Thread: X-Pattern, why?

Im sure that there is a specific reason, and perhaps its been covered, but to search "X-Pattern" would yeild a ton of results. soo. im wondering what the specific rational for honing, stroping in a X-pattern is. Just wondering, forgive my newbieness

I think that there are many reasons and I don't know all of them myself. In some cases, where the hone is not as wide as the blade (i.e., a barber hone), the X pattern makes sure that the entire blade gets sharpened. There are some people who don't use it on a wide hone like the Norton 4K/8K. But if a wide hone has an uneven surface, you're back in the situation where the entire blade is not evenly in contact with the stone. The X pattern corrects for that. A rolling X is used for a so-called "smiling" blade where, again, the issue is that the entire blade cannot be in contact with the stone during the entire pass. Finally, I think that moving the blade obliquely across the stone, instead of at a 90° angle has a better sharpening effect, but I have no empirical evidence of that. Here, I'll stop and let the honemeisters complete the discourse.

that all makes sense, i wondered if perhaps it helped remove more metal from the blade, made the honing faster? helped reduce the chances of getting a foil edge? i dunno, i've been doing it, but just wondered, the smiling blade and narrower hone makes sense also..

Commonly the X-pattern is used because most hones are narrower than the razors. I ONLY use it on the finest of hones as using the X-pattern repeatedly on a coarser hone will lead to a "frown" in the razor. Why? Well that's simple, plain logic: Because the heel and the toe of the razor get much less time on the hone than the middle part of the blade.

You can escape creating frowning razors by honing sequentially at a 90 degree angle as I tried to illustrate below:



One or two X-strokes at the and are okay to smoothen things out, but that's that.

Originally Posted by moviemaniac

Commonly the X-pattern is used because most hones are narrower than the razors. I ONLY use it on the finest of hones as using the X-pattern repeatedly on a coarser hone will lead to a "frown" in the razor. Why? Well that's simple, plain logic: Because the heel and the toe of the razor get much less time on the hone than the middle part of the blade.

You can escape creating frowning razors by honing sequentially at a 90 degree angle as I tried to illustrate below:


One or two X-strokes at the and are okay to smoothen things out, but that's that.

I gotta ask for a clarification on your post ??? Are you saying to do 1 lap with the toe off the stone, and then do 1 lap with the heel off the stone????? straight down the stone???

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I gotta ask for a clarification on your post ??? Are you saying to do 1 lap with the toe off the stone, and then do 1 lap with the heel off the stone????? straight down the stone???

Exactly

Originally Posted by moviemaniac

Exactly

Then I would have to respectfully point out that your logic of creating a frown would still apply, the middle of the razor would still be getting more attention then the toe and heel....

The X pattern is normally used to create the most even bevels, by allowing the entire edge to slide over the honing surface... On certain razors and/or hones the X is slightly modified to accommodate those variables...
With the right razor and/or a wide hone you could drop the X for a slightly angled lap straight down the hone.....

Keeping in mind that there are many different and effective ways to end up with a shave ready edge....
The X pattern is just easier for most people to use....

I have to agree that for convex blades a modified X-pattern is the best choice. I have personally seen blades that were perfectly straight before and were concave after having been handled by inexperienced honers after too long a time on the 1000 grit-hone. By honing at a 90 degree angle and honing the razor with alternating passes (one time the tip and one time the toe off the hone) you can't get a concave edge due to every part of the blade sitting always flat on the hone. You would have to apply quite some pressure on the middle part of the blade when using that technique to get a concave edge and personally I find it neither easier nor more difficult to perform than honing in an X-pattern.

It's very difficult to explain but this is also backed by experience from long time honers and shavers from Germany.

But, of course, each to his own

So is the general consensus that if I hone in an X pattern exclusively that I will create a frown in my blade ?

Originally Posted by JimmyH-AD

So is the general consensus that if I hone in an X pattern exclusively that I will create a frown in my blade ?

No. Certainly not unless you are dwelling on the very low grit hones. If you are spending a lot of time in the coticule zone I doubt you'll do too much damage no mattter what you do.

But as a newbie myself I would advise trying different things and not worrying too much about the long term but rather focus on learning how different things work for you. When you get more experienced you'll know what works and you can get a new blade then if you need to (and I doubt you'll need to).

But I think the general consensus is an x pattern is a good idea.