Honing-Two hands or One hand?

I know I'm opening up a can of worms here but, here goes. I have watched many honing videos and it seems to me that the consensus is that you can hone with two hands but it is better to use just one. Why is that? When I first started learning to hone my own razors I tried using the one handed technique but I couldn't seem to keep the razor evenly on the hones. Therefore, I use two hands to hone. I can get decent shaves by the way. Because of the hype I have been attempting to hone using only one hand with mixed results although I am getting better at this. To make this short, what is the better technique and why?


Mike

Some people say it's better to use 1 hand because then you are not pressing down on the point so much. I tried it for a while, but I always use 2. I have the stone in front of my on a table. The short end faces me so I do 1 stroke away from me, and 1 stroke towards me.

I'm still learning and am still trying both methods.
Now with circles I do it one handed (obviously). The straights and different x strokes I use 2 hands.

For what it's word, I'm still more trying to figure out whether I like standing or seated honing more
My idea at this moment is I like standing more, especially two handed because I feel like having more manoeuvre space.
But take my opinions with a grain of salt as I'm a beginner myself ;-)

Mikali said:

I'm still learning and am still trying both methods.
Now with circles I do it one handed (obviously). The straights and different x strokes I use 2 hands.

For what it's word, I'm still more trying to figure out whether I like standing or seated honing more
My idea at this moment is I like standing more, especially two handed because I feel like having more manoeuvre space.
But take my opinions with a grain of salt as I'm a beginner myself ;-)

Click to expand...

Well, I guess this is still open and can go either way maybe depending whether you are doing circles, pyramid or x strokes.

As far as to stand or sit, I tried to sit but did not do very well as I could not keep my arm level enough to keep the blade steady on the stone. I usually stand even though standing too long hurts my back.

Mike

I prefer 2 hands.

It really depends on what part of the honing cycle I am in

basically, as I start on each hone or slurry rendition I use 2 hands to make sure I am controlling what I want to accomplish exactly
right as I am ready to move on or finish up on that hone I do as perfect as possible one handed X strokes to feel the edge and impart a super light touch..

So Both as suits my purpose

let's also keep in mind that many of us on here are working with less than perfect bevels that we have to correct or create

gssixgun said:

It really depends on what part of the honing cycle I am in

basically, as I start on each hone or slurry rendition I use 2 hands to make sure I am controlling what I want to accomplish exactly
right as I am ready to move on or finish up on that hone I do as perfect as possible one handed X strokes to feel the edge and impart a super light touch..

So Both as suits my purpose

let's also keep in mind that many of us on here are working with less than perfect bevels that we have to correct or create

Click to expand...

I have watched several of your videos and I did notice that. I have watched many many other videos and it seemed that most used just one hand so I was thinking that my using two hands was the wrong way and that I should change. So.........I guess that whether one uses two hands or one....... .depends on where one is in the honing cycle and maybe, what one is trying to accomplish.


Mike

two cents...
A lot of folk find heavy wedges hone better as beginners. I suspect that is because they are so
inflexible and do not deform under pressure. So light or heavy it does not mater.

This bit about how the steel flexes is why single handed gentle pressure and torque is the ultimate goal
for modern thin ground razors. The blade of modern well ground razors are so well ground that once the
bevel is set the amount of steel that needs to be honed is tiny and deformation problematic. Recall we
lap our hones flat...

Razor restoration especially after the buffers seems to need more edge shaping at the time the bevel is set.
Shaping often needs pressure to not take forever.

My personal take is to take time and low pressure/torque for all of us that shave. Use the same single hand grip
that you need for stropping and shaving. I do not restore razors except for myself... I call it "rescue a shaver" and
do not use anything more than hand tools.

Some of this is muscle memory and some say practice makes perfect but the truth
is that "perfect practice makes perfect".

Thinking out loud the next step further two hand honing and associated extra pressure does not teach the single
hand 'correct' grip bad habits.

Use what works but with a specific purpose.

I am a both person. When doing restoration honing I frequently use half strokes with both hands until I get to a nearly set bevel. I then go to one hand until I’m finished on the bevel setter. I also do half strokes as part of my progression at times and half strokes are always two handed. The very last on my finisher is also often two handed. I really feel like I can get a super light stroke with two hands.

I use both hands to start on each hone, not for pressure just more for a little more control. I switch to one hand when I’m close to maxed out on that hone just to make sure I’m not getting any extra pressure on the blade.

Like Glen it depends on what I'm doing as to if I use one or both hands, for heavy work and bevel setting I use two hands, for finishing and polishing I use one. I do have my own procedure and style but pattern most of my honing after Glen, he really explains what he is doing in language I understand plus he gives great tips along the way.

I could not hone a wedge until I watched his 3 part videos on honing a smiling wedge. I spent 6 hours just trying to set the bevel on a Frederick Reynolds wedge, gave up and sold it. Later I watched his videos, traded back for the FR and had it shaving in 30 - 45 minutes and its one of my best shavers.

I find i do both ways. Depending on what is needed. Finishing is both hands so no mistakes in the end. Just encase.

both hands especially on light finishing strokes. Just don't feel i have the control to keep the whole blade in contact.