It works really well! I used to oilstone (or Lansky) everything to get nice V grinds, but you ended with your hands covered in nicks and dirty hone oil.. The mouse mat thing works really well and having the 'station' cuts out mess almost totally. I just use a damp tissue to wipe up the 'paper dust and that's it. I now have the sharpest knife I've ever had... (I am self confessed 'sharpening challenged'!)