Quote Originally Posted by EggSuckingLeech View Post
OK I will try that. I was honing with the blade perpendicular to the hone and very little to no X-pattern.
Traditionally razors have always been honed with an X stroke because straight razors are not always so straight & even a slight warp or misgrind will be a challenge to the beginner who tries to just go up n down the stone.
The spine determines the edge so both need to contact the stone. I know it's a simplistic view but you haven't achieved that with the stroke your using. Get the magic marker working & see what stroke will erase it. Personally I use a loupe to see where I'm at but the marker method is good too.