1 lap = once up the stone flip the blade and back down the stone,,,, 5x5 means 5 laps heel forward, then 5 laps X stroke...

Heel forward 45 degree so that the edge is not dead straight as you hone, I switch every five laps you don't have to, it just makes sure that you do NOT hone a frown into the edge, nor wear out the toe... Trust me here it took ,me longer to type that whole thing than it does to hone the razor...

Many people just use an X stroke or a straight stroke or the 45 degree stroke, it is just my own pesonal preference to switch between the stokes every 5 laps...