Honing with one hand or two hands

**Warchild281** · 12-05-2014, 11:30 PM

I've seen this referenced in a few posts, but am completely ignorant to it. I've been honing with one hand for over a year.
What are the differences and advantages/disadvantages of honing with one hand or two hands?
How do you actually hone with two hands?

**TrilliumLT** · 12-06-2014, 12:05 AM

I think they use two hands for stability, and may feel more natural. I started honing and i used both hands but as i started feeling more assured in my abilities i went to one.

**Dave851** · 12-06-2014, 01:33 AM

I just started out honing this week, so this will be a beginners point of view here.

I find using two hands easier for me because it allows me to balance the razor on the stone better. If I use only one hand, its only a matter of time before I tilt the razor and the heel is just riding the lip of the hone. I just put one to two fingers gently on the tip and this stops me from lifting up the tip and having the handle hit the table. For me its easier to use less and less pressure with two hands because it gives me more control and I won't end up see-sawing the razor on the edge of the stone.

**cudarunner** · 12-06-2014, 02:13 AM

Originally Posted by Warchild281

I've seen this referenced in a few posts, but am completely ignorant to it. I've been honing with one hand for over a year.
What are the differences and advantages/disadvantages of honing with one hand or two hands?
How do you actually hone with two hands?

Check this out, pay attention! You don't actually 'hone' with two hands, but two hands are used in his technique. I hope this helps.

gssixgun Honing on a Norton 4-8 - YouTube

**Jimbo** · 12-06-2014, 03:07 AM

I hone with two hands on the lower grits, then move to one hand after about the 8K mark or so. I can add a bit more uniform pressure if needed that way, which I find is sometimes necessary on the lower grits.

James.

**Slur** · 12-06-2014, 06:38 AM

I hone with two hands and I would use a third one if I had.
The second hand provides stability and it can regulate the pressure from 0 to some if needed.

**WW243** · 12-06-2014, 08:07 AM

I effectively honed with 3 hands once on a problem razor from Estonia that remained a problem. The third 'hand' was really a 2nd finger on the spine. I felt so ashamed I never did it again and dumped the razor in my POS pile which is hidden from prying eyes that might question my razor purchasing habits.

**rolodave** · 12-06-2014, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I hone with two hands on the lower grits, then move to one hand after about the 8K mark or so. I can add a bit more uniform pressure if needed that way, which I find is sometimes necessary on the lower grits.

James.

Same. I will go to one hand if the blade is honing well.

**BobH** · 12-06-2014, 01:32 PM

I hone with 2 hands right the way through start to finish.

Bob

**JimmyHAD** · 12-06-2014, 02:31 PM

At the time I began honing through SRP the buzz was that honing with one hand was the best way to go about it, so I endeavored to learn in that fashion. The thought, at that time, was that using the non dominant hand to assist could create pressure problems, unevenness ....... IMHO whatever you get used to, if it is done correctly, and the end result is satisfactory, is fine.

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