Thread: My "Water of Ayr" Scotch Hone

I would definitely buy a WOA hone. Approx 6 x1 or 6 x 2 size.
I just do not want another TOS. Simon took care of me on that already.
If someone can verify that it is a WOA of course.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

I would definitely buy a WOA hone. Approx 6 x1 or 6 x 2 size.
I just do not want another TOS. Simon took care of me on that already.
If someone can verify that it is a WOA of course.

What grit size do you estimate the WOA hone at? Is it a slow or fast cutter?

Originally Posted by Kees

What grit size do you estimate the WOA hone at? Is it a slow or fast cutter?

Good Morning Kees!

I have never used or seen a WOA stone so I cannot comment, but I definitely want one! It sounds like a finishing stone so 8k-10k????
Kind of like the Chinese 12K ( which is actually a 8-10k in terms of grit size) is what I am expecting.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Good Morning Kees!

I have never used or seen a WOA stone so I cannot comment, but I definitely want one! It sounds like a finishing stone so 8k-10k????
Kind of like the Chinese 12K ( which is actually a 8-10k in terms of grit size) is what I am expecting.

ITS MORE OF A FINISHING STONE....i have a combo one and i never use it...more a case of 'it would be nice to have' than a need to have..8-10 k is about right.

Don't know if you have seen my post in hones section, I'd say it's a TOS not a WoA.
I should ring Sutton and tell them they have the wrong descriptions on their site.
Well, I have a TOS now. Done a bid of bevel polishing with it, very shiney too

Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale

I should ring Sutton and tell them they have the wrong descriptions on their site.
Well, I have a TOS now. Done a bid of bevel polishing with it, very shiney too

The TOS is a great stone, depending on your sequence maybe even more useful in its way than the WOA.

If you do call Sutton go easy on 'em. Their description isn't really "wrong" per se because "Water of Ayr stone" was an official and accepted name for what's now called the Tam O'Shanter for much of that stone's history, and it continues to be a popular name for it. You see it referred to as such even in textbooks and encyclopedias.

At some point – I think it was the late 19th century, there's a thread about it somewhere – the mine officially gave the name "Water of Ayr stone" to the finer, darker, and much scarcer stone. Probably because of this very scarcity the name distinction didn't seem to catch on, and people just went on using both names for the more plentiful and familiar Tam.

Well Marcus, phoning once and getting him straight away was a miracle. Let us know when you manage to get a stone in your hand... Getting a stone is as hard as getting blood from one - I wish you the best of luck. I found picking them up at the mill was the best way - a short journey from Wales!
BTW did that dragons tongue ever arrive? Mine hasn't - must phone them.

cheers
Stephen

Originally Posted by coully

a few words here....DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH!!!...that is why i stopped selling them...best time to call the mine, tuesday AND THURSDAY morningS between 11.30 and 12.30....

I get free train travel, so I may resort to that
Still no sign of my Tongue.
There seems to be a common issue with these bloody stone suppliers, I wonder if thats what killed off straights the first time around?

I have got a stone out of them. I ordered a DB, but he sent me a TOS/WoA combo by mistake
He did ring to warn me though!
My DB hasn't turned up yet.
The TOS side of the combo is softer, coarser and much more speckled than the 6x1 TOS I got from sutton tools. The 6x1 is much lighter in colour too.
The WoA stone is very dark grey almost black with a couple of even darker spots.

Well done Marcus - you must have caught him at the right moment!! He is a card indeed...

What you need to do now is see if you can get a bulk order (OK 10 or so) from him and do a SRP UK special sale at the Brum meet in September. Get them sent to me and I'll take them down - pre orders welcomed. Maybe he likes the sound of your voice better - I gave up after 3 stones...