Totally curious here. Honing with one hand? Honing with two hands? or both? Please post your pros and cons?
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Totally curious here. Honing with one hand? Honing with two hands? or both? Please post your pros and cons?
Honing with two hands can give you move control, and is needed for certain strokes, however it can also lead to too much pressure. I think two hands is part of advanced honing. Not really to be used all the time and not really for beginners that tend to use more pressure than needed.
I have seen too much ham-handed honing done with two hands in videos. Beginners struggle to keep the blade flat on the hone, and of course the second hand can serve like training wheels to make it easier, but eventually you should learn how to do it one handed. This is because, in my opinion, you can accomplish more versatile and subtle changes in strokes with one hand than you can with two.
I will use two hands for if I am need serious work on setting bevel maybe on 3k then I just use one hand to hone and other hand holding the hone.
The comments here are quite interesting. I am fairly new to the world of honing and really I just do touch up refresh work and not bevel sets.
I generally use two hands because it seems to give me more control. I guess it is a training wheel as Utopian said. I don't have trouble with pressure, but then I am only using the lightest of strokes for what I need really. I guess I should try to do it with one just to see and the more skills you have the better. Right?
I hone with dominant (right) hand. Only use left hand to hold small stones or if I need a little pressure on a trouble spot.
I guess that's a real plus with learning to hone with one hand. You can use the other to hold a stone. I hadn't considered that at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by bouschie
It depends on what I am trying to accomplish on the hones...
How is that for a true "non-answer" :)
I use both methods but seem to automatically end up with two hands although I think my one handed stroke has a better effect.
I also turn the blade with the edge facing the hone. whoops :o
When it comes to us mere mortals your answer is sufficient!Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
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.
Certainly, but there is usually more than one way to do things for roughly the same net result.Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
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.
I agree. That is why I said it can be done with one hand, not that it must.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
Yesterday after work I honed two blades they are the same Hart 13/16" razors, and yes just shy of 8/8" :rock: 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
Attachment 270476
I'm not sure if your tests will actually mean anything because I have a few harts and they all act differently. Even the same models .
Where I have noticed a difference using one or two hands is say I am honing a blade and not quite getting a part of the tip, I can swap to a single handed stroke and bingo I am then getting that part I was missing.
That is just an example I can remember from a long time ago but I know if I am struggling and trying every thing swapping from 2 to 1 hands will be some thing I will try.
Nice blades btw ..
Thanks. The blades I have were all made at the same time, by the same blade-smith and the same size. I realize even with that info they could still be different lol. I am hoping to try the basic honing dexterity methods and see which one as a base method will work best for me. Not trying to prove anything!Quote:
Originally Posted by JOB15
The right hand hones; the left hand holds the drink & remote. :beer2:
Attachment 270558
Here are the other two 13/16" Hart razors I honed using the one hand honing with the stone in the other hand.
For me I have to say this method is probably the best out of the three basic types.
1. Bench honing one hand
2. Bench honing two hands
3. Stone in hand honing one hand (obviously)
I realize there are many variations of honing methods and I know that each one can be done with the same result. For me holding the stone in my left hand just feels intuitive like I can feel the resistance of the stone from torquing the blades edge as I move up the grit progression. I can feel the change within the stone as the edge takes on that stones grit pattern. This was a fun little exercise to try out!
PS. The shave will be tonight :rock:
As long as you have good control of the second hand so you can limit pressure on it two hand honing is fine. I usually use 2 hands for my honing sessions but there are circumstances where one hand is better.
Really whatever works best for you is fine.
I plan on continuing to practice using two hands, Except for bevel setting I could not regulate pressure well on the other grits so I think after bevel set I am all over the place. Zero consistency, not good for honing. Thank youQuote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Me as well. When I see a master of honing whom I respect very much (Howard Schechter) using two hands to hone after honing thousands of razors over dozens of years to a super fine edge, it only confirms that there is more than one way to master the skill.Quote:
Originally Posted by dshaves
-Zip
One thing that I have found to facilitate better one-hand honing is ergonomics. If your honing arm is moving on a natural, relaxed stroke it is much easier to maintain consistent pressure on the blade throughout the stroke.
Try varying the height of the honing surface so your forearm is horizontal to the floor (or even freehanding) and see if that doesn't feel and work better.
LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by kelbro
The most heard thing at the meet ups
"Lift your elbow, keep it level with the hone"
:p
I thought I was quick and kinda aggressive on the hones. Then I watched a video of Howard honing. I wasn't entirely convinced that he didn't hate the razor he was whipping into shape! But I bet it shaved a treat by the time he was finished with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZipZop
Yep, more than one way to skin a cat. Or hone a razor, as the case may be. I use one hand, some folks use two. I move pretty quick. Some are faster, some slower. Just a matter of finding a technique that works for you and a stride you're comfortable with.
What I'd really like to see is an edge honed by him on his Perfect Edge natural hones.
I have only been honing for about 2 years, I admit that I do a couple things that are not usually liked. I use 2 hands and I flip the blade edge toward the stone. I know bad, bad, habit. But for me it is what feels natural and it works. Now onto using 2 hands, as stated yes it can be done with 1 hand but for me I taught myself with 2 and the second hand I don't use on top of the spine I use it behind the spine more as a push than down force. I am trying to break both of these habits but at the end of the day if it works it works. Best of luck.
It is interesting how we can all have the same goal or objective and yet get there different ways! For the life of me with two hands I cannot hone with the same finesse or feel in the razor as I need to know what is happening between the edge and the stone. When I switch to hand honing everything changes, I have more control, dexterity for different strokes and I can feel even minor changes as I move up the progression. I have huge respect for people doing things differently, not envy or jealousy I just think it's cool when people do things I cannot. :D Thank youQuote:
Originally Posted by ejmolitor37
I feel like I have more control with two hands. One hand seems awkward to me. I'm happy with the results I'm getting but then I'm still learning.
The majority of my honing is done with one hand holding the razor and the other holding the hone. This is how I'm most comfortable and I get a combination of feedback from the razor hand and from the hone hand.
Ok it use both hands, one to seal the box, and one to apply address label then stick in the mailbox, I know but I couldn't resist. Tc
It is amazing how we all funtion differently. But as long as we get the desired outcome that is all that matters. I always like when I have been doing things this way and I get shown that way, then it's like a huge eye opener that I have been wasting time.Quote:
Originally Posted by dshaves
Lol that's funny TCQuote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
I use two hands out of necessity. It makes sure the blade is flat, the stroke is even, and I'm using the proper X-stroke angle to get the desired sharpness.
I'm kind of clumsy and the extra hand helps make up for that.
I hone with one hand, I have no choice in the matter.
