To switch or not to switch???

[fortheloveofmoar]

So the question is: do you switch hands when sharpening the left and right or no?

I’ve seen it both ways and I know there are some pros and cons to it but I want to hear from the experts here and not some patsy on youtubez.

Extra notes but not critical to the question

I do realize technique is most important no matter the hand and its personal preference. I’ve don’t both and I can’t figure out what is better or if I suck at them both (probably the later). What I really should do is buy less knives and learn more. But the easier solution is to use the knives then selll them before they ever get dull enough to sharpen

 

[ethompson]

I do both. I don’t change hands when swapping sides with each pass at the end of a stone but do if I’m doing more than a few consecutive passes.

 

[OkayMode]

I don’t switch hands for edge sharpening. But if I was starting again I would learn to switch hands, because it’s more or less necessary for thinning/polishing, and would have been much less of a learning curve if I already had that muscle memory locked in from edge sharpening.

 

[Bico Doce]

Initially when i was just sharpening, I did not switch hands. When I started polishing I made the choice to switch hands which was pretty easy at the time because I already sucked at my dominant hand, I might as well suck with the non dominant hand too.

 

[bermuda_chub]

I do both. I like being able to keep a direct sight line on the sharpening angle at all times.

 

[Luminaire]

I don't switch for sharpening, but switch for thinning/polishing

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I didn't used to switch. Now I do.

 

[Dan-]

Do you sit on your hand until it goes numb first?

 

[Rangen]

Mostly switching. Trying to get better at not switching, but while I'm improving at that, switching still works better. Like @bermuda_chub, I like to see the edge contact with the stone.

Also, it turned out that my left hand is actually a little better at finding the bevel than the right! I figure that's because it didn't have any chance to learn bad habits.

 

[nutmeg]

You are probably thinking this is lazyness..it seems like the time learning to switch can be much greater than finding ways to get good results without having to switch.

 

[Matt Jacobs]

I started switching, went to one now back to switching. I find that with my dominant hand and the spine pointing away from me I sharpen great. Once I have the spine towards me I am not 100% comfortable that I am not changing the angle because its much more perpendicular to the stone with less contact.
If I am just stropping I keep it in only 1 hand. I also find that if I start sharpening with my non dominant hand then switch to my dominant I get better results??? Probably all in my head...

 

[Delat]

I’m like @ethompson - I switch hands for regular sharpening. When it comes to final deburring and I’m doing alternating light edge-leading passes, I just use my dominant hand; it feels like maintaining the same angle on each side is a little easier that way.

 

[panda]

switch. flipping feels awkward.

 

[MowgFace]

Always been a flipper.

 

[daveb]

Search Flipper vs Switcher for more on this annual topic. And of course the answer is flipper.

 

[Dan-]

Yep, flipping is the way.

 

[ch_br]

Yes, hand switching here...

IMO very difficult to create a very similar and consistent scratch pattern (in same direction and angle) on both sides of a blade without it.

Also cannot reach certain angles without learning to use both hands in a variety of procedures.

Also, you're training your brain and body to execute better control on a wider spectrum of movement... THIS can only lead to more control and steadier hands over time...

Plus if you wanna sandbag your knife buddies... Show them a technique with your non dominant hand to lure them into a sassy comment, then let them try to out do you... Then LOWER the boom with your dominant hand and superior technique..

So yes, many reasons both technical and for fun why switching hands is THE WAY...

Plus is looks bada$$:

 

[Redwax]

Honestly it's irrelevant what other people do. Sharpening is a simple concept that is achievable by many different methods. I would say find a technique that feels comfortable and go with that.

There are many very good sharpeners who switch hands and many very good sharpeners that flip sides. As long as you are nailing the fundamentals you will get great results either way.

 

[Marcelo Amaral]

Flipper here.

 

[Kawa]

I started flipping. Never had the right feeling when sharpening edge towards me, needing the thumb the pressure the edge area.

Pressed myself to learn switching, but with edge away from me. Felt better sooner then I would have thought.

 

[The Forest Ninja]

I can use both hands to drink beer so I'm slowly learning the same with Whetstones.

 

[aporigine]

I can use both hands to drink beer so I'm slowly learning the same with Whetstones.

one beer, or two?

 

[M1k3]

one beer, or two?

Yes.

 

[Tekkz]

I didn't used to switch. Now I do.

I used to switch.

I still do, but I used to, too.

 

[fortheloveofmoar]

Are we still talking about sharpening?

 

[M1k3]

Are we still talking about sharpening?

We were?
This isn't the 2 beers, 2 hands forum?