Skip to content
Work Sharp OD55 Dual Grit Diamond Sharpening Stone System

Work Sharp OD55 Dual Grit Diamond Sharpening Stone System

By Work · Knife Sharpening · Kitchen & Cooking

  • Dual-grit diamond stone 320/1200 grit
  • Cast aluminum base, 4.3 lb
  • Fits 3 x 8 in and 1 x 6 in stones
  • Removable 15/17/20 degree angle guides
  • Electroplated diamond, flat to 0.005 in

Price not listed

Stores are listed in a fixed order, never by price or commission. Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

A freehand sharpening system: a 320/1200 diamond stone on a cast-aluminum base that also holds most third-party 3 × 8 in stones, with removable 15°, 17° and 20° guides. It suits someone who wants a stable, angle-guided bench setup rather than the fastest route to a sharp knife, and the first thing to check is whether you already own 3 × 8 in stones, since the base is sold separately.

Strengths

  • The cast-aluminum base is stable and raises the stone to a comfortable working height.
  • The base accepts most third-party 3 × 8 in stones, so it can upgrade stones you already own.
  • Removable magnetic 15°, 17° and 20° guides help you re-find an angle.
  • GearJunkie scored it 8.9/10 and praised the build quality and intuitive design.
  • Owners single out the base’s guide design for freehand sharpening.
  • The stone and base are sold separately, so either can be replaced on its own.

Weaknesses

  • GearJunkie calls it “not the simplest sharpener to use” and says it is not for everyone.
  • At $139.95 for the complete set (Work Sharp, 2026), GearJunkie puts it at the higher end of the market.
  • The 320/1200 grits skip an intermediate step, so refining the scratch pattern takes extra strokes.
  • On very thin stones the angle guides sit too low to line up.
  • On third-party stones the guides may not line up exactly, depending on height and shape.
  • One owner reported a silicone odor from the pad.

Verified specifications

ProductDual Grit Diamond Sharpening Stone and Base, OD55 Series; manufacturer SKU WSBCHDDS.
Collaborationdesigned with Alex Garland of the Outdoors55 channel.
Abrasivescoarse 320 grit and fine 1200 grit diamond.
Stoneelectroplated diamond on a cast-aluminum body, 3 × 8 × 0.72 in.
Flatnessflat to within 0.005 in.
Grit sizes320 side is 45 micron, 1200 side is 8 micron.
Basecast aluminum, with a sliding vise that clamps stones 7.5 to 8.75 in long; remove the vise to hold stones up to 4 × 12 in.
Stone fitmost 3 × 8 in stones, and 1 × 6 in stones with the adapter.
Angle guidesremovable magnetic guides at 15°, 17° and 20°.
Mountingfour holes for bolting to a bench, plus anti-skid feet.
Weight4.3 lb for the complete system.
Dimensions13 7/8 × 3 3/4 × 2 5/8 in; 4 lb 3 oz (GearJunkie measured).
Warranty3 years.
In the boxcast-aluminum base, 320/1200 diamond stone, and the 15°/17°/20° guides.
Full research notes and sources

Base and stone

The OD55 is a platform more than a magic stone. Work Sharp built it with Alex Garland of Outdoors55 on the premise that most setups get the stone right and the holder wrong, so the money goes into a cast-aluminum base that raises the stone to a comfortable height and holds it steady. The included abrasive is a 320/1200 dual-grit electroplated diamond stone, 3 × 8 × 0.72 in, with the 320 side at 45 micron and the 1200 side at 8 micron, flat to within 0.005 in. GearJunkie estimates the stone is roughly two-thirds of the $140 cost, which tells you where the value sits: the base, not the stone.

Freehand technique and the guides

The angle guides are a learning aid, not a guarantee. The designer calls them “a reference, not a promise of precision”, because every freehand bevel ends up slightly convex — no hand holds a perfect angle through a full pass. On very thin stones the guides sit too low to line up; Work Sharp documents two workarounds: lift the guides off their posts and set them on the stone, or reverse the clamp to hold the stone from inside. On stones from other brands the guides may not line up exactly, depending on the stone’s height and shape. Skipping an intermediate grit also costs a few extra strokes between sides if you want the scratch pattern fully refined.

Parts, upkeep and running costs

The stone is the only real consumable, and a replacement is $59.95 (Work Sharp, 2026). Upkeep is simple: brush the stone dry, keep 320 grit off the 1200 side, and wipe the silicone pad with soap and water. The base comes apart for cleaning, and there is no power or electronics to fail. Warranty is 3 years, and Work Sharp states the product is designed and calibrated in Ashland, Oregon.

Is it worth it?

If you already own 3 × 8 in stones, the $99.95 base is the compelling buy: it accepts most third-party stones, adapts to 1 × 6 in ones, and the guides can help you re-find your angle after time away. If you want one complete kit, the $139.95 set is fair, but it is a deliberate, slower method, and GearJunkie’s own cons — higher-end price, not for everyone — point casual users toward simpler guided or powered sharpeners. Because the product is new, there is no defensible discount trend yet.

Which model this is

Work Sharp sells the OD55 three ways: the complete set, the base and holder alone, and the dual-grit diamond stone alone. This page covers the freehand system built with Alex Garland, not Work Sharp’s powered or guided sharpeners such as the Precision Adjust or Ken Onion models, and not older Work Sharp bench stones. The Amazon listing carries ASIN B0HFTG7648.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Press and video:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Buying guides for this category

Related products