give less of the tactile 'feedback' beginners learn from

Pros

• +Larger surface than the KDS makes long chef's knives easier to sharpen in full strokes
• +The base holds the stone rock-steady on the counter, with nothing to buy separately
• +Same forgiving King feel that makes it a great teacher

Cons

• −Still a soft soaker that dishes and needs flattening
• −A bigger stone to store, and the extra face has to be kept flat too

Pros

• +Three grits and a bench holder in one box — a complete kit
• +Oilstones are extremely durable and shrug off heavy use
• +The reservoir base catches oil and holds the stones firmly

Cons

• −Oil is messy and permanent — an oilstone can't later be used with water
• −Slower and coarser-finishing than modern water or ceramic stones
• −Heavier and less refined for kitchen knives specifically

Pros

• +Costs about the same as a takeout lunch — a genuinely risk-free way to try sharpening
• +400/1000 is the right pair to repair a dull edge and set a working one
• +Usually ships with an angle guide, which helps a first-timer

Cons

• −Quality varies unit to unit; these are generic stones
• −No fine polishing grit — a working edge, not a refined one
• −Wears quickly and needs flattening like any soft stone