Thread: One hand or two hands pros cons???

First 18 months (5 years ago) I used two hands, then realised I was using too much pressure, and for absolute certain pressure is the main cause of problems for beginners. I use one hand 95 % of the time, as really I only want a bit of pressure when I buy a new razor, thus a bevel reset where for a minute or so you are cutting that new bevel. I've compared touching up or finishing on your finest stone (SG 20)as being done best in zero gravity. Maybe we should send a razor and hone to the space station for a demo...interesting.

I use two on the 1k initially, finishing up with as little pressure as possible using one hand. For the higher grits, I stick with one.

I use two hands for some reason. Seems to work for me.

Bob

Aloha!

I'm just starting out, so I use two hands for symmetry in making sure the blade is contacting the stone as symmetrical as possible. However, while doing this, I also concentrate on governing my pressure. The last thing I want to do is use two hands to put extra pressure on the blade. I really try and focus on using the second hand as a guide, not as a vice.

-Zip

If you're restoring a smile that got butchered by previous owners' honing, or you're correcting a frown, a couple of fingers on the toe can be just the thing.

Any and all honing can be done with one hand. Pressure changes from one end of the blade to the other all can be accomplished with one hand.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Any and all honing can be done with one hand. Pressure changes from one end of the blade to the other all can be accomplished with one hand.

Certainly, but there is usually more than one way to do things for roughly the same net result.

Bob

Keep the non-dominant hand, or one finger really, on the top of the spine, if in need of more control. I will do it when honing short kamisoris, and only sometimes. So not on the side of the razor in the spine area, but on the actual top of the spine, and it is likely your finger will be touching the stone. That way I'm not applying any bad pressure, just making sure the toe doesn't lift off of the hone. Or maybe it's psychological.... can't say why, but it works.

Originally Posted by BobH

Certainly, but there is usually more than one way to do things for roughly the same net result.

Bob

I agree. That is why I said it can be done with one hand, not that it must.

Yesterday after work I honed two blades they are the same Hart 13/16" razors, and yes just shy of 8/8" I used the same stroke type and count for both blades and same stropping technique. The only distinction between the two blades is I honed them using (1) two hands for the orange scale razor and (2) one hand for the black scale razor. I wanted to see if there will be a difference in blades shave experience. Per what I have been reading in this thread.

Shapton Pro stones and stroke count/type- 1k (until bevel set X strokes) ,2k (45X), 5k (40X), 8k (30X) and finished on kiita asagi w/diamond slurry (until sticky on the stone).

Orange scale razor- The edge was very keen and 75% comfortable to shave with. I liked the closeness but would prefer a little more comfort.

Black scales- The edge was not as keen, but close for sure. The main difference here was the comfort factor 95%, the shave comfort from the orange scale razor wasn't massive but noticeable enough that I had a winner in mind. The black scales for the win!

Tonight I am going to hone two other blades using a couple more methods I read in this thread.

(1) Blade will be honed by setting the bevel with two hands and using one hand to hone the rest of the way.

(2) Blade will be honed with one hand and holding each stone in the other hand bevel set to finish.

Thanks for all the ideas