Thread: Hone in Hand

Originally Posted by xman

I find the Norton 3x8 too large for my hand. It works just as you say for a few strokes and then the patigue factor takes over very quickly. Counter top for me while standing. If my back starts to ache, I've been at it too long.

X

X,

Well said!!

Resurrecting an old thread because I stumbled into doing this the other day and had what I believe to be good results! Some guys trying to get into honing might consider this approach.

First, if you hone in hand, make sure that you fingers are BELOW the top surface of the hone. That way you get to keep all of your fingertips intact.

Second, I prefer to not use fingers to hold the hone at all. Just lay the hone on your flat open palm. This has the advantage of allowing some sway in the hone. If you have trouble keeping the razor flat on the hone, the open palm allows the hone to tilt a bit to adjust to an imprecise stroke.

Originally Posted by Utopian

First, if you hone in hand, make sure that you fingers are BELOW the top surface of the hone. That way you get to keep all of your fingertips intact.

Second, I prefer to not use fingers to hold the hone at all. Just lay the hone on your flat open palm. This has the advantage of allowing some sway in the hone. If you have trouble keeping the razor flat on the hone, the open palm allows the hone to tilt a bit to adjust to an imprecise stroke.

I love this technique and Utopian taught it to me. Try it. You will be impressed at how well it works. Thanks for sharing it Utopian.

Originally Posted by Utopian

First, if you hone in hand, make sure that you fingers are BELOW the top surface of the hone. That way you get to keep all of your fingertips intact.

Second, I prefer to not use fingers to hold the hone at all. Just lay the hone on your flat open palm. This has the advantage of allowing some sway in the hone. If you have trouble keeping the razor flat on the hone, the open palm allows the hone to tilt a bit to adjust to an imprecise stroke.

I hone like that all the time. Always have! And I know exactly why. Back in the day when I got out of butchering college and got my first job cutting meat, I couldn't afford "bench stones."

We used our own knifes and though we had a service come and sharpen on the bosses dime, when I got my brand new boner back thin enough to be considered a fillet knife... I was $#%&- furious! A guy with a grinder does not a freaking knife sharpener make!!

So I bought "pocket" stones. It was all I could afford. I kept them in my coat and used them via the palm when needed. I was the sharpest dude at the store lol!! Of course everyone wanted to use my blades .

Anyway, I am used to palm honing. 2x6 works great for me.

Edit - actually, I still have one of those stone to this day. Its 5 by 1.7. I have sharpened cleavers with stones that size lol. And I have used that stone to help set bevils on more than a few 4/8s.

I hone on the table until it's time for my real light finishing strokes, then I place the hone on my flat hand...I do not grip it. I find the holding the hone like this versus on the table, provides more tactile feedback.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

I hone on the table until it's time for my real light finishing strokes, then I place the hone on my flat hand...I do not grip it. I find the holding the hone like this versus on the table, provides more tactile feedback.

+1 I keep the larger stones (8x3) in a holder on the coffee table. I then go through my nagura progression (on an ozuku ~8X2) on the table as well. When I get to water only or nearly dry super light strokes, I put it in my palm. I find the ability to control the water very useful.

Chris

Originally Posted by Utopian

First, if you hone in hand, make sure that you fingers are BELOW the top surface of the hone. That way you get to keep all of your fingertips intact.

Second, I prefer to not use fingers to hold the hone at all. Just lay the hone on your flat open palm. This has the advantage of allowing some sway in the hone. If you have trouble keeping the razor flat on the hone, the open palm allows the hone to tilt a bit to adjust to an imprecise stroke.

Thanks. When I've tried it I was gripping the stone with my fingers well below the surface of the stone. I just looked and saw that's an excels t way to lop off a fingertip! I'll try it just resting in my palm next time