Thread: Honing with two hands

Originally Posted by Jimbo

This may or may not be true. I don't want to be ornery about this, but unless you've spent a lot of time doing it both ways (one handed and two handed) you can't possibly know this to be true. Even if you have been doing it both ways for a long time, how do you know that two-handed is not the best way? Perhaps you are just not very good at using both hands

I get shaving edges every time and on all my blades using two-handed honing, even with warped blades and smilers etc. Pressure really is not an issue if you know what you're doing.

However, as with everything, YMMV.

James.

+1 Never one to forcefully put forth my own experiences and opinions , I tend to be a two handed honer and the reason for this is that I am able to very lightly guide the blade along the stone more smoothly and more consistently than when I use one hand. I require a really keen edge to scrape off my wirey beard and this is how I am able to achieve it. YMMV but I think to presume history's course and the results of others seems just that - presumptuous. I am interested to hear of how everyone hones up their blades, however. Even in Greece
Happy Honing and Keen Edges to All -

I'm worried that with two hands I double the likelihood of uneven pressure per stroke, even if it's a light touch. Whatever works, works though, may be all in the individual's coordination.

I always use two hands, one to keep the razor flat. If you put little pressure on the spine alone not much of it will be "transmitted" to the bevel. I am too clumsy I'm afraid to use one hand. I do not alternate pressure nor do I use a rocking motion on my smiling blades.

Watched a couple of video's on honing from the internet. They were using two hands so I gave it a go (1st time) & thought it went well but then I read these posts & hope I didn't screw up my blades.

I'm going to get Lynn video, but is there any other good ones on line that show one handed honing?

After watching Lynn's video you'll need no more videos.

Originally Posted by DEwey

+1 Never one to forcefully put forth my own experiences and opinions , I tend to be a two handed honer and the reason for this is that I am able to very lightly guide the blade along the stone more smoothly and more consistently than when I use one hand. I require a really keen edge to scrape off my wirey beard and this is how I am able to achieve it. YMMV but I think to presume history's course and the results of others seems just that - presumptuous. I am interested to hear of how everyone hones up their blades, however. Even in Greece
Happy Honing and Keen Edges to All -

Everyone judged by his results, his knowledge and his cultivation

That's very true Yannis - sorry for being a grumpy bugger yesterday.

This is just a guess, but I think you'll find that anyone who uses two hands to hone probably does not do it in the way that one handed honers think they do. Often the second hand is merely a finger on the spine at the tip, and any pressure that may be applied is most directly applied to the spine rather than the edge. I personally can achieve very light pressure on the edge with two hands by applying a very small amount of "push" against the spine with my thumb which, if done carefully, can allow negative pressure on the edge if you wish. One-handers achieve the same effect, I think, by adjusting weight at the tang

In any event, history does show, I guess, that one-handed honing is certainly more prevalent. Understandable, particularly with barbers doing in situ touch ups using barber hones and the like - hone in one hand, razor in the other, couple of swipes and you're off. Much quicker, and more professional-looking, than sitting the hone on the counter and going at it two-handed

James.

Why is one hand preferred or better? What are the essentials of a good honing that lead one to say such a thing. Just a question.

Justin

Good question though. I can't answer why one-hand is preferred, although I have theories.

Personally I believe that good honing is any honing that puts a shaving edge on a razor, whether just for yourself or for others . I guess better honers can get that done more quickly and consistently across a wide variety of conditions.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Good question though. I can't answer why one-hand is preferred, although I have theories.

Personally I believe that good honing is any honing that puts a shaving edge on a razor, whether just for yourself or for others . I guess better honers can get that done more quickly and consistently across a wide variety of conditions.

James.

Are people saying that one hand is superior because old barber manuals show it that way?. Maybe barbers used one hand only because they needed to use the other hand to hold the hone --- not the best method maybe but the quickest for a barber on the go. Just because certain things become a certain way as history speeds along does not necessarily mean they are superior or even correct. For everything I can think of, two hands is better than one (not everything I'm sure) --why not use that other hand?

Justin