Two Hands, or One?

When honing, do you use your off hand to stabilize the razor at the toe, or do you just use one hand?

I always just held the razor with one hand, and would hone in an X pattern. Then, I've seen videos of people just pushing the blade straight across the hone (for those hones that are as wide or wider than the blade) and using both hands to do so. I've tried this method, and it seems that I am not getting my blades evenly sharp from toe to heel... the middle seems to be getting the most sharp, with heel and toe less-so. I never had this problem with the X pattern, so I will go back to using that method.

I kind of liked using both hands to ensure the all parts of the blade were touching the hone with equal pressure (or so I thought), but the results sure were sub-optimal. It would seem a bit awkward to use the two hand method while doing the X pattern.

Thoughts on any of this (two hands vs. one hand, and X pattern vs. straight across)?

thanks
Andrew

Don't think you would go straight across the hone with the blade. It would either be a circular motion way or the x pattern. If you are doing just straight across then you will have the razor sharp in the middle and not on the ends like you described above with the X pattern done with both hands for you.

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Originally Posted by pilothaz

If you are doing just straight across then you will have the razor sharp in the middle and not on the ends like you described above with the X pattern done with both hands for you.

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:shrug: What he say??

I'm sure the sentence made sense to Pilot, but I can't figure it out...:shrug: LOL Put the beer down Pilot. Probably drinking that cheap stuff made from the water in the Hamilton Harbour... LOL

LOL.

No no beers for me today, that was last night. I am only halfway through work today and tried from lack of sleep.

I was meaning how he said with two hands and the X pattern he seemed to be having the razor sharper in the middle and not on the outsides.

But when he was asking about just going straight across the hone with the blade, that is how it would come about to be that way. I was wondering how he got it sharpen in the middle doing the X, but having the result if he has just gone straight down the hone..

Hopefully that makes a bit more, and if not I will try again ...

And No, I don't drink Lakeport.... I usually drink mostly imports, I LOVES MY GUINNESS :D

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Originally Posted by pilothaz

I LOVES MY GUINNESS :D

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Now there's a good man who knows something about beer!!

My dad buys that Lakeport stuff and I give him hell everytime I'm up there for a visit so now he gets me Kieths or Guinness before I get there.

Cheers!

up there being coming to the Hammer? lol

Should go out for some Pints of Guinness next time you are up, if that is where you are meaning.

Tiz indeed. Born in Hamilton, raised in Burlington, parents now live in Estoney A Crick.

Well then. Guess when you are in the hammer or Gurlington you should PM me lol.

I am currently doing a co-op down in Stoney Creek as well, right at Arvin and Fruitland.

I used to use one hand and X pattern. Then moved to two hands and straight down (except on the coticule the width of which demands X pattern). The two hands I'm going to stick with -- for the moment it gives me more control and more consistent flat contact with the hone. Minimal downard pressure, just enough to ensure blade is flat.

But I am now thinking of returning to the X pattern on the Norton. Having put all my razors (5 of them) through both X and straight down, my own opinion is the X pattern gives better and more consistent results.

But hey, that's just me. I'm a firm believer you should try almost anything* for yourself and decide which works best.

* Except that honing on a brick video on Youtube. That's hilarious, but I ain't trying it out!

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Originally Posted by majurey

* Except that honing on a brick video on Youtube. That's hilarious, but I ain't trying it out!

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Link me, i wanna see that.

NM I found it..
Straight Razor Honing on a Brick (This is a joke)

You haven't tasted Guinness until you've had it in Ireland ;-)

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Originally Posted by poona

You haven't tasted Guinness until you've had it in Ireland ;-)

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Umm Don't worry. I am going there end of August while I am in Europe. I want to go see my distant relatives.

Hitting up Dublin for the Guinness Factory tour (probably will miss some parts from drinking while on it hopefully) Then to Belfast. And my great grandfather came over to Canada from Ireland, he was from Ballymena. So I really want to contact some family there and maybe just drop in for the day and say hi.

When you're over there... don't spend too much time lookin' at the water source. You may never touch a Guinny again. LOL

Well, I use a two-handed X pattern on my Norton. I don't find it cumbersome at all, but that's probably because I learned that way. Never really had a heel or toe sharpness issue either, but that's probably because the first razor I ever honed was warped and smiling and I subconciously learned the rolling hone stroke.

For me, a successful two-handed X pattern is just about simultaneous weight transference. I've tried one-handed, but enjoy the (perceived?) extra control I get from two hands - I feel it's easier for me to replicate each stroke exactly when I use two hands. And, given the Norton can sit on your bench and doesn't need to be held in the hand, I just figure why not make use of that free hand?

But, as they say, whatever works for you. I get the feeling most of the honemeisters use one hand, particularly when refreshing an edge on a barber hone or similar a la barbers of old.

James.

I may be new at this honing game myself, but I use two hands for honing. When using the off hand softly, think "OUIJA." Remember? It was that board game your mum forbad you to "play" with.

I'm from Belfast :)

Ballymena's about 30miles from Belfast FYI. You might struggle with the accent though? Sometimes I do. lol

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Originally Posted by poona

I'm from Belfast :)

Ballymena's about 30miles from Belfast FYI. You might struggle with the accent
though? Sometimes I do. lol

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Thanks, Yeah I hope I can make it there and also see my family. Last name is Hazlett

Hehe cool. Gimme a shout if u wanna hook up for a beer.