honeing- X versus diagonal-ish...?
Ok, I was thinking about the cross pattern used as the standard for honing and got to wondering,,,
Playing (err, practicing.. I mean) with the paki blade I bought years ago on a stone just to get the motions I noticed I was not doing the x, but sort of just diagonal. in words, I mean I was doing the down and away then flipping on the spine and just coming back and up, not sliding the blade up and coming back and down making the 'X'.
It occurs that such a motion will cover the same blade area and in my mind the same wear to the stone... so here's the question for those with the experience: What is the drawback to this versus the X pattern?
Is there a difference in stone wear?
I can "see" the fine "teeth" created on the stone will be in different directions on the oposing sides of the edge, does that make a difference in the performance or the sharpness of an edge?
The story about curiosity and a cat keeps poping into my mind, but....