Thread: Stroking question

Hey guys... Question about x-stroke on a smiley.. So I was one of those who bought and tried to learn the whole honing process while also learning my first 2 inch blade stroke on my cheek..Did not take long to store the stones until i got my Naniwa SS 12000 out about a year later for learning refresh and touch up work.. Fast forward 2+ years later and that is still all i do on my stones.. Came to realize that total from needing repair to restore blade and edges is the last need to learn on the SR adventure...And it is time. All i needed was a 1000k and that is on its way .Im looking forward to all the stone variations and all that is involved with honing.. I did say i have a question didnt I?... I purchased one of Victor"s Bluesman Bellies about 4 months ago.. It has not had to be on a stone until now.. The spine and edge lay completely flat on the stone so my question is I dont need to do rolling x-strokes since it is flat on the stone right?.. If it does need rollers i will send it to Vic as one of the nice things included in the purchase of one of his razors is his free lifetime honing... Small but a very nice touch.. I have very high praise for the razor i bought.. They are a bit pricey but since i did not impulse and saved for quite awhile it has a little more meaning.. Thanks guys, SMW.

You will need to do a rolling X to get the smiler smiling and you smiling too. Glen has some good videos. I think he has three parts to his smiling wedge video. Regardless of the grind, they all hone the same. Look at his vids while you send the blade to Victor.

Congrats on holding back on the honing and learning to touch-up first. Wish I'd have listened to others more, but then I wouldn't have had the fun in learning and restoring and destroying a few blades along the way.
Send that one back to Vic and pick you up a smiler on eBay or somewhere to play with. As you know, you don't want to mess up a razor from Vic. They cost a bit of green but worth every penny.
And as Rez said, the rolling X is needed on smilers. Even if it does touch the stone properly. If you don't you will take the smile out of it slowly but surely.

Ha thats funny Jerry.. You are congratulating me and ive been envious of you when you post about your good.bad and ugly honing journey ... I look forward to seeing a new honing post.... Keep em coming and Peace my friend!! SMW is out!

Hey Shaun.. Thanks responding. I see i posted this in the wrong spot. Can someone move it to Honing do you happen to know? My subconscious was telling me i already knew that i need to do rollers on that smiler.. I was hoping someone like yourself would tell the voice in my head he's.wrong.. No such luck .. While in Contact with Glen yesterday I watched his video on the smiling wedge.. Very good video indeed.. The best thing about me never using that stroke because im quite lucky that all 12 of my razors are ruler straight. I got rid of any that were not straight with remorse doing that on 2 of them. So my Bluesman is my only smiler i own and even if i cant get it after trying a few times its free to send to Vic.. Cant beat that!.. Been awhile since contact with you.. Hope all is well in your part of the world and ill talk with you soon.. Take care Shaun.. SMW is out

Originally Posted by TCMichigander

So my Bluesman is my only smiler i own and even if i cant get it after trying a few times its free to send to Vic.. Cant beat that!..

If you do give it a try, remember to keep the pressure extra light as there is a lot of flex in that edge. Also if you over do the roll, you will round off those nice square corners at the toe and heel. Don't hesitate to just send it this way, I'm more than happy to freshen it up for you.

Those feelings of trepidation that was coming out me made it all the way to Colorado Vic? When i layed down that razor flat on the stone and put on Charlie Lewis youtube lesson and how close and clear you see how its done I immediately knew this razor was coming to see you ... My Koraat is wrapped, strapped, boxed and ready to head to Glen today and my BluesBreaker is strapped up tight, I shined her nice n bright, and getting ready to be taken.care of right!! .Heading out today..Thanks Victl Oh im sure i have your address somewhere but if i dont find it is it on your wedsite? thanks Vic

Yes, my address is on the web site. I have to say that I'm glad you decided to send it. I'd be rooting for you, but holding my breath. Not a good razor to learn on. I do understand you wanting to be able to do it on your own though, maybe we can do a one on one at the Wisconsin meet next year.

When I attended the Wisconsin meet last fall, Victor (Bluesman) was there. He brought one of his creations to the meet, but it had not yet been honed. He was honing it on the edge of the hone rather than the wide flat surface to insure that all spots along the edge were honed evenly.
I inspected his progress until we were both satisfied he had it perfect the entire length of the blade.

I have also seen a recent post about marking an area about 1" wide on the top of your hone and concentrating your efforts there rather than across the entire width of the stone. I guess the narrow marked area focuses you attention so you to do the rolling x-strokes.

Of course, since Vic has honed more of his own blades than anyone, he is absolutely correct about the thin, flexible edge of his bellied hollow grind. Hone using the weight of the blade only to insure you do not flex the edge away from the stone surface.