Which is better: Gatco or Lansky?

Well...

I've got both and a bunch of replacement stones for both. What I've found works best is a mix of pieces from both.

Here's the rundown:
What ever you do get the diamond set. And get a nice fine non-diamond stone. The ceramic one is really TOO fine. Get the next one. Besides, ALL the stones get a little finer after you use them for a few knives.

The Gatco stones are nice and wide with nice finger guards, but they wear out fairly quickly. The abrasive doesn't go very deep. The Lansky ones aren't as safe and they're thin (which works good for recurve blades) so they take a little more work. They last longer though because they have thick material with the abrasive all the way through. Lansky also has an EXTRA Coarse diamond stone which is nice to have.

I use the Lansky Extra Coarse diamond, Medium diamond, and fine regular stone, then go to the leather strop. Best system so far.

I also like the plastic parts of the Gatco system. They are easier to use because the metal Lansky parts are slippery and hard to get the knife into.

Here's the biggest thing...
What ever system you get, THROW AWAY THE OIL! Sure, the stones wear out faster, but they only work about half as well with the oil. The oil creates sort of an abrasive slush that dulls the blade while you're trying to sharpen it. Besides, I'd rather have sharper knives with half as much work and have to replace my Extra Coarse diamond stone a little more often.

I guess, if money were no object, the BEST thing to have would be a Gatco Diamond set with an additional fine regular stone and a BIG BOX of replacement coarse diamond stones. THAT would be the best thing.
 
I agree 100 % . The diamond set of 3 stones retails for about $100 and the 5 stone ( with the serrated sharpening stone) sells for about $55. Buy both little suitcases and sharpen for days.Oh yes ... you can buy individual replacements as needed.
 
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