Thread: Smiths tri stone

Originally Posted by ace

I purchased the tri-hone setup two months ago, but my intention was to sharpen my pocket knives with it. It works fine for pocket knives, is inexpensive and convenient. I haven't considered using the coarse stone for anything, but I might give it a try as a bevel setter to allow me to set a bevel with less pressure than I've found necessary with my 220 and 1K Nortons. After breadknifing (the only part of honing at which I am currently proficient), I've had to spend hours on either the 220 or the 1K with no pressure. I usually get impatient with the time that takes and start using pressure to get the bevel set more quickly. Doing that has produced poor results and ugly bevels, so I may try the coarse stone tomorrow and move up from there to the 600 and switch over at at that point to the 1K Norton. Given my results so far, it's worth a try.

It is your technique not the stones, you are trying to cut a "Pre-bevel" after the bread-knifing, which is another restoration trick, by using honing techniques and you need a whole different approach...
It honestly takes less than 6 minutes to do that when you do it correctly...
there is an actual Vid of me cutting one at the Spokane meet....
It takes HOURS of honing to cut a "Pre-bevel" it takes minutes when done correctly and you will get an even bevel...

Breadknifing is for extreme restoration not honing a razor!!! and often times I regret writing that thread because now that it has been added to the Wiki much of the original intent has been lost...

Ok everyone I wasn't trying to start any type Of argument. I had just noticed a tri stone setup at Lowes that's all. I obviously see that it's not a good choice for razors. After this thread it looks like I'll be going with the norton combo set at SRD. Thanks for all the input everyone.

Not to worry Josh, we all like the Discussions that come out of these threads and often times we learn from them...

I know I do anyway...

Originally Posted by joshb1000

Ok everyone I wasn't trying to start any type Of argument. I had just noticed a tri stone setup at Lowes that's all. I obviously see that it's not a good choice for razors. After this thread it looks like I'll be going with the norton combo set at SRD. Thanks for all the input everyone.

Good thing you brought it up. Otherwise you might have spent $30.00 that you can now put towards your wise decision to buy the Norton set. As gssixgun said, "Discussions that come out of these threads and often times we learn from them..."

I hope that those who are new to honing and have read this thread will also learn that breadknifing, the nuclear option, is not a honing technique. Some say it is a restoration technique. I learned the hard way that it is not a technique at all but a mistake. Sometimes looking for an easier softer way ends up being double hard.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Not hardcore, that stone is what I was told I needed, I didn't know better, there was no SRP back then... I did 40 or so laps on that stone using honing oil evey week or so and it kept my two razors shaving .... Life was simple...

Washitas of that grade are actually very hard to find according to Richard Hall. I think you made a good investment because that particular stone is no longer mined. It is his favorite stone for knives and has a following among some tool sharpeners too as it was considered a fast stone in it's day. I prefer synthetics for tools at that level.