Superfly, don't feel guilty about using your hone sitting on a table top. While conventional barber hones are a bit small for this technique, the Norton's, Belgians and Arkansas stones are not. You can get the same results holding the hones in your hand, on your lap or leg, or resting it on a table...strictly personal preference. You even gain a bit more consistency by using a table top unless you hone almost every day. I have used a table top for years, because if I cut my fingers, I can't play music for a week! But I don't use the 5" barber hones. Mostly I use stones 8 to 12 inches in length. Holding the blade with both hands however can present some problems. It is very difficult to keep the same pressure with each hand, usually resulting in uneven honing. That is one of those things that definitely gets better with practice. I think that the one handed approach to honing is more consistent when you are starting out, but that is just my opinion.