Thread: Smith

I have the Smith "tri hone" system I use for my knifes. It will and does give a shaving (on my arm) edge to a knife. Is it good enough to use on a straight? Do I need to go even finer? These are oil stones, everyone here talks about water stones.

Should I even think about using this on a razor?

They don't look nearly fine enough to achieve a good finish for a razor. Do you know what grit the finest stone is? Either way, I don't think I know of anyone here who uses any kind of Arkansas stone to finish a razor with. The shave would be less than comfortable.

The only thing I can find in the paper work is that the "fine" stone is "2000 grit". I don't know more than that.

i am no expert at honing but i've surfed the forums long enough to know that 2000 grit is not enough. i believe that everyone will say you need atleast 8000 grit and most people would recomend the Norton 4000/8000 stone. There are other choices of course including coticules and shapton stones or i believe the spyderco ultra fine. i'm too lazy to include links. and if you feel 8000 grit is not enough you can get 16k, i think 32k is just too much and not worth the price. anyway... my .02...someone more reputable is sure to post after me :P




ugh...i talk too much

If your razor is shave-ready all you need is a coticule unless you damage the edge in whch case a Norton 4K/8K is the hone you want. Every else you buy is more for fun than necessity.
2K is way to low a grit: just about right to set a bevel on a damaged razor.

Most of this is in the the posts above but I will try and put it all together for you BTW it was great chatting with you last night in the Tuesday Chat !!!

No brand names just grit ranges


800-2k Bevel Setters (also keep in mind that the oil stones do not cut the same as the water stones)

3k-6k Sharpening stones - these do most of the work and get the razor sharp

7k-9k Polish stones - these refine the edge from a sharp edge to a shaving edge

10k and above Finish stones - these impart the Wow factor to the edge, the smoooooooth,

Not all of these are needed but most are wanted