Thread: Why use an X-pattern on a wide hone?

Originally Posted by Bruce

The X-pattern mitigates the uneven pressures applied to the blade by your hand and also compensates for a less than perfectly flat or uniformly textured hone. At least this is how I interepret the practice.

Originally Posted by SteveS

Even with a perfectly flat hone, many blades are not perfectly straight, so the entire length of the blade does not contact the stone at the same time. By using an x-stroke, you improve the odds (considerably!) of having the entire length of the blade's edge contact the hone at some point during the stroke.

+1

You also get the striations in the direction shown in barber manuals and most hone instructions. In theory that will give smoother cutting while shaving.

I tried it with straight 90 degree-to-edge striations and "barber manual" style. My results agreed with the theory.