Ceramic Sharpening Rods

When a knife needs more attention than routine honing, the Dickoron Duo can cut a fresh edge and refine it on one rod. F. Dick makes it for sharpening and honing hard grades of steel.Two sides are diamond rods carrying millions of diamond grains, which remove metal and sharpen. The other two sides are ceramic, which smooths and straightens the edge after the diamond. A knife that has lost its edge through heavy use can get a new bevel on the diamond side and a smoother finish on the ceramic, which can save a trip to the stones.It is a good tool for a knife roll.For routine honing of hard knives, the Dickoron Titan 12-inch oval steel is the everyday rod. A diamond-only rod with a non-slip handle is the F. Dick 10-inch oval diamond sharpening steel. Our honing steel guide explains when to sharpen and when to hone. Learn More

The Idahone 10-inch Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod is for cooks who want to keep a sharp knife sharp with a few strokes before each use. A honing steel only pushes a rolled edge back into line. This high-alumina ceramic rod removes a small amount of steel, so it sharpens and polishes the edge at the same time. Its finish is comparable to a fine Japanese whetstone, which makes it a maintenance tool between full sharpenings rather than a substitute for them.
What It Does for Your Knives Fine ceramic abrasive: Refreshes a working edge in a few light strokes and leaves a smooth, polished finish. Suited to harder steels: Because the rod abrades the edge rather than bending it, it suits the harder steels of many Japanese knives, which tend to wear or chip rather than roll. Fewer whetstone sessions: Regular use keeps an edge in service longer, so full sharpenings are needed less often. Compact length: Handles paring knives, utility knives and shorter chef’s knives. For longer blades, the Idahone 12-inch Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod, Black Wood Handle allows a full stroke from heel to tip.
Choosing a Fine or Coarse Rod The fine rod is the right tool for routine maintenance of a knife that is still sharp. When a knife no longer responds to it, the Idahone 10-inch Coarse Ceramic Sharpening Rod removes steel faster to restore the edge, and the fine rod then refines it. The same fine rod is also available with a natural maple handle as the Idahone 10-inch Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod, Hard Rock Maple Handle. Learn More

The Idahone 12-inch Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod is for cooks who rely on long knives and want to keep them sharp between full sharpenings. A honing steel only pushes a rolled edge back into line. This high-alumina ceramic rod removes a small amount of steel with each stroke, so it sharpens and polishes the edge at the same time. Its finish is comparable to a fine Japanese whetstone, which makes it a maintenance tool between full sharpenings rather than a substitute for them.
What It Does for Your Knives Long working surface: Gives 10-inch chef’s knives, slicers and sujihiki room for a full stroke from heel to tip, so the entire edge receives even contact. Fine ceramic abrasive: Refreshes a working edge in a few light strokes and leaves a smooth, polished finish. Suited to harder steels: Because the rod abrades the edge rather than bending it, it suits the harder steels of many Japanese knives, which tend to wear or chip rather than roll. Fewer whetstone sessions: Regular use keeps an edge in service longer, so full sharpenings are needed less often.
Other Sizes and Grits For shorter knives or a smaller kitchen, the Idahone 10-inch Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod, Black Wood Handle offers the same ceramic in a more compact length. The same fine rod is also available with a natural maple handle as the Idahone 12-inch Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod, Hard Rock Maple Handle. When a knife no longer responds to the fine rod, the Idahone 12-inch Coarse Ceramic Sharpening Rod removes steel faster to restore the edge. Learn More

Hard Japanese knives can chip on a grooved steel, and Kikuichi’s ceramic honing rod is the fine-grit alternative for them. At roughly 8000 grit equivalent, it removes a very small amount of metal, so a few light strokes realign the edge and refine it at the same time.Because so little metal comes off, the rod is suited to frequent, even daily, use between whetstone sessions, and regular honing extends the time before a knife needs full sharpening. It is not a substitute for a whetstone when an edge is truly dull. The 270mm rod handles gyutos and sujihikis in full strokes, and the cherry handle has a stainless hanging ring. Kikuichi suggests hanging it from a butcher’s belt or keeping it in the dedicated slot of the Kikuichi knife block.
Using the RodHold the blade at a consistent angle with light pressure and alternate sides for a few strokes. Wipe the rod clean afterward. Learn More

The Idahone 10-inch Coarse Ceramic Sharpening Rod is for cooks who want to bring a dull knife back without setting up a whetstone. Its coarse high-alumina ceramic removes steel faster than Idahone’s fine rods and restores a working edge in a few strokes. The compact length is easy to handle and fits a drawer or a smaller kitchen.
What It Does for Your Knives Coarse ceramic abrasive: Restores sharpness to knives dulled by regular use. A honing steel only realigns the edge. Measured metal removal: The grit is somewhat finer than the coarse rods in Idahone’s V-type sharpeners, so the rod corrects an edge while removing less steel than a sharpening system’s first stage. Compact length: Suits paring knives, utility knives and shorter chef’s knives, and stores easily. For longer blades, the Idahone 12-inch Coarse Ceramic Sharpening Rod allows a full stroke from heel to tip. Wood handle with hanging ring: Provides a secure grip and convenient storage near the cutting board.
Using the Coarse and Fine Rods Together The coarse rod restores the edge, and a fine rod refines it. Use the coarse rod when a knife no longer responds to honing, then finish on the Idahone 10-inch Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod. For routine maintenance of a knife that is still sharp, the fine rod alone removes less steel and is the better choice. Learn More