11°-23° and 24°-43° Combined, X-Large Angle Guides for Sharpening on Stone, Model LR5 by AngleGuide

The perfect product for transitioning to free hand sharpening. I've been going through the Sharpening journey for a year plus, starting with a small fixed angle clamp, a bigger fixed angle clamp, wet stone kits and separate stones, and all the thinking about what's best. Transitioning to free hand sharpening just isn't going to happen without an easy and accurate angle guide. The little ones are a joke, and you pretty much have to put them on the stone, so you don't use one end, which accelerates dishing. I made wooden wedges but getting them to height was a constant issue, and getting them wet or covered with slurry was was annoying. This product is primo, it's big enough to be useful, waterproof, no magnets, and it doesn't sit on the stone. Big bonus is the adjustable height so I don't have to mess with stacking things to get the height I want. At this price it's worth it just for stropping even if you use a fixed angle clamp system.I thought having 12 guides down to 11 degrees was silly, but for a flat grind blade you have to subtract 1/2 the blade angle. For a blade that has a 4 degree total grind/wedge, you'll want to use the 13 degree guide to get a 15 degree sharpening angle.

You would think they would have a 15 degree in the kit since that is the standard for most Japanese knives. They don't.

It’s undeniable that the angle accuracy is one of the key factors in successful free hand sharpening and maintenance of knives. Regardless of someone’s experience, the Wedgek LR5 is a fantastic tool and addition to one’s sharpening kit. In the hands of an expert, it will confirm that their muscle memory is top notch (maybe...), but for a beginner, it is absolutely essential.That being said, it's very rare, but some products exceed the buyer’s expectations, and this one is one of them. Its beauty lies in its simple concept, but the execution is excellent, and the design details make it outstanding. Especially the anti-slip rubber feet allow for adjustments of /- 1°, adding even more flexibility to the kit (so the description not mentioning 10° is incorrect; I’ve just successfully sharpened my Wusthof Santoku, which leaves the factory with a 2x10° edge).Because some comments come from users who are not sure how they are supposed to use it, no, you don’t glue the wedges to the knife, nor do you drag them along with the knife on the sharpening stone. The wedges, with or without the stands, spacers etc. are a high-precision tool that provides a starting point with the knife in the sharpener’s hands at the correct angle. The rest requires good muscle coordination (do not get discouraged, not necessarily spectacular muscle memory, since the wedges are designed to exactly help with that part), and a sense of how to sharpen hard metal. In conclusion, it’s not a quick fix, but it’s an excellent aid for anyone who enjoys sharpening their knives and other tools with free hands.Last but not least, in addition to the completeness of the kit, it comes with excellent instructions (not always the case these days), which I highly recommend reading as they explain various details that will allow you to fully utilize the kit.Thus the 6 stars of the title :)