Thread: Rolling X stroke all the time?

Gentlemen,

I have found that when honing some vintage razor that requires a new bevel without the use of tape, the plain x stroke won't get the edge entirely sharp as effectively as the rolling x stroke.

My question is, do any of you simply start off immediately with the rolling x stroke to avoid any guess work ( and unnecessary hone wear) and to get that bevel set quickly along the entire edge?

I normally just use the X stroke, but I use the rolling X stroke when honing razors with a smile edge or warped blade.

I use a heel forward X stroke with tape on the spine and the edge marked with magic marker. The first couple of passes will tell me if I need to adjust the stroke by how the marker wears. Then go from there.

Bob

Pretty much use the rolling X exclusively, unless doing major profile changing stuff. Always seems to work.

Just a point of my limited observation here, but most razors that I have honed (almost all vintage) have had a slight smile before I got them. From the barbers manuals that I have read I think it was common practice to hone a razor towards a smile. Helped to stop frowning from forming. A smile is always better than a frown.

I mostly use a rolling X. Mostly.

If I have a perfect square point, I don't.