Beginner Sharpening Set
The RICEKNIFE Sharpening Set Beginner is a beginner sharpening set with a double-sided #250/#1150 plated diamond stone, a stone holder, a leather strop, 1.5 micron diamond compound and an angle guide. Jacob Bech’s beginner sequence uses the two sides of the stone, then the strop, to teach freehand sharpening with a manageable set of tools.
Who is the RICEKNIFE beginner sharpening set for?
The RICEKNIFE beginner sharpening set is for anyone who has never sharpened a knife freehand. Jacob Bech recommends the Beginner set first because fewer stones keep the process clear.
The RICEKNIFE Sharpening Set Beginner is a five-piece set: a double-sided diamond stone, stone holder, leather strop, diamond compound and angle guide. Each component of RICEKNIFE’s Beginner set has one job in Jacob Bech’s route.
Jacob Bech advises beginners to learn the angle, the burr and the strop first. In Jacob Bech’s experience, a Beginner set used well is enough for most ordinary home kitchen knives.
- IRICEKNIFE’s plated diamond stone has #250 on one side and #1150 on the other.
- IIDiamond is harder than steel, so the RICEKNIFE Beginner set sharpens steels from carbon steel to HAP40 and ZDP189.
- IIIJacob Bech of RICEKNIFE takes 5 minutes or less per knife on diamond.
- IVThe RICEKNIFE leather strop is used only with strokes away from the edge.
What comes in the box of the Sharpening Set Beginner?
The RICEKNIFE Sharpening Set Beginner contains the five pieces shown below. The angle guide comes only in RICEKNIFE’s sharpening sets.
RICEKNIFE’s plated stone shapes the edge on #250. The #1150 side of RICEKNIFE’s plated diamond stone refines the edge.
Jacob Bech designed the RICEKNIFE stone holder. RICEKNIFE’s stone holder is bamboo with a PVC surface and high-friction PVC feet.
The RICEKNIFE strop is thick, vegetable-tanned leather on bamboo. RICEKNIFE’s leather strop removes the burr.
RICEKNIFE’s stropping compound is 1.5 micron diamond in food-grade mineral oil. A very small amount of RICEKNIFE’s diamond stropping compound is enough for the leather strop.
The RICEKNIFE angle guide helps you hold a steady angle. RICEKNIFE does not sell the angle guide separately.
How do I use the RICEKNIFE Sharpening Set Beginner?
The RICEKNIFE Beginner set is used on #250, then #1150, before finishing on the leather strop. Follow the knife’s existing edge angle, and use the angle guide until holding it feels natural.
Jacob Bech’s beginner route in nine steps
- Secure the stone. Place RICEKNIFE’s plated diamond stone in the holder, #250 side up.
- Shape the edge on #250. Use light to moderate pressure and a stable angle until a small burr forms along the entire edge.
- Turn the stone. Turn the plated diamond stone so the #1150 side faces up.
- Refine on #1150. Refine the edge with lighter pressure, flipping the knife frequently.
- Shake the bottle. Shake RICEKNIFE’s 1.5 micron diamond stropping compound.
- Spray the strop. Spray a very small amount of compound onto the leather strop.
- Spread the compound. Spread the compound quickly with a fingertip.
- Let the leather absorb the oil. Wait until the leather strop has absorbed the oil.
- Strop the edge. Draw the knife over the strop spine first, away from the edge.
Steps 5 to 8 apply only when you use RICEKNIFE’s compound. Without compound, go from step 4 to step 9.
Beginner tutorial · start here
How to Sharpen Knives: A Beginner's Guide
Beginner tutorial · POVYour Hands, My Eyes: POV sharpening guide for beginners
UnboxingDragon Scale Beginner Sharpening Set: unboxingReady for more? Watch Jacob Bech’s tutorials for the Chef sharpening set (intermediate) and the Professional sharpening set (advanced).
- Stone
- Plated diamond, #250/#1150, 200 × 75 × 8 mm, 955 g
- Holder
- Bamboo and PVC, 210 × 85 × 32 mm, 343 g
- Strop
- Leather on bamboo, 210 × 75 × 30 mm
- Compound
- 1.5 micron diamond, 14 g
- EAN
- 5745001040673
How does the Beginner set compare with the Chef and Professional sets?
The RICEKNIFE Beginner set has two grits, while the Chef set adds #1000 and #3000. The RICEKNIFE Professional set adds all four resin-bonded grits.
| In the box | Beginner | Chef | Professional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plated stone 250/1150, holder, strop, compound, angle guide | ● | ● | ● |
| Resin-bonded stone 1000 | – | ● | ● |
| Resin-bonded stone 3000 | – | ● | ● |
| Resin-bonded stone 6000 | – | – | ● |
| Resin-bonded stone 12000 | – | – | ● |
| Grits | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Price | €174 | €266 | €400 |
I have never sharpened a knife. Is the Beginner set enough?
Yes. The RICEKNIFE Sharpening Set Beginner holds everything for Jacob Bech’s beginner route: #250, #1150 and the leather strop with diamond compound. The angle guide helps you learn a steady angle by hand.
How do I know when the #250 side has done its job?
A burr is a thin lip of steel on the opposite side of the edge. In Jacob Bech’s beginner route, you stay on #250 until you feel a small burr along the entire edge.
Can I strop without the diamond compound?
Yes. Jacob Bech says plain leather or a very small amount of diamond compound on the RICEKNIFE leather strop is fine. Without compound, go from step 4 to step 9.
Does the plated diamond stone need soaking?
No. RICEKNIFE’s plated diamond stone 250/1150 needs no soaking, so you secure the stone in the holder and start sharpening. Soaking is not part of Jacob Bech’s method for the Beginner set.
Can I add finer stones to the Beginner set later?
Yes. RICEKNIFE sells the resin-bonded diamond stones one by one, so you can add #1000 and #3000 first and #6000 and #12000 later. The Chef sharpening set already includes #1000 and #3000.
I already own a stone holder and a strop. Do I need a whole set?
Not necessarily. Jacob Bech suggests buying only the stones you are missing, such as RICEKNIFE’s plated diamond stone 250/1150. The Beginner set suits you if you need the full kit.
1.301,00 kr. incl. tax