Thread: Honing the Perfect Edge DVD Review

I just got finished watching Howard Schechter's new DVD Honing the Perfect Edge with Harrelson Stanely. This was an enjoyable and informative 45 minutes showing Harrelson applying his "side sharpening" plane honing techniques adapted to the straight razor. Harrelson's method is unique and I haven't tried it yet but I will. Howard and Harrelson are in an informal and what appears to be a non scripted setting. I particularly liked the non scripted aspect. Just a couple of guys getting together to hone a razor.

Using the Shapton GlassStone system Harrelson takes a W&B wedge to shave ready while Howard offers commentary and he and Harrelson engage in conversation on honing. The second part of the DVD has Harrelson doing his first straight razor shave with the newly honed W&B and a bit of coaching from Howard.

I was tempted to say poor Harrelson. As you can imagine the first shave isn't going to be that easy and Harrelson shows that he is a trooper and perseveres through it. Then Howard shaves with a Japanese razor and it ends with the two clean shaven gentlemen shaking hands.

I wasn't sorry I spent the twenty five bucks and the presentation was interesting enough that the 45 minutes seemed to go by in 10. I would say that for those who really enjoy honing razors this is a good buy. Harrelson's honing style is unorthodox and that is the most interesting aspect.

Harrelson once told ChrisL that he "puts his shoulder into it" when he flattens his glass stones and that he does. Harrelson apprenticed in Japan honing Japanese planes and is the USA importer for Shapton. Watching him apply his expertise to "our thing" was indeed interesting. Now I am going to try my hand at Harrelson's approach and see how I do with it.

I am not affiliated with either of these two gentlemen although I have had some enjoyable converstations with Howard and have bougt a couple of excellent hones from him. The DVD is available here for anyone interested.

I've seen the video on Harrelson's website showing his plane iron side sharpening technique. I wondered if he was going to adapt it to razor honing. Interesting to day the least; be sure to tell us how the technique works, Jimmy!

Chris L

I was just talking to Howard about hones the other day and he mentioned the DVD was in. Sounds interesting, especially since I may be getting my first S16k...