Thread: Lighten the honing stoke from the bottom side

Originally Posted by joke1176

I hold my hones in hand, regardless of size.

+1.

I think I get the best hone-hand feel from the lighter hones.

It does make a difference cushioning your stone but I find I get more feedback if I hold the stone in my off hand.

I picked that tip up from Alan's honing guide a few years ago and still use this method to this day

When I got my stones and holder a little while ago I started using them on the stove and just folded up a giant beach towel under the holde. Mainly to catch water from spritzing the stone and a soft place to set the razor down. Folded up it's probably close to an inch thick. Then I found that it was convenient to angle the stone (and holder) slightly to the right or left depending on how I was standing and posture. Just press the stone/holder firmly on the left or right side for a very slight angle and it stays there. Still plenty solid enough not to move or wiggle while honing.

Like Jimmy I use that mesh shelf liner stuff, it will keep the stone stable and does allow just a little give and some good feedback.

I'll give this a go. I normally hand-hold hones (!), but I put DMTs in a holder. A bit of flex can only be good when lapping too.

FWIW, I'm in the hone in hand corner. And to keep the water handy and the mess manageable, I stand at the kitchen sink while honing. One of these days I'll try honing while sitting, but so far I can't figure out how to get my knees under the sink.

I use a double folded bath sheet. I got the idea from AFDavis's post on honing. It also keeps my table from getting wet.

Neat Glen! I've been using a paper towel underneath my Shapton
stone holder, but I'll have to give a real towel a try and report
back.

- Scott

Wal-Mart tool department sells packs of small white terrycloth shop towels and they work great under my hones. Rather than ruin expensive bath towels, I discard the ones that get stained from my blue belgian stone or launder them as the need arises. When the towel becomes moist under the stone, neither the towel nor the stone slide around on my table while honing. Even when folded in half they are large enough to lay two or three razors next to my hone with room left over. Works for me..... JERRY