Thread: Hone in Hand

How many of you have tried holding the hone in your hand?

I have tried it a few times in the past few days and am finding that I seem to have more of a finesse between the blade and the hone. The pressure is better regulated as the hand seems to move the hone in coordination to the blade. There seems to be more control with holding the blade in constant contact with the hone. The X pattern seems to come easier. You can also move the hone in relation to what the blade is doing. This above method, I believe, works better only if you are applying light pressure. If you are developing a bevel I think that I would place the hone on a table top.

I have had good luck honing with the hone on a table top as most of you have done. Holding a 3 X 8 hone can get a little cumbersome but isn't bad. The little hones like the Barber hones work real well as do the smaller Eschers or Belgians.

One thing you need to watch for in using this method is to watch out you don't come off the end or side of the hone and cut yourself.

Happy Honing................

I do that all the time. I also find there is better feedback and control. Just try to hone 1-2 razors at a time, because the Norton can get heavy Barber hones are easier to "handle"...

Nenad

I have better control on the tabletop...must be all those years of sharpening knives. I put my 4000 and 8000 in waterstone holders I got from Woodcraft.com, and they work great. I guess everybody finds their own way of doing it.

I guess once you get accustomed to a certain routine that works for you. Personally I find if I hold the hone in my hand its difficult to keep the razor in constant contact with the hone so I get consistant results. Its the table top for me.

I've tried both. I pretty much suck at honing either way.

Originally Posted by trapperjohnme

I've tried both. I pretty much suck at honing either way.

I'm with you, man!

E

I find the Norton 3x8 too large for my hand. It works just as you say for a few strokes and then the fatigue 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

For razors I prefer to have the hone on a surface. For knives, I prefer to have the stone in hand doing the movement (Lansky system style).

When I hone my razors, I put the stone on my coffee table and sit on the floor. The hone is usually about a foot in front of my face, so I have a nice up close view of everything. The couch is right behind me so I lean against that; sounds strange, but it's a pretty comfy little setup

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.