Jaret Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Been searching the net, only coming up with the smaller waterwheel types. What are the large wheels that the Japanese use, the ones where they sit down, kick back, and relax while they buff and sharpen away? Thanks Jaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 All the traditional japanese sword stones I have seen are flat and not wheels. The reciprocating action is provided by the person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaret Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 (edited) i mean the big white ones that the guy sits at as it spins. spinning i have seen both vertical and horizontal. Much like the one in this pic. J. Edited March 17, 2009 by Jaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 OK I thought that you were interested in the sword ones being in this section rather than the tool sharpening ones. BTW the ones used in Sheffield England for knifemaking were more on the order of 8' in diameter so that's still a pretty small one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaret Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 Do you know what they would be called? Been searching google, and can't seem to get a match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Well, I can tell you where there are a dozen or so 4' dia ones sitting in a river just below the old anvil manufacturing works in Columbus OH. When they wore down to that small they used to roll them into the river for "fun". I found them after talking with an oldster who used to work there who told me when they shut the place down there was a line of anvils along the top of the bank. I was checking just in case any of them had dropped into the river. No sign of them and way too much industrial scrap around to be able to use a metal detector; but I did find the old sandstone grinding wheels. I moved 1500 miles before we could figure a way out to recover them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Over here most of the worn out grindstones from the tool factories were split into thinner sections and sold on to farmers and other individuals to use for sharpening. Every now and then I come across a 2' stone and try to persuade the owner to part with it, but they always prefer to look at a mouldy slab in a rusty frame than spend the cash I offer :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmagoolew Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think you'll find any stones like that over here. The TRUE japanese water stones that I have seen, the rectangular ones that Tom Powers was talking about, are hundreds of dollars each. One of those wheels, if you could get it, would probably be tens of thousands of dollars. The flat ones are quarried out of the mountains in Japan, and graded for size and quality. The ones I've seen are about 2" X 3" X 10" and they start out at about $400 for cheaper stones. I even doubt if you could get one directly from Japan, as the quarries are running out of stone that is good quality. The Japanese are saving the stone for themselves, and that is why you are seeing the synthetic stones showing up. Lew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 There is not particuliar reason to be enamored of the japanese or anyone elses grindstones. The synthetic stones are cheaper and of better quality. The problem is affording any stone in good condition that is of an real size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 I got this one from a good friend, I am going to add a water drip setup and put a LOW RPM motor on it soon hopefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chosenfrozen Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I`ve spent just over six years in Japan so far. The only round stones I`ve ever seen were synthetics from Sweden. Everyone uses flat rectangular stones. My first post!Whoo Hoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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