Opinions on this hone (Smith's TRI-6)?

[bmc1979]

Ok, so I just bought my first two straights on B/S/T and am looking at purchasing the basics to get me started. While looking on Amazon I found this: http://www.amazon.com/TRI-6-Arkansa...System/dp/B00062BIT4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

It's made by Smith's and is called the TRI-6 Arakansas TRI HONE. Each stone is 6" x 15/8" x 3/8". There's a course synthetic stone, a medium grit Arkansas stone and a fine grit Arkansas stone. Being that I have no experience with this at all, I'm just wondering if this would be a good starting point for a hone or should I just put the money into a barbers hone or a Norton 4k/8k to begin with. Thanks for any input and putting up with my lack of knowledge.

 

[michiganlover]

I am intrigued by that, as the method of holding the stones looks quite attractive.

I would be reluctant to use it with a really nice straight without knowing the individual grits of each hone before hand though.

Still for the cost, you could experiment on a cheap junker straight.

 

[shavewithbigelow]

I have that same hone and would not recommend it for razors. You probably can use the finest stone for bevel setting, but there are so many better and faster stones out there. The medium is a soft Arkansas and the fine is a hard. That being said it is an excellent little set for sharpening knives. It is my "go-to" for for those, but not for razors.

 

[bmc1979]

I have that same hone and would not recommend it for razors. You probably can use the finest stone for bevel setting, but there are so many better and faster stones out there. The medium is a soft Arkansas and the fine is a hard. That being said it is an excellent little set for sharpening knives. It is my "go-to" for for those, but not for razors.

Thanks for that. From the reviews it was all about knives so i was wondering if it'd be ok for straights. Now I know. Thanks again.

Looks like I'll be heading over to WTB to put up a post.