Skip to content
MAC 8 1/2 in Black Ceramic Honing Rod with Grooves (SRB-84)

MAC 8 1/2 in Black Ceramic Honing Rod with Grooves (SRB-84)

By MAC · Knife Sharpening · Kitchen & Cooking

  • Black ceramic rod, length 8.5 in
  • Medium surface, approximately 2000 grit
  • Two grooved sides for faster honing, two smooth sides

Price not listed

Stores are listed in a fixed order, never by price or commission. Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

The MAC SRB-84 is an 8.5-inch black ceramic honing rod with two grooved sides and two smooth sides for maintaining hard Japanese knives. Check the groove criticism before you buy: one experienced owner reports the grooved sides caused micro-fractures on test knives.

Strengths

  • Shock-absorbing steel-core construction survived drops in owner reports that broke other ceramic rods.
  • Two-sided design gives grooved sides for neglected edges and smooth sides for regular touch-ups.
  • Approximately 2000 grit surface suits edge maintenance between sharpenings on hard Japanese steels.
  • Flush end cap reduces catching and lets you stabilize the tip on a cutting board.
  • Lifetime replacement coverage for broken ceramic offsets fragility concerns.

Weaknesses

  • One experienced owner reports the grooved sides caused micro-fractures and damaged test knives.
  • Ceramic can break or chip if dropped or knocked hard, and is not indestructible.
  • Metal filings build up on the ceramic surface and must be cleaned or honing degrades.
  • No instrumented independent test of this exact model was found in major roundups.
  • MAC publishes no weight, diameter, overall length, or care instructions for this model.

Verified specifications

ModelSRB-84.
Rod length8 1/2 in.
Gritmedium, approximately 2000 grit.
Surfacestwo grooved sides for more aggressive honing and two smooth sides; rotate the rod 90 degrees to switch.
Constructionblack ceramic over a steel core with rubber in between for shock absorption.
End caprubberized plastic end cap, flush with the rod diameter; tip stabilizes the rod against a cutting board.
Material claimblack ceramic described as harder than traditional white ceramic; marketed for harder Japanese steel knives with higher Rockwell hardness.
Functionhones and realigns the edge; does not replace sharpening.
Country of manufactureTaiwan.
UPC854911000709.
Warrantylifetime replacement if the ceramic breaks; return the damaged rod.
Separate linewhite ceramic SR-85 rods are a separate product at 1200 grit.
Full research notes and sources

Sources

Related products