Thread: Ask Dave Stephens to hone a blade

So what are you saying, you want to see photos of my two big stones and strop?

I wish there were some photos to show how freaky sharp these blades are, but I don't have one of those USB microscopes that I've seen others use for this.

So without using any hyperbole or metaphorical language, let me just state the facts:

Razors honed by Dave seem to stay sharper much longer than ones I've had honed by others.

Razors honed by Dave seem to require a much lighter touch than ones I've had honed by others.

Razors honed by Dave can cut at a much wider range of angles than ones I've had honed by others.

As I mentioned in my first post, this isn't meant to diminish or impugne the honing that I've received from others on this site -- everyone I've ever used has done only excellent work. It's just that there does seem to be a noticeably higher level of sharpness that Dave takes his blades to, and if you don't know what I'm talking about, then give Dave a blade and let him do his stuff.

The only other illustration I can think of comes from my experience with DE blades. Now everyone has tried the Merkur blades and Personna blades and five other brands out there, but it is still widely known among DE users that the Feather blades are a whole level of sharpness above the others. Now some people don't like their DE blades that sharp, and that's perfectly cool by me. I just happen to like a really, really sharp blade to work with, so if your DE blade is a Feather, then let Dave hone your straight edge razors. He's the "Feather blade" honemeister of the straight edge world.

I do not do anything magical to them, just been honing for many years. Comes with the wood working. You have to hone your hand planes and chisels. I have always done them by hand. It takes a little work to get a #5 jack plane sharp enough to shave end grain on oak. Razors are easy.

Glad you are happy with them but you had some nice top quality blades to work with. Your making me blush.