Because the honing process often requires a roundness or straightness within microns, fixturing is a major concern. It is important that the part be held so that it isn't distorted. If the part is deformed by the fixture, when the restraint is released, the part reverts to its original shape and the honed surface will no longer be geometrically perfect.

During the honing process, there are two forces act on the part: torque due to hone rotation and the push-and-pull action of the hone. The fixture has to absorb both, but without deforming the part. Some parts have weak wall sections, such as in some valve spools, so torque can be a big problem.

Normally the fixture has a custom "nest" that captures the part, allowing it to float while the tool does its work. One common fixture design has fingers that lightly "cage" the part to provide back and forth motion.

In the normal cycle, the fixture may lock the part before the stroke starts to align the bore with the tool. The part is then allowed to float up to 0.010" (0.25 mm) in the X-Y plane when the honing action starts. The tool follows the centerline of the existing bore. The fixture may also mount the part in a gimbal that allows angular rotation about the X and Y axis.

Fixturing techniques have been developed that avoid the distortion problem. A spring collet is used to apply a uniform pressure around a circular part. There are no jaws to individually squeeze the part. The collet is used for parts with a smooth OD and no other features that can be gripped. A flexible band like an oil filter wrench also works on near-circular parts.

Where part configuration allows, the fixture is designed to grip some area that does not influence the portion of the part being honed. For example, with a gear, the main concern is the accuracy of the bore. The gear teeth are restrained to take the torque without transmitting load to the hole area. Honing will maintain the relationship which exists between the bore centerline and the pitch diameter of the gear.