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

The scything motion, or "skew cut" also cuts with less effort because more of the blade is cutting the hair. (see attachment)

And for those that say toe leading gives a smoother shave, of which I am one, doesn't the "toe leading = better shave" phenomenon disprove the idea that serrations are the main component of the blade's cutting power since the majority of blades are honed with heel leading? A blade honed with the heel leading would have serration in that direction, and shaving with the toe leading would be at an angle that does not make the fullest use of those serrations, so they are, at the very least, not as important as the average sharpness of the cutting angle itself.

One might even argue that they are a negative component since on some scale they are creating tiny zones where the hair does not contact a cutting edge and is therefore pulled slightly before being severed. But that is an argument of diminishing returns, and is subjective to each persons preferences.

The bottom photo shows four electron microscope photos of razor edges. Top left is a craft razor and human hair, 20 microns across the photo. Top right is the same razor at 2 microns across the photo, the human hair is the width of the page at this magnification. Bottom left is a Wilkinson craft razor, 2 microns across. Bottom right is a chisel sharpened on a 6000 grit water stone, honed with Chromium-oxide 2 microns across. So that just goes to show you how small the changes are that we are talking about (in comparison to the size of a human hair), and what a noticeable effect they have on our faces.

edit: photos are from Leonard Lee's book "Complete Guide to Sharpening" , a Fine Woodworking book. The book deals mainly with cutting edges for woodworking, but the principles of severing fibers with sharpened edges are universal.