Thread: Two handed honing

When I was starting, I honed with two hands and got passable results... I also was sitting and found that standing seems to be the best for me right now... however I think it's because my table was lower than I like.

I too have converted to one handed honing, and my edges are significantly improved (however, that may have more to do with experience than that one change)

Originally Posted by Joed

I started out honing with two hands and got good results. I was honing sitting down and needed the two hands to jeep the blade flat on the hone. As I got more experience I found that standing gave me better control and balance. Keeping my elbow out to the side helped keep the blade flat. This brought my edge quality to a higher level. Use what works best for you and experiment.

I JUST made this transition Friday night trying out my new Shapton 16k!

I have always sat down before with stone on table and a very very light finger or thumb on spine. I've shaved with a couple razors that I did that way. BUT I just tried the standing up with stone in-hand and I felt I had a lot more control after a few minutes of adjusting my form/stroke.

For the tougher/rougher lower grit work I'm still gonna plop that thing on the table go at it. Just be very very careful with hollow grinds ... I learned the hard way the end of those things flex easier than I EVER would have guessed.

One hand felt wrong when I started. I kept with it anyway, and now after many hundreds of strokes the other hand just gets in the way.

Only 2 of my blades sit flat on the hone; the rest are smilers/slightly warped. I use 2 hands for that reason, but like Nun2sharp, that other hand barely even touches the razor, usually only the very back of the spine as a slight guide. No pressure. Ever.