FWIW @Legion - this appears to be M10's homegrown, all-Australian, take on Simple Green. It's not quite as concentrated as SG I don't think, but seems to be doing the job on (at least some of) my stones:
Washita Thread. Show off, discuss, etc.
- Thread starter SliceOfLife
- Start date
FWIW @Legion - this appears to be M10's homegrown, all-Australian, take on Simple Green. It's not quite as concentrated as SG I don't think, but seems to be doing the job on (at least some of) my stones:
How's the price compare?
Oh interesting!
What about ash from lumpwood charcoal? Should be the same, right? It's made from hardwood I think... I've got feck loads of that the entire time off the egg bbq.
Think I paid $25 for 4L the other day.
That’d make sense... this is a bit more dilute than the proper concentrated SG stuff, so probably doesn’t go as far / needs refreshing sooner.
Slim pickings on Ausbay of late, but this nice 6x2 arrived today. Quite obviously a Washita in the pics, though @Legion let me have at it, so I was the only bidder.
SG atm is 2.42, but given the look, feel and translucency of it - I expect this will end up mid to high 2.3s. Popped out of the box and the underside wasn't used, so will be good to go later...
SG atm is 2.42, but given the look, feel and translucency of it - I expect this will end up mid to high 2.3s. Popped out of the box and the underside wasn't used, so will be good to go later...
I bet you love that one.
Beautiful. These are certainly the coolest type of whetstone, always make me think of a boiled translucent when peering into the structure. People might pay the most for lily whites but this is the most unique. I highly doubt anyone will ever mine a stone like this out of the ground again.
I have a couple and they are indeed unlike any other stone. My no 1 is half as fast but about as fine. I think they are far older than the Pike/norton Washita but have no proof for that.
It is indeed another gem this one, most of my favourite Washitas have tended to look like this. I'd rate it around average in terms of coarse/fine, and on the faster side of medium. A slightly harder stone than the previous one I posted on this thread, with seemingly larger pores.
They're fantastic. I took one of my old ones out today and made it look about like yours. I didn't need to take off quite as much steel. I did slurry it with a diamond plate and was pleased. After various slates I was having trouble putting teeth back on a couple work knives(that need aggressive edges) without wrecking my hands. Washita slurry is cool stuff and not something I've tested too much.
Just unpacked this tonight.
It was advertised as a Washita, but clearly a dual-hone. I am hoping a Washita-India, but will need some cleaning to figure it out. Some flaking on the white side and a few chips so will need some effort to get back into shape. No significant dishing. I admit that I was particularly attracted by the box, which has no label on the outside, but a Pike label on the inside mentioning Sperm Oil. I suppose it might not be the original box, but the stone does fit pretty snugly. There are some nails that have been added. I’ve not seen that before so not sure if they are original or added later.
It was advertised as a Washita, but clearly a dual-hone. I am hoping a Washita-India, but will need some cleaning to figure it out. Some flaking on the white side and a few chips so will need some effort to get back into shape. No significant dishing. I admit that I was particularly attracted by the box, which has no label on the outside, but a Pike label on the inside mentioning Sperm Oil. I suppose it might not be the original box, but the stone does fit pretty snugly. There are some nails that have been added. I’ve not seen that before so not sure if they are original or added later.
What an interesting stone! The India x Washita combi certainly did exist pre Norton, though they were usually labelled as such from what I've seen, and I don't know of them being that small - they were usually 7 or 8".
Also - 'use sperm oil' is quite an old label. Perhaps @timwcic can weigh in with some more precise dates, but I would have thought pre 1890 ish(?). Norton* only developed synthetic manufacture of Corundum (i.e. Alundum or India stones) in the 1890s I believe. So if the box is original and from before that then it's not going to be an India stone as we know them today.
I don't know if they produced whetstones from natural corundum grit before that though. That would be seriously cool if it was something like that. Really look forward to seeing what comes out after a cleanup...
* India stones were were invented and always manufactured by Norton Abrasives, but sold under licence by Pike.
Once you start cleaning you might find it to be a single stone with a line from the box lip collecting swarf! I've cleaned up a few stones like that. Hard to tell from the photos however.
Also make sure you source some sperm oil before using it!
This would have been my initial thought from the pics. But I know @2bit_collie has had a fair few old Washitas (including a lovely Norton No.1 he sent recently in a swap), so could probably tell if it was that.
I'm betting duel hone in the sense that it has a gunky side and a cleaner side.
@cotedupy may be giving me too much credit! 
I have owned a few Washita, but I have never owned any stone as dirty as this guy. It is in degreaser now, will let everyone know the outcome. However this photo does make it seem that the half-dirty stone guess may be correct. Note the similar colors in the two chips on opposite sides of the stone. The big chip on the clean side may have been there from the beginning with the result that the stone was only ever used on one side. For the record, the stone is 5-7/8 x 1-7/8 x 1inch, though it seems like the rock experts all could figure that out just by looking at it.
I have owned a few Washita, but I have never owned any stone as dirty as this guy. It is in degreaser now, will let everyone know the outcome. However this photo does make it seem that the half-dirty stone guess may be correct. Note the similar colors in the two chips on opposite sides of the stone. The big chip on the clean side may have been there from the beginning with the result that the stone was only ever used on one side. For the record, the stone is 5-7/8 x 1-7/8 x 1inch, though it seems like the rock experts all could figure that out just by looking at it. @cotedupy may be giving me too much credit!
Ah yeah - that's definitely all the same stone isn't it. Sweet! 6x2s are the best. Dunno why, but probably my favourite size for Washitas
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timwcic
"Look what I found"
Nice score, 100% Washita from the late 19th century. IMO, it’s 1/2 dirty and the swarf line fades out in the circled area. The nails are not OEM. The heads are modern, probably a mid century repair to give it some extra character
