Norton IM200 -8" Three Stone Sharpening System - Fine India, Medium Crystolon, and Coarse Crystolon stones

A feature too far?
Bought this as a rank amateur, who'd heard professional chefs talking about their Tri-Stones. Dissatisfied with results from 'easy-use' sharpeners, and tired of sending my knives out for sharpening, I hoped this would give me the ability to have knives sharp as the Iron Chefs' whenever I wanted them.

Okay, there's obviously a learning curve I'm only partway through. Sometimes I get an edge that thrills me with its razor-sharpness; sometimes it seems I've dulled rather than improved it. Suggested sharpening techniques vary somewhat depending on the source--I've gotten better results following other experts' advice on YouTube than trying to follow the written directions provided with this product. But again, lacking any particular proficiency, I may simply have chanced to execute a little better when trying one technique instead of another.

One thing two years of use have convinced me: There's no particular advantage to having three stones on a rotating block...

Good system
This is the first knife sharpening system I have used, but I am quite impressed. My knives were becoming quite dull and when I first got this, I ran my knives across the course grit many times, then to the medium, then to the fine. My knives were noticeably sharper, but not as sharp as I would have liked. I used my knives for a couple of weeks, then pulled this back out and sharpened again on the medium, then to fine. Now my knives were quite sharp. This system does appear to have a learning curve if you have never freehand sharpened a knife before. I do believe that once I get the hang of this system, it will be so worth the money. You can sharpen your knife at any angle you would like.

The guide included in the system isn't very good. To use it, you leave the guide at one end, align the knife and then simulate cutting a thin slice off the stone. You don't want to use much pressure, but you do need to keep the knife at a consistent angle. I think I kept a much...

Perfect stone for your house
I am a professionally trained chef, used to sharpening my blades on industry quality tri-stones. This one has worked out fantastically for my house, has a great sized well for mineral oil, and doesnt slide as long as you have all four of the rubber things on the bottom. Unfortunately, the one I received only had three rubber stoppers for the bottom, otherwise I would have rated this five stars. A damp cloth works well as a substitute for the rubber dohiggamajiggers.

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