Waraho Water Razor Hone?

I've just bought one of these stones on ebay and wondered if anyone else had any experience with them. I know that when I've asked about other unknown stones in the past the fact that I've been unable to post pictures has been something of a hindrance, and whilst I still can't use my Digital Camera I can provide a link to the auction which does include pictures SHARPENING STONE on eBay (end time 28-Jun-09 15:29:39 BST) and if someone who, unlike me, knows what they're doing could post the pictures here I would be most appreciative.

On to the specifics. The box is marked The "Waraho" Water Razor Hone. There is a number in the top right corner, and the bottom line reads British Manufacture (as do both sides of the box) and Price 1/6 Each. The rest of the text isn't entirely legible but the gist of it is the usual warning about not using the stone with oil and under that it reads, " This Hone has been produced to meet the demand for an inexpensive yet effective Hone." The stone itself has labels on either end that read "Waraho Water Hone" and underneath that "British Manufacture"

The stone is a dark gey- black colour, is quite heavy for it's size (heavier than an 8"x 2" Thuringen) and is very smooth with no discernable grain. It feels just like a freshly- lapped Thuringen stone,glass- like, although I've not lapped this one just yet.

So is anyone familiar with this type of stone?

Kindest regards,
Alex

it could be escher or thuringian etc just they put manufacture and name differently. i have seen similar cases. Now i really don't know what is your stone look like and understand you can't post better picture. after getting it just try to use and see the result . You may get surprised . gl.
Don't forget let us HAD sick people to know how it works.

I've played around with this stone a little, not enough to draw any firm conclusions but it's certainly an interesting stone. Usually, I clean all new stones with Vulpex Liquid Soap and a certain brand of Lint Free Wipes that are used to clean Industrial Lapping Plates. These wipes are usually very resilient, I've cleaned Lapping Equipment as low as 600 grit with these and they hold up very well, this Waraho stone is the first hone ever to tear these wipes to shreds. I did notice that the sides are much coarser than the top and bottom, so despite not showing any signs of use it may very well have been lapped by a previous owner. I lapped the stone on a succession of 600, 1200, 1800, 2400 and 3000 grit lapping plates. These plates are guaranteed to be flat within one bandwave of light, but I didn't bother checking this with a micrometer. This stone lapped easily enough, and whilst denser than Thuringen stones it wasn't a problem to lap it. The already smooth surface imroved after the 2400 and 3000 grit plate and I was left with a honing surface as smooth as glass. I've only tried three razors on it so far, 2 Sheffileds and a waterville, and this is a fast cutting stone that imparts a decent enough edge, as an estimate I'd place it in a grit range of 12-15k. The Waterville seemed to like it more than the Sheffileds but all three blades took a decent enough edge off of this stone alone.

Kindest regards,
Alex

Quote:

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Originally Posted by A_S

I lapped the stone on a succession of 600, 1200, 1800, 2400 and 3000 grit lapping plates. These plates are guaranteed to be flat within one bandwave of light, but I didn't bother checking this with a micrometer.

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showoff :rant:

I have a large glass plate out of the bottom of a refrigerator I saw on the side of the road. :(

so do we know where this thing really came from?
can we have more pics?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

showoff :rant:

I have a large glass plate out of the bottom of a refrigerator I saw on the side of the road. :(

so do we know where this thing really came from?
can we have more pics?

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I may have access to fancy lapping equipment, but I have no clue how to use a Digital Camera or post pictures so I'm afraid the auction photos are the best I can do. I'm trying my best to make sense of my most recent camera, but cameras have a history of "unfortunate" accidents when I get frustrated with them.

As far as the origins of the stone, I'm thinking Sham is on the right track in hypothesising it might be a Thuringen. The lapped surfaces feel almost identical to the Thuringens I have, and the freshly lapped sides have the same soft, silky sheen to them that a Thuringen will have after being lapped. The only things that threw me are the fact that the stone is heavier than any other Thuringen I have and it cuts much more quickly, but this could be attributed to natural variation.

Trading standards laws weren't so hot way back when, so I doubt that the British manufacture stickers mean much. However, all Ratisbon and Thuringen stones that I have seen, always identify themselves as German hones, no doubt due to the high regard in which they were held. So maybe the fact that the Warahone box makes no reference to Germany indicates that it came from elsewhere?

So this is just a long-winded way of saying I have no idea where the stone actually originated from.

Kindest regards,
Alex

Quote:

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Originally Posted by A_S

I may have access to fancy lapping equipment, but I have no clue how to use a Digital Camera or post pictures so I'm afraid the auction photos are the best I can do. I'm trying my best to make sense of my most recent camera, but cameras have a history of "unfortunate" accidents when I get frustrated with them.


Alex

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http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ry:Photography

I cant tell for sure from looking at the pics, but could it be one of those similar to a Dragon Tongue type of hone. If it is of British manufacture, and if it is very dak, it does have the possibility. Just a thought.

I have no idea of the vintage

but there were a couple of times in recent history where things of German origin saw a sharp decline in desirability.

I've actually seen a straight that specified
"Made in USA"
"NOT MADE IN GERMANY!"

Also got a Waraho last week, text reads as follow:

[left]
Registered Trademark "Waraho"
[right]
No. 1.
[middle]
The "Waraho" water Razor Hone

Text: Precaution
Oil & Grease must not be used on this hone. Water only nescessary.

This Hone has been produced to meet the demands of an inexpensive yet effective hone.

[left]
British manufacture.
[right]
Price 1/10 1/2 each.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/...47160c_c_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/...da17fb_c_d.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8673/...53bd0e_c_d.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7404/...a81531_c_d.jpg

Sebastian, what are your thoughts on it being an unlabeled Thuri, as some of these fellows have purposed? Your photos seem to show a little peppery/speckly pattern on the surface, is that right?

I could be misinterpreting but I think they might have been marketed as a cheaper alternative to the German water hones AKA Thuringians.

It would be interesting to compare the original prices back then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eKretz

Sebastian, what are your thoughts on it being an unlabeled Thuri, as some of these fellows have purposed? Your photos seem to show a little peppery/speckly pattern on the surface, is that right?

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I will do further testing this evening, from the first look its seems not be like thutingian Material, slurry is darker nearly brown/blackish...

I will add some slurry shots and pattern/surface comparison, also it seems there have been purple variants of the Waraho...

It seems there have been also different types of stones around, this one doesnt look like mine and i think not like a thuringian stone:

http://photobucket.com/images/waraho...11240746136509

As mentioned before here is the test i did. actually i have to change my previous statement...

The Waraho has a certain slaty pattern, but just from the look and from the slurry i created from the stones i cannot rule out a thuringian Stone. So it seems as mentioned before that there were different types of stones used for the Waraho Trademark, the one i own could well be a thuringian Stone!!

From left to right:
Faso, Waraho, unlabelled DB Thuri

Detail wet/dry:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8669/...d9c7f0_c_d.jpg

Dry:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/...184a05_c_d.jpg

Wet:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/...d3db0c_c_d.jpg

Slurry created 10xDMT:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/...354146_c_d.jpg

Slurry created 20xDMT:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/...2de14a_c_d.jpg

I just picked the Faso as a comparison as this one also has a slaty pattern and a comparable darkness in color as the Waraho has...

the slurry smells exactly the same and even coloration and look with 10x / 20x slurry created with a DMT looks the same.

Due to these factors its really hard to rule out the theory that in some cases the Waraho might be a re-branded thuringian Stone...

Interesting. Thank you for the further test results!

Sebastian, could this possibly be a relabeled Silkstone?

Silkstones

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eKretz

Sebastian, could this possibly be a relabeled Silkstone?

Silkstones

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Eric i personally dont think so, as mentioned i cant tell for 100% that this one is a Thuri.......i own a Silkstone and the stone is somewhat harder and smells totally different....

I tried to smell the slurry of all three stones i did test, the smell was always the same....

Gotcha. Have you tried a shave from this one yet?

https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4707...b64_b65c239b_L
https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4404...b66_bb541e51_L

Wa(ter) Ra(zor) Ho(ne) = WARAHO? That name suits many razor hones.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by doorsch

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7404/...a81531_c_d.jpg

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Shame it does not have a label reading Yellow/Green on the long end.

On the side is written Waraho hone. I was lapping one yesterday and it had it on both ends.
From what I have seen it looks smells and behave like softer Thuri. I will neeed to look for another one somewhere in my collection what will be on that one.

That is a thuringian hone, use it and enjoy.

As I am thining my collection due to movin to new house the enjoyment will be probably someone elses.