ANNOUNCING OUR NEW RAZORS AND WATERSTONES! WE SPENT MUCH OF 2011 DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING OUR TPE RAZORS and WATERSTONES. The razors are available in 5/8 and 6/8 in black and in white scales. The designs draw on the classical lines of Wade & Butcher and the Torrey Co. of Worcester, MA. The metallurgy comes from our background in bladesmithing and focused on producing an edge that is easy to hone and retains sharpness for a long time. Email us at hschechter@theperfectedge.com or call at 508-769-7962.  Prices are $129 for the razors and the red medium grit (~3000 - 4000 grit) stone is $99 while the white finishing hone (~8000grit) is $149.

    This precision, locking oiler contains 1oz of medical/therapeutic grade Camellia Oil. It will put a fraction of a drop at the pivot point of a razor to keep that area lubricated and rust free (a problem we noted over the years with razors sent to us for honing and with vintage razors in general). The idea is to put just enough oil there without it migrating and making a mess. $5.95 per oiler or 3 for $16.00 (they're so handy we keep one in the medicine chest, one on the honing bench, and one on the tool bench.   The 2 Hone Solution with DMT Lapping Plate $285.00   This will handle straight razors, plane irons, knives, kitchen cutlery, etc.

CALL US AT 508-769-7962 TO ORDER OVER THE PHONE AND TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HONING NEEDS.

Shapton Glass Waterstones. The Shapton Glass Waterstones are the stones we use every day to hone razors and other cutting implements sent to us from around the world. The Shapton stones are really part of a system that is highly engineered to deliver the most accurate and sharpest edge available. The Shapton system consists of the stones, the Diamond Glass Lapping Plate (DGLP), the Stone Holder, and the Pond. They all work together to produce consistent and reliable edges. Click on the Shapton button on the left side of the screen to see more. While supplies last our DVD, "Honing the Perfect Edge" will be included free with every Shapton package deal! This DVD, professionally produced as a joint project between The Perfect Edge and Shapton USA will guide you through the correct usage of the Shapton stones.  - Howard

HOW TO ORDER: Go to the "Stuff for Sale" button and ordering instructions are on that page. Free shipping on orders greater than $100 in the U.S. only.   We do ship internationally so please email for shipping quote.  To pay by Paypal, go to http://www.paypal.com/ and Send Money to: hschechter@theperfectedge.com   Please remember to add 3% to help cover the paypal costs if in the U.S. and 4% if outside the U.S.

Straight Razor Beginner's Kit: we have a large supply of vintage straight razors. We will clean them up for you and hone them to 30000 grit. Example: an excellent make such as Wade & Butcher would be $60.00 while an American brand such as Geneva would be $40. We will include a strop for you to keep your razor sharp for an additional $16. This is a great way to get into straight razor shaving without making too much of a dollar commitment. Shipping is $7 in the U.S.

HONING RAZORS: We will hone your straight razor for $18 plus $5 shipping. We hone it out to 30000 grit on Shapton stones and you will never have to wonder what "sharp" means! Ever again!

Straight Edges. Machinist Grade. This is a tool for ensuring flatness of your hones or other tools. It looks like a very high ruler but it's not. It is 12" long, 1 5/16" wide, and 3/16" thick. It's beveled on one edge as a rule with etched graduations at 1/40" every inch. Use it by standing it up on edge on your stone, plane sole, etc. and shining a light through from behind. If you put one of your hairs under one end, you'll see how much one hair's width can make a difference! We have a limited supply for $24 plus $7 shipping or it can be included with additional items for no extra cost.

Vintage Horsehide Strops. We have a limited supply of New, Old Stock (NOS) Russo (made in Fitchburg, MA) strops in excellent condition. They are $35 with a linen strop.  I have several linen only strops for $14. We also have other strops such as the innovative horsehide Page strop which can strop double edged razor blades as well as straight razors. $25 plus $5 shipping. Call about other vintage strops. 508-769-7962.

PRICE NOTICE: Prices on Belgian coticules have risen significantly. The Belgians tell me they are having to go deeper and deeper to get the Select grade which is the only grade we buy. The deeper the mine, the greater the costs and thus, the product price has risen.  I do have 8x3, 8x2, 6x2, 4x2, and bout stones.  There are also a few natural combination stones in stock.  Call  or email for availability as it's changing daily. 508-769-7962.  hschechter@theperfectedge.com

SHAPTONS: The Shaptons are what I am now using to hone customers' razors, scissors, and knives. The shave from a razor honed out to 30,000 grit is amazing. No natural stone comes close to 30,000 grit or even 16,000 grit. I test the razors on the back of my hand and the razor literally wipes the hair off. I often have a completely bald left hand! Using the techniques in the DVD below, I don't even use a strop after the 30,000 grit stone as I "joint" the edge on the 30,000 Shapton and that has the same effect as stropping a blade. The folks who come to the shop and see this and test the blade first get a really broad grin and then start to giggle. It's THAT good.

The new DVD is in! It's called "Honing the Perfect Edge" and features myself and Harrelson Stanley demonstrating some new techniques for honing straight razors. It's $21 plus $4 shipping anywhere in the U.S.  Suitable for Shapton users as well as non-Shapton users due to the techniques demonstrated. Paypal $25 to hschechter@theperfectedge.com.

Howard's newest book "Survival Kits, Ditch Bags, and Attache Cases" is in it's THIRD edition due to the review by noted writer Steve Dick in the January 2009 edition of "Tactical Knives" magazine. The book is about building survival kits for everyday people to keep on them, in the car, garage, house, boat, etc.  This book is not another "how to build fires in the wilderness" book but a compendium of field tested products personally used in the northern woods, jungles, deserts, and on the ocean. It has new information not found elsewhere and honing is treated especially well as you might expect!  The book is $20 and $5 shipping anywhere in the U.S. Paypal $25 to hschechter@theperfectedge.com. 

The Perfect Edge has been a Certified Shapton Dealer  since 7/08 and carries the full line of Shapton Japanese Ceramic Glass stones, holders, ponds, and lapping stone.  For ordering information, contact Howard at 508-842-7132 9am - 5pm M - F eastern time or email at hschechter@theperfectedge.com. Free shipping on orders greater than $100 in the U.S. only. We do ship internationally so please email for a shipping price.

STROPS. In response to inquiries for less costly strops, we have developed a line of strops called, Howard's Perfect Edge Strops. the first strop is the  QuickStrop which is a cowhide strop about 22" long and 2" wide with a hook on one end and a handle on the other end.  At $15 per strop, these can be used as natural leather strops (hanging) or pasted strops.  A 2 1/2" wide strop is $25. Custom sizes - widths or lengths - can be ordered.  Talk to Howard at 508-842-7132 9am - 5pm eastern time or email at hschechter@theperfectedge.co

Diamond Tapered Cones. Sharpening curved steel requires a tapered cone. This wooden boxed set of 3 tapered honing cones (Fine, 600 grit) will cover a wide range of curves on recurve knives, gouges, woodturning tools, etc.   $80.00

We are now carrying DMT Diamond Shim Stock which is in 2"x3" sheets. It is in 325, 600, and 1200 grit and the stock is about .008" thick. It is flexible so you can make curved grinding tools for specific applications such as inside corners or shoulders. Use it freehand or by mounting on a stick or other tool.  $18 per sheet.

***FLATTENING/LAPPING SERVICE***  Sharpening stones often do not come flat enough from the manufacturer and this can interfere with one's desire to hone on a flat surface. We will flatten your hones for $5 per surface and they will be flat enough for straight razor honing. Remember to mention this to us when ordering if desired.

We are devoted to sharpening and honing anything made of metal. Our background is in the metal and woodworking crafts and we sell what we use for our own projects. We carry only the finest sharpening products that will help you in your quest for The Perfect Edge.

Our Belgian whetstones are the finest natural stones in the world due to a unique geological makeup. The secret is the garnet content. The yellow coticule stones contain from 30% - 40% garnet and the blue stones contain 20% - 30% garnet. Garnet is harder than any steel and will sharpen high speed steels, stainless steels, and tool steels equally well. They cut steel fast!

Use these stones by applying water and raising an "abrasive milk" or slurry. A slurry stone or "cotigura" is helpful when raising the slurry.  The slurry does the sharpening. The stones do not have to be soaked like Japanese waterstones – simply wet the stone and start honing; add water as needed to keep the slurry the consistency of milk. The blue stones are 4000 grit and the yellow stones are 8000 grit.

The Belgian Hones are not porous like Norton, King, or Arkansas stones. They do not soak up water and do not load. "Loading" occurs when oil, metal, and stone particles fill up the surface of the stone and prevent further use. When you finish using a Belgian stone, just rinse and dry. That’s all there is to it! No special oils or cutting compounds, and no mess. Reactivate the dried slurry with water next time you hone.

We carry the DMT^® diamond stones. The large, continuous diamond Coarse 325 grit stones are what we use  to flatten the Belgian Hones. If you need to re-establish an edge, use the DMT Extra Fine 1200 grit stone.  DMT^® stones are the flattest (+ or - .001") and highest quality monocrystalline diamond stones on the market.

We carry a selection of Norton abrasive products which include the 8000/4000 waterstone, 1000/4000 waterstone, Norton Lapping Stone, and Norton Prep Stone, as well as a kit for honing engraver's tools.

Check out our "Honing How To" for instruction on honing and web resources about hones and honing.

Check out our "Stuff for Sale" page for equipment of interest to those who work with metal.

Perfect Edge Strop, Perfect Edge Hone, and Perfect Edge Razor are Trademarked names.

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