Thread: Straight Honing Vs. X Pattern Honing

Quick question...

Assuming my razors are not smiling, is it best to stay with the "X" pattern honing or would it be more benificial to use a straight up and down the length of the stone motion?

Are there advantages to the "X" pattern on a non-smiling razor?
Is the "X" pattern the accepted standard?

Make note to myself... "Buy Lynn's DVD next time I order any stuff"

Well, there seems to be two schools of thought on this. The first says that if your hone is wide enough, why not go straight down (at some "heel leading" angle)? The other says use the X pattern on any width hone. There's been quite a few threads on this in the past - a search on Xpattern or similar will show up a few.

Personally I prefer the X pattern, even though I have the wider Norton. Apart from anything else, I find the X pattern allows a bit more flexibility and enables me to produce a smoother stroke. I've also found that if you combine the X pattern with Xman's "rolling hone" technique, you can target the heel and toe easier too. Lastly, the angle of the "cuts" the hone makes in the edge when I use a heel leading X pattern gives me good shaves, but this last might just be me.

James.

Most razors that I've worked on, even those that look straight, have a little variation in the edge. An X pattern ensures that these razors get honed evenly.

(I work on used/abused razors, mostly. New Dovos and such might have perfectly straight edges.)

An X, or some kind of rolling motion, is the way to go on 90 percent of razors.

Just my 2 cents,
Josh

Thanks guys! It all makes sense. I didn't think about the rolling hone technique. I'll have to read up on that. I don't even know what it is or how its done. Time to do a search.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Well, there seems to be two schools of thought on this. The first says that if your hone is wide enough, why not go straight down (at some "heel leading" angle)? The other says use the X pattern on any width hone. There's been quite a few threads on this in the past - a search on Xpattern or similar will show up a few.

Personally I prefer the X pattern, even though I have the wider Norton. Apart from anything else, I find the X pattern allows a bit more flexibility and enables me to produce a smoother stroke. I've also found that if you combine the X pattern with Xman's "rolling hone" technique, you can target the heel and toe easier too. Lastly, the angle of the "cuts" the hone makes in the edge when I use a heel leading X pattern gives me good shaves, but this last might just be me.

James.

I'm with you on that. I went into it thinking bigger is better with buying hones and I really like the control I get with smaller width hones using an X pattern.

Okay! I applied what everyone here has told me to try. I decided to hone up one of the new Wapi's I just got from Woj. I did the conservative pyramid using the X method. Then on to the pasted paddle and then the hanging strop.

All I can say is WOWZA! Gave it a little test drive on my arm hair and I swear the razor never touch the hair. It just jumped clean off my arm! Never felt a thing, no tugging no pulling!

Tomorrow morning I will give it the final test. I have read posts by others with these razors and I guess they are right. They truly are easy to hone. So easy a newbie like me can do it!

Thanks guys! Your suggestions and experience is priceless.