The single most common question new sharpeners ask is how to find the correct angle, and getting it wrong undermines everything else in the session. These angle guides answer that question directly. Place a guide on your stone, secure it with a rubber band, and lay the knife against it to set the reference angle before your first stroke. No guessing, no eyeballing, no holding a coin under the blade. Because the guides sit on the stone surface instead of clipping to the spine, they never interfere with your stroke. Use them until the angle is in your muscle memory, then set them aside.
The set includes eleven guides covering every degree from 10 to 20, so you can dial in the exact angle for your knife. Japanese knives typically sharpen at 10 to 15 degrees per side, and European knives at 17 to 20 degrees. One experienced reviewer thins hard Japanese knives to 10 degrees and softer steels to 12 degrees, checking the bevel reflection to confirm accuracy. An instructor used them to teach a group of beginners freehand sharpening and found they grasped consistent angle quickly. One practical note: these are a visual reference, not a fixed guide rail. They set the angle for your first stroke, and you hold it from there. The plastic will scuff if the blade touches it during a stroke.
What Customers Are Saying: Fifteen reviewers give these a 4.5 star average. The consensus is that they are a cheap, effective training aid for anyone learning freehand sharpening. Many keep them in their kit long after developing confident technique, using them as a quick angle check. The lower ratings agree the guides work as described but note the learning curve in understanding that they mark a reference point rather than guide the blade.
Care Instructions: Rinse with water after use and dry thoroughly. Do not clean with acetone or harsh solvents, which will discolor and damage the plastic. Store dry between sessions.
The set includes eleven guides covering every degree from 10 to 20, so you can dial in the exact angle for your knife. Japanese knives typically sharpen at 10 to 15 degrees per side, and European knives at 17 to 20 degrees. One experienced reviewer thins hard Japanese knives to 10 degrees and softer steels to 12 degrees, checking the bevel reflection to confirm accuracy. An instructor used them to teach a group of beginners freehand sharpening and found they grasped consistent angle quickly. One practical note: these are a visual reference, not a fixed guide rail. They set the angle for your first stroke, and you hold it from there. The plastic will scuff if the blade touches it during a stroke.
What Customers Are Saying: Fifteen reviewers give these a 4.5 star average. The consensus is that they are a cheap, effective training aid for anyone learning freehand sharpening. Many keep them in their kit long after developing confident technique, using them as a quick angle check. The lower ratings agree the guides work as described but note the learning curve in understanding that they mark a reference point rather than guide the blade.
- Brand: CKTG
- Item: Angle Guides for Sharpening Stones
- Angles Included: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 degrees
- Quantity: 11 guides
- Mounting: Rubber band (included)
- Material: Plastic
- Item Number: blueangleguides
Care Instructions: Rinse with water after use and dry thoroughly. Do not clean with acetone or harsh solvents, which will discolor and damage the plastic. Store dry between sessions.
Reviews
13 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Must have for begihhersPosted By: Paul J. Frontiero - verified customer
64 people found this review helpful
These guides ar perfect for someone new to sharpening to learn to set the proper angle when sharpening a knife on a whetstone. Set it on the stone and keep checking your angle untile you have it to memory.
64 people found this review helpful
These guides ar perfect for someone new to sharpening to learn to set the proper angle when sharpening a knife on a whetstone. Set it on the stone and keep checking your angle untile you have it to memory.
for people who think angles are important...Posted By: andytonycards
62 people found this review helpful
really great reference for finding a specific edge angle and staying true to it along entire edge of blade. really comes in handy finding angle on sharp belly curves and tips, very tough to do "by feel" unless you are an expert....some cautions however, these will leave mild scuffs on blade flats if you hit or bump them during sharpening strokes, it will take 1000 grit wet sanding to buff them out. helps to fasten loosely around a single corner of the stone block at 45 angle, so if you bump them the angle guide gives and isn't fixed solid or stiff by strapping them down over the entire width of the block. also don't clean with acetone, will start to discolor and dissolve plastic. hopefully 2.0 version will be made of rubber instead of hard plastic.
62 people found this review helpful
really great reference for finding a specific edge angle and staying true to it along entire edge of blade. really comes in handy finding angle on sharp belly curves and tips, very tough to do "by feel" unless you are an expert....some cautions however, these will leave mild scuffs on blade flats if you hit or bump them during sharpening strokes, it will take 1000 grit wet sanding to buff them out. helps to fasten loosely around a single corner of the stone block at 45 angle, so if you bump them the angle guide gives and isn't fixed solid or stiff by strapping them down over the entire width of the block. also don't clean with acetone, will start to discolor and dissolve plastic. hopefully 2.0 version will be made of rubber instead of hard plastic.
As advertised Posted By: Cliff - verified customer
68 people found this review helpful
I just use them as a visual reference, but they are nice to confirm the 15 degrees you are free-handing is close to actual 15 degrees. They are not spot on as the thickness at the tip of the guide makes it impossible to have guide, blade edge and stone all meeting in one spot, but you can get a good general idea and reference of the angle you are after.
68 people found this review helpful
I just use them as a visual reference, but they are nice to confirm the 15 degrees you are free-handing is close to actual 15 degrees. They are not spot on as the thickness at the tip of the guide makes it impossible to have guide, blade edge and stone all meeting in one spot, but you can get a good general idea and reference of the angle you are after.
A 'must' in my sharpening toolboxPosted By: Lionel Joyce
67 people found this review helpful
A terrific accessory for any waterstone addict who cares about the edge angle. I use one under the blade to get angle reference before making a few passes, and re-check at each series of new passes. Have recently thinned down all my harder knives to 10 degree edge, softer steels to 12 degree, with confidence that I'm in the right ball park. The reflection on the bevel tells me so. Just one trick that I learned for a 10 degree edge is to place the blade on the guide deliberately high, and then slide the blade until the edge just touches the stone. There is a tangible thickness to the guide, which can throw off the angle of the blade if you push the guide under the blade too far
67 people found this review helpful
A terrific accessory for any waterstone addict who cares about the edge angle. I use one under the blade to get angle reference before making a few passes, and re-check at each series of new passes. Have recently thinned down all my harder knives to 10 degree edge, softer steels to 12 degree, with confidence that I'm in the right ball park. The reflection on the bevel tells me so. Just one trick that I learned for a 10 degree edge is to place the blade on the guide deliberately high, and then slide the blade until the edge just touches the stone. There is a tangible thickness to the guide, which can throw off the angle of the blade if you push the guide under the blade too far
? Great product, shipping was immediate, would recommend to others Very handy Great product Great aid for learning to sharpen correctly Good buy Get little toolPosted By: David Wujcik - verified customer
52 people found this review helpful
I was show a group of young folks how to free hand sharpen the other day. These angle guides where great for them to understand how angles are so important for developing a consistent bevel. They caught on rapidly. Again,cktg customer service,easy ordering,and product selection is the best in the business.Thanks to Mark,and his staff for making this a enjoyable experience.
52 people found this review helpful
I was show a group of young folks how to free hand sharpen the other day. These angle guides where great for them to understand how angles are so important for developing a consistent bevel. They caught on rapidly. Again,cktg customer service,easy ordering,and product selection is the best in the business.Thanks to Mark,and his staff for making this a enjoyable experience.
Essential for new freehand sharpenersPosted By: mauichef - verified customer
56 people found this review helpful
I cannot imagine why every new freehand sharpener would not buy this inexpensive set of angle guides. Well made and easy to use. They give you the correct angle to use while you build up your confidence and muscle memory. Great idea and well worth the money.
56 people found this review helpful
I cannot imagine why every new freehand sharpener would not buy this inexpensive set of angle guides. Well made and easy to use. They give you the correct angle to use while you build up your confidence and muscle memory. Great idea and well worth the money.
