Originally Posted by
xman
NO! :nono:
This is NOT the Rolling Hone and can't be recommended. This will overhone your toes and excessively wear the tip down.
The Rolling Hone IS (while keeping the heel leading throughout the whole honing stroke) to change the vertical configuration gently and gradually. Begin the honing stroke with the heel in good contact with the hone and slowly, gradually roll the main point of contact along the edge to the tip so that at the beginning of the stroke the tip is almost (or actually, depending on blade geometry) off the hone by a millimitre, and then at the end of the hone the heel is almost (or actually) off the hone by a milimetre. This motion is essential for smiling blades, but in my experiencer benefits "flat" edges as well (because nothing is truly flat). I have the best success by not overshooting the ends and instead trying to keep the heel and toe well supported by much of the middle of the edge at those extremes. I also draw a very slight X motion only bringing about ¼ or ⅕ of the heel off the hone throughout the stroke. I believe this works to even out the pressure along the edge. Since the heel is very near my one hand honing and the toe far away, the heel gets more pressure whether it wants it or not. By puling it off the hone I can reach that pressure up the hone and get the tip as evenly keen as the heel.