Sharpening system NEW AGE, KAI

Product detailed description

Over time, the owner of a Japanese knife learns two things: a high-quality blade is addictive, and it won't take care of itself. This is where the KAI NEW EDGE SK-S1 comes into play, whenever you want to keep your blade in top condition without having to set up a mini knife-making workshop on your table for every sharpening.

Main advantages:

• The KAI NEW EDGE SK-S1 is a precise manual sharpening system for the regular touch-up and polishing of high-quality Japanese kitchen knives, combining two ceramic sharpening stages with final stropping on leather.
• The entire process is divided into three consecutive stages: first, restoring the edge, then finer polishing, and finally, the ultimate smoothing of the cutting edge on a leather strop.
• The first white sharpening stage corresponds approximately to #1 000 grit and is used for the actual sharpening of the knife, whose cutting edge has already lost its original performance through regular use.
• The second sharpening stage corresponds approximately to #4 000 grit and follows up with a finer polishing, which further smooths the cutting edge after the initial sharpening.
• Both working stages utilise high-quality Japanese ceramic-bonded sharpening and polishing stones, which are designed for gentle and even sharpening.
• The integrated blade guidance system maintains a predetermined angle during operation, so there is no need to manually monitor the angle of the knife as you would when sharpening on a classic whetstone.
• The firmly guided angle helps to achieve consistent, repeatable results even without prior manual sharpening experience, while reducing the risk of uneven edge guidance.
• In the first step, the knife is guided through the white sharpening slot approximately ten times; the design allows the blade to be moved back and forth without pressure, using only the weight of the knife itself.
• After the basic sharpening, the second stage follows, which uses the same principle to refine the cutting edge more gently and prepare it for the final stropping.
• On the underside of the sharpener, there is an integrated leather strop infused with 9 µm diamond particles, which serves for the final refinement and smoothing of the edge.
• The effect of the leather strop corresponds approximately to a grit of #8 000 to #10 000, so the entire system does not end with mere sharpening, but continues to an extremely fine final finish of the cutting edge.
• The combination of approximately #1 000, #4 000, and subsequent diamond stropping creates a comprehensive system, from regular touch-ups and polishing to the final smoothing of the edge.
• The SK-S1 is designed for Japanese kitchen knives with a double-bevel edge; this system is not intended for single-bevel traditional Japanese blades.
• The wooden body of the sharpener gives the system a clean and premium look, while housing the blade guide, both sharpening stages, and the bottom leather strop in one compact unit.
• The individual working slots are clearly marked on the body as 1st Step Grinding and 2nd Step Polishing, making the correct sharpening sequence obvious during use.
• A weight of 323 g keeps the NEW EDGE sufficiently compact for easy storage and handling, yet it is not a lightweight plastic pull-through sharpener intended only for emergency touch-ups.
• The SK-S1 is suitable for those who want to regularly maintain high-quality Japanese knives at home, but do not want to manually set and monitor the correct angle on a loose sharpening stone every time they sharpen.
• KAI does not treat blades as just another item in a catalogue – for over a century, they have been developing expertise around cutting edges, offering not only the knives themselves but also specialised systems for their sharpening, polishing, and long-term maintenance.

Additional information:

• material: wood, ceramic-bonded abrasive, leather with diamond particles