Ceramic Sharpening Rods

A ceramic honing rod designed to maintain and lightly refine the edge of your knife between sharpenings. The MAC 8 1/2-inch Ceramic Sharpening Rod is an essential maintenance tool for the anyone who uses high-carbon or Japanese stainless steel knives. While traditional steel honing rods are designed primarily to realign a "rolled" edge on softer Western alloys, this ceramic rod possesses a superior hardness that allows it to gently remove a microscopic amount of metal. This dual action not only realigns the edge but also polishes and hones it, effectively extending the interval between full stone sharpenings. The fine ceramic surface (approximately 1200–2000 grit) is specifically engineered to be harder than the 59–61 Rockwell steel found in the MAC Professional and Japanese Damascus lines. For the skilled cook, this means the ability to restore a "razor" feel with just a few light strokes without the aggressive abrasion of a diamond rod. The handle features a sturdy guard to protect the user's hand and a hanging ring for convenient station storage. This is the recommended maintenance tool for any knife where edge geometry and surgical precision are the highest priority. Over time, metal residue will build up on the rod. Clean it with a mild abrasive cleaner or scouring pad to maintain effectiveness.  
Who This Is For Users who want to maintain their knife’s edge between sharpenings Cooks using harder steels, including many Japanese knives Anyone looking for more effective edge maintenance than a standard steel rod Not ideal for: Repairing chipped or damaged edges (requires sharpening stones or professional service) Learn More

Many Japanese manfufacturers recommend a ceramic sharpening rod over a steel honing rod due to the hardness of Japanese steel. Mac rods offer two levels of cutting aggression depending on whether you utilize the grooved or smooth sides. Black ceramic honing rods do not show metal build-up as easily as a white rod, but it still occurs. Should you find your Mac Ceramic rod is not performing as well as when new, just clean it with Bar Keepers Friend or a ceramic eraser. Learn More