Thread: Rolling X

Hi All,

I have been advised that to hone a smiler, I should use a rolling X stroke.

Can anyone explain a rolling X please.

Steve

This will get you started. From the Forum's Library https://shavelibrary.com/w/Rolling_X_stroke

Bob

Your best bet is to get together with a experienced honer. It will shorten your learning curve considerably. I have given many people one on one instruction in my home and that is the best way to learn honing. Allow 3-6 hours for your first session.

Try to think of the leading edge going at a 90° to the stone the whole way down the stroke as you make your x. Does that make sense? As you make the x turn the blade into the stroke in a curl so that each part of the smile goes at the same angle to the hone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEtb9k3APYM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DStkiyHB9PU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2dqBluDteQ

Try these out. Also you can drop by anytime before the 24th and we can get you up to speed.

It helps me a lot to watch the water getting pushed or undercutting on the hone to tell what part of the edge is in contact as I go through the X. Depending on the amount of smile, the roll can be quite subtle. If you roll too far you will be rounding off the toe, heel, or both.

Those videos are very good and Glen definitely knows his oats. One thing I would say though. Steve, we've talked about the 4k/8k pyramid. When you do that progression DO carefully count the strokes. That progression is all about a progressive hone, polish, hone, polish. You can see the edge get shinier and shinier as you go through it on the rotation. A lot of the time I don't even go to a finisher after the pyramid but do what works for each razor AND for your taste. Remember, that one is just one method and what Glen shows is a different method. I found that the pyramid is very easy to get good results when I was first learning to do more than maintain an already decent edge. That's why I suggested it to you. Glen is a master and you can learn a lot from him. I'm just speaking specifically about the 4k/8k pyramid.

this might help a bit ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6umE...k8H19j&index=1

Originally Posted by bluesman7

It helps me a lot to watch the water getting pushed or undercutting on the hone to tell what part of the edge is in contact as I go through the X. Depending on the amount of smile, the roll can be quite subtle. If you roll too far you will be rounding off the toe, heel, or both.

Read This again ^^^^^^^


It is all about watching that ripple at the front of the blade to make sure it is either pushing or undercutting that ripple as you hone

It is actually all Self-Correcting too if you pay attention, use the least amount of Torque and Pressure to keep that ripple going, as the razor gets sharper that will become less

We all are guilty of making up cute names for the strokes in the past, honestly you adjust that stroke to ride that wave on whatever razor you are honing (Honing Gymnastics)

Learning to hone is simply learning those moves..

ps: Do NOT be afraid to use the second hand to help adjust/guide that stroke especially at the lower grits while establishing the bevel

pps: This advice stands for ALL honing systems if you learned to use the Pyramid this still works while using it too, the good news is that if you can get to where you don't NEED anything above that Norton 8k to have a comfortable shave you have learned a good solid base

Watch the water flow from heel to toe.