KITANIS 5-Piece Diamond Sharpening Stone Set: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-19

Summary

Owners most often report thin, unsupported plates that are awkward to use unless mounted on a rigid backing, and that the five printed grits feel and sound almost identical after break-in. Keeping a set running costs nothing beyond water, a cloth and a brush, roughly $0 a year for occasional use. It is a good buy only at $20 or less for an authenticated KITANIS kit; above $25 the $19.29 unbranded set or a better-documented SHARPAL plate is the safer spend.

Common problems and fixes

Thin, unsupported plates — a KITANIS owner mounted the five plates on scrap wood and moved the adhesive support to the underside to make them usable; the format is awkward for long strokes without a flat backing. Reported April 2025; one direct account, no failure-rate data. [3]
Uncertain grit separation — a February 2025 owner of the 400/600/800/1000/1200 set said the grades felt and sounded similarly coarse even after use on a chisel, while the plates still sharpened; another KITANIS owner reported no apparent cross-grit contamination. The reports conflict and do not prove identical grits across batches. [3][4]
Initial roughness mistaken for wear — a newly plated diamond hone can lose aggressive-feeling high points during break-in without losing useful cutting ability; the microscopy evidence behind this was collected on other manufacturers’ plates, not KITANIS. [6][7][9]
Precision flatness is unverified — the maker publishes no flatness tolerance, and owner discussion questioned suitability for precision chisel work; by comparison SHARPAL publishes a flatness specification for its 162N. [1][4][12]
Potential premature coating wear is a category risk — a buyer of very inexpensive non-KITANIS plates worried about apparent centre wear after two uses, while other owners explained break-in can look similar; do not extrapolate a failure rate to KITANIS. If a cleaned plate no longer cuts, suspect genuine abrasive loss. [5][6]
Interrupted face may snag a fine apex — a sharpening forum participant warns the honeycomb grooves may snag a fine apex; this is a technique-dependent concern, not a demonstrated KITANIS defect. [4][16]
Less sound and feel feedback than waterstones — one buyer of the five-piece set could not distinguish grades by feel; check the actual finish on a sacrificial knife rather than trusting the printed grit. [4]

Parts and consumables

Cleaning supplies — water, a dry cloth and a soft nylon brush; no proprietary liquid, paste or oil is required under general diamond-plate care guidance. [6][7]

Yearly running cost

$0 a year for occasional use with tap water, a cloth and a brush; this excludes the initial purchase, any holder or strop, accidental damage and eventual replacement. A replacement cost cannot be annualised because KITANIS-specific longevity and separate-plate prices were not verified; the last observed exact-branded price was $26.07 for a complete kit on an ended listing. [2][6][7]

When it is a good buy

Exact KITANIS kit: $26.07 on eBay, listing ended September 9, 2026 (historical, not buyable). Comparable unbranded five-piece 400/600/800/1000/1200 honeycomb sets: $19.29 at Walmart Marketplace and $28.72 on TikTok Shop, both October 2026 and not authenticated as KITANIS. [2][10][11]

At $20 or less for an authenticated new KITANIS kit the low cost justifies the thin-plate trade-off for occasional use. Above $25 the historical KITANIS price competes poorly with the $19.29 unbranded set, and for frequent sharpening the better-documented SHARPAL 156N (6 x 2.5 in, two-sided, $49.99) or SHARPAL 162N (8 x 3 in, 325/1200 grit, $69.99, with a published flatness tolerance) at the brand’s US site are the sensible upgrades; the DMT DuoSharp 8-inch extra-fine/fine with base lists at $139.99, a different budget class. [2][10][12][13][14]

Alternatives, and when each is the better choice:

Unbranded five-piece 400/600/800/1000/1200 honeycomb set, Walmart Marketplace — $19.29 (October 2026) — better on purchase price if you just want to test the thin-plate format; same advertised grit progression, not confirmed identical to KITANIS. [10]
SHARPAL 156N dual-grit 6 x 2.5 in stone — $49.99 — better when you want one sturdier, brand-supported tool with a storage base and fewer abrasive changes. [13][15]
SHARPAL 162N dual-grit 8 x 3 in stone — $69.99 — better for eight-inch chef knives, woodworking tools, a stable working surface and an advertised flatness tolerance. [12][15]