30% of 61 verified Lansky Deluxe 5-Stone Systemowners don't recommend it, and 2 describe specific problems — based on real owner comments from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
For balance: 46% recommend it. This page collects the complaints so you know what you're signing up for — read the full owner report for both sides. How we score
“I used it for over a decade as my primary sharpener, but I grew frustrated with it.”— @jeremys64 on YouTube
“I used clamping type systems for years with mixed results, and the biggest pain was always the fiddly clamping systems used.”— @lanep4322 on YouTube
“I used it only twice. Messed up my blade a bit due to low strength grip of the jaws.”— @antaress8128 on YouTube
“For anyone considering this system - spend the extra money and get the Lansky Diamond sharpening system.”— @just9911 on YouTube
“It's cheap, flimsy, harder to use than it needs to be, and ends up costing more than superior systems once you manage to address it's major issues.”— @theKashConnoisseur on YouTube
“This clamp design is so bad, wish i looked for something more modern.”— @MynameisEGIS on YouTube
“Tried this Lansky system out a while back, and my experience was pretty bad with pretty much all my knives that weren't straight blade chef knives. Ended up returning it”— @bread8775 on YouTube
“The Lansky is a guided by-hand system, and the only one I've personally used. It's *fine* but I don't feel like I've ever gotten it down the way it's supposed to work. Namely, matching the angle is REALLY tough and flat out won't work on a lot of knives.”— Faloopa on Reddit
“I wanted to like the Lansky, I really did. But the clamp system is a pain in the ass, it takes too long to put it together and doesn't work very well or consistent on many knives.”— achwas on Reddit
“several of the ones I listed (including the lansky) have a nasty habit of leaving scratches on the blades.”— steve1673 on Reddit
“Had the same issues you experienced and went to freehand.”— @patkal3987 on YouTube
“I tried a Lansky Deluxe Sharpener with the diamond stones, and it wasn't very effective.”— No-Designer-1409 on Reddit
Not complaints — practical notes from owners that didn't affect the score.
“Oh I’ve already got a Lansky Deluxe set for most of my knives and a King stone for others.”— WhiteStripesWS6 on Reddit
“A bracket clamps to the knife and holds a rod (attached to the stone) at essentially a constant angle to the blade. It has some issues so I don't use it on the knives I really care about but it's good for really quickly bringing a beat knife back to a decently usable edge. I use my Lansky set on kitchen knives.”— kowalski71 on Reddit
“The Lansky Aluminum Oxide stones are certainly capable of cutting D2, the problem is that D2 wears them smooth in relatively short order.”— FullFrontalNoodly on Reddit
“If u want affordable angle help with freehand, get a King Deluxe 300, Sharpal 196N angle guides, and a Wedgek ceramic steel.”— RudeRook on Reddit
“First - you got the knife shaving sharp. What's the issue here?”— Vaugith on Reddit