Thread: This May Be Sacrilege

No it works just fine doing it that way, "IF" you have a flat even bevel..... The X pattern, rolling pattern, rocking pattern and swoop are for different problems with blades and stones......
The X pattern was "Probably" developed many years ago when 8"x 3" stones were not easily accessible and most people used small barber style hones...
We are blessed in the 21st century by having fine grit, large sized, perfectly flat, man-made hones, so why wouldn't we use them to the fullest of their abilities.....
That is my story and I'm sticking to it.....

"...the heel spends less time on the stone..." I thought the same thing so I started alternating a regular X pattern with a reverse X on each set of strokes. Works great so far.

I've honed all my razors that, like others have mentioned, lay flat on the hone on both sides of the blade and I've done so for quite some time. I don't believe there is one right way to hone. It really is about what works best for you. Absolutely the X pattern is a time tested standard that works for most and with good reason. I don't hone using the pyramid either but clearly that's a method that works as well. Experimentation is the spice of razor life!

Chris L

You can also lead with the toe of the razor if the toe is honing up slower.
You have found one variation that can be used to fix a slow honing blade, this is also very good on wedges.
You must now figure out the other 52 methods of honing, and learn to walk across rice paper while honing (without leaving foot prints) before you can be branded with the dragon and tiger, and be called honemeister.

No sacralidge there, just another good method of honing.

Yeah, that rice paper bit is the hardest part too. Took me forrrrrrr evvvvvver to figure that one out.

I have discussed that part with David also, I do believe he said its fine to do it that way. I too was concerned about the heel spending all of a split second on the hone whilst the rest doesn't. However I still am working an the X pattern since it seems to be traditional.

Thanks guys although these are not the responses I expected. I braced for you honmeisters to slap me down. Hmmm, I am happy I haven't stumbled on some technique that would be possibly damaging to my razors. I do however have a large black arrow inked across my Shapton 16k