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

Originally Posted by RayG

I have a related question: When honing in the "barber manual" style on an 8 x 3 hone, would not the top half (or tip half) or so end up with more cumulative contact time with the hone than the bottom half, since the top is in contact with the stone during the entire lap?

The base gets a little more pressure to compensate. I sometimes find the tip a little sharper but its nice having the base a little more rigid for the chin and the tip a little sharper for fine work.

I like to use the x pattern also because pulling a razor without using pressure is easier than pushing it down the hone without applying pressure.

An x pattern is a very efficient manner of applying the striations consistently at the correct angle without excessive manuevering when you flip the blade over. You could just angle the blade (in the inverse angle as the diagram above) but you'd be flipping the blade in a lot of excess motion compared to just using an x pattern. Its kind of anti-climatic if the x pattern isn't some magical solution but it could just be that its the most efficient overall travel path.