Thread: Tam O Shanter

I won this one 2 days ago: victorian tam o shanter scotch hone dated 1885 on eBay (end time 28-Feb-11 09:24:47 GMT)

If you have one: how do you get on with your vintage Scotch hone?

Nice grab! I've wanted a TOS for some time now, but have been unable to get one.

I've done a bunch of digging into old posts, and the consensus seems to be that they are around 6k and quite slow/gentle. I believe they were something of a hot hone back in the day, but seem rather ignored more recently.

They usually fetch much higher bids so I guess I was lucky.

Recently this one went for nearly 3 times as much: RARE OLD MAUCHLINE WARE SCOTCH HONE - eBay, Boxes, Woodenware, Antiques. (Eindtijd 24-feb-11 19:37:30 CET)

I guess because its box is in better condition.

They are nice hones and work well with a slurry. I've had a number of them and still have a Tam/WOA combo that I like a lot. Dunno about the grit range, probably what Dylan said is close on average. Certainly no less than 6 and maybe 8. Joe Chandler posted that he liked to use them on blades if they began micro chipping on other hones. Very cool to get one in the vintage case like that , and as you said, a great price.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

They are nice hones and work well with a slurry.

Don't say that: you're fuelling my TOSAD! I need a 2nd!

Of course you will need a Dalmore Blue and a Water of Ayr. The TOS is the middle hone in the Scotch Hone triligy.

I've been seeking a nice WOA for some time and missed one recently that showed up in the classifieds.

I have a mint TOS with slurry, It is around 8k, and it is good for blades that micro chip.
Here's some pics...

Something I've found interesting about the Tams is the different shades of color I've seen with them. They all have the little dots that gave them the 'snakeskin' nickname but some of them are very light in color, others very dark and others in between. I haven't noticed any difference in how one or another works but find the variations interesting.

I should have mentioned, The pic of the stone with the label, has lacquer on it. Here is a pic of the honing suface....