King Combination Waterstone, 1000/6000 Grit: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-18

Summary

A cheap two-grit Japanese soaking stone that bonds a #1000 sharpening face to a #6000 polishing face in one block, aimed at first-time waterstone users. Running costs are close to zero beyond water and, later, a flattening plate.

Common problems and fixes

Slow or ineffective on hard, abrasion-resistant steels — an owner found the #1000 side slow on Shun Classic (VG-10) and “almost completely ineffective” on an S30V Kershaw Blur, taking about 30 minutes just to remove factory scratches; a retailer’s admin agreed the stone is over-matched by CPM154 and S30V. Fix: use it for easy carbon and low-alloy steels, or add a coarser, faster stone for hard stainless. [5]
The two bonded layers can separate — an owner thread titled “King KDS 1000/6000 separation!” documents the layers coming apart; prevalence is unknown. There is no practical fix, and the owner in that thread cut the stone apart to keep using the halves. [9]
Convex #1000 face out of the box — at least one new owner found the thick #1000 side slightly convex and rocking like a cradle, while the #6000 side was dead flat. Fix: flatten the stone on a plate before first use. [10]
Soaking advice conflicts between sellers — one retailer says to soak only the #1000 side for about two minutes and merely splash the #6000 side, warning that soaking the fine side can crack or split a combination stone; another says the KDS should soak 15-20 minutes. Fix: take the conservative path — a short soak on the medium side, a splash on the fine side, and never leave the stone sitting in water. [1][4]
Mixed opinion on the #6000 side — one owner said the #1000 is okay but the #6000 is “terrible,” while another said the #6000 has a creamy feel. Fix: none; treat it as owner-experience variance. [8]

Parts and consumables

Yearly running cost

Not enough data. The only recurring costs reported are water and, eventually, a flattening plate bought separately; no consumables, no per-year figure and no replacement interval were found in the checked sources. [5]

When it is a good buy

No US dollar street price from a specialist retailer was confirmed, so no dollar threshold is asserted. Reference prices found: Knives and Stones (Australia) listed the KDS 1000/6000 at AU$85; The Blade Runner (Australia) listed it at AU$79.99; a Netherlands shop listed it at $19.75 with the currency and date unconfirmed; and a European retailer listed a smaller 185 x 63 x 20 mm combination stone at €55, not the KDS. [3][4][12][14]

For a buyer who mostly sharpens simple carbon or low-alloy kitchen knives, the King is good value. A buyer with VG-10, S30V or CPM154 knives, or anyone who wants fast metal removal, should plan on adding a coarser, faster stone or choose a different system. [5]