Thread: Up-Down or around?

When you use higher grit stones e.g 12k or above do you use an up-down (back and forth...you know what I mean) movement or do you use circles? I am thinking if the objective is to "polish the mirror" edge, then a circular motion would be beneficial. Or am I wrong on this? Or a mix of back and forth and around?

'X' is my preferred stroke for finishing.

Typically I will start with circles, then an x-stroke, finally back and forth. All while paying very close attention to the puddle of water in front of the blade.

Circles only if I see a spot on the edge I am not quite getting finishing with X strokes.

Bob

In most cases a combination of Xstrokes, parallell strokes, circles and sometimes back an forth

Whatever it takes.

No really, it depends on the razor, the goal is, to first remove the previous stria then to lay down, an even stria pattern and ensure you are honing all the way to the edge.

It is rare, that you can hone all the way to the edge, from the heel to the toe, using a straight stroke.

You almost always, have to give the Heel and Toe, some extra attention. A heel forward X stroke will usually get the heel and toe with some gymnastics.

This is really where your work with the transition stone, really pays off. Where you transition from shaping to polishing. If you put in the time and strokes, to remove the deep bevel setting stria, your time on the finishing stones will be lessened. But if you left deep stria, you will fight it all the way.

The bottom line is, you need to remove the previous stria and hone to the edge, across the whole edge. A repertoire of strokes and variance of pressure, (Gymnastics) helps.

Whatever, it takes…

I was thinking about this question and felt my initial answer was somewhat lacking. In general I use some variant of an X stroke while honing. Whatever variant I am using to be able to get an even stroke on my blade is the same stroke I use to finish. Which is pretty much the same answer Euclid440 just gave, and what everyone else is likely trying to say. Due to the fact that all blades have their own personalities there is no perfect answer on how this is done.

X strokes for me. May change the angle a bit but no circles on finishing stones.

I'm with Euclid on this one..
"Whatever it takes."

Pete <:-}

I've never done circles past the 8K polish phase.