Thread: consistent blade...?!

I'm watch the honing vids trying to learn something and I wonder: how can you get a consistent edge all along the egde by using the x-stroke.
I mean, the heel is on the stone for (lets say) 1/8 of the stroke, the middle 6/8 and the toe 3/8. If they dont get the same time on the hone...

In theory the middle of the blade will incur more honewear than toe and heel. I have asked myself the same question for a long time. As Lynn says he never sees a problem of frown formation if you hone in an X-pattern we got to believe him as he has been honing for yonks!

This is how I think it works: suppose you wear out the middle of the cutting edge a bit more than toe and heel you'll get more pressure on toe and heel with the next strokes, that way evening out the effect of excessive wear in the middle. As you say the toe is for an even shorter period of time in touch with the hone than the toe. However, due to the razor's centre of gravity being closer to the heel than the toe, the heel gets more pressure while on the hone than the toe.

All in all this will allow you to keep a straight edged straight razor.

Makes sense

Originally Posted by napoleon

I'm watch the honing vids trying to learn something and I wonder: how can you get a consistent edge all along the egde by using the x-stroke.
I mean, the heel is on the stone for (lets say) 1/8 of the stroke, the middle 6/8 and the toe 3/8. If they dont get the same time on the hone...

There is distance but there is also if it can remove material.

If the razor does not change orientation and remains parralell to the hone how is the hone going to contact the middle to wear it more?

kees is exactly right.What x pattern does it has been made for only small stone(barber very fast cutting hone)
if you do have large enough stone you don't need x pattern at all.some people says it makes sharper etc that all is crap.
1 more remember when you do your x pattern your wrist shouldn't turn around and pointer finger has to be on top of the blade.this will give to you full control of the blade --you can lift up or put down etc to hone different part of the blade.hpe this help

Originally Posted by napoleon

I'm watch the honing vids trying to learn something and I wonder: how can you get a consistent edge all along the egde by using the x-stroke.
I mean, the heel is on the stone for (lets say) 1/8 of the stroke, the middle 6/8 and the toe 3/8. If they dont get the same time on the hone...

I've been wondering the same thing and don't really see how it wouldn't give an inconsistent wear pattern over a long time. After all, you do see a lot of razors with smiles at the heel or point from the hone wear. It probably just takes a really long time to develop uneven wear because once honed well the first time the rest are light touch ups.

So, an x pattern is fine. I dont have to learn a rolling x pattern?!

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

kees is exactly right.What x pattern does it has been made for only small stone(barber very fast cutting hone)
if you do have large enough stone you don't need x pattern at all.some people says it makes sharper etc that all is crap.

On a large hone, no X-pattern is needed, on the strict condition that the edge and spine are perfectly occupying the same spacial plane. If a blade has the slightest warp or twist, performing an X-stroke deals with that, because the points of contact shifts along the entire length of the blade during the honing stroke.
I have several razors with such an issue.

The rolling X is used when a razor has a smiling curve at the edge, something that's the case with many older razors. A lot of them were even designed that way.

When I started honing, I reckoned not doing X-strokes would be easier. So I happily believed the opinions that said it wasn't necessary and bought wide hones that would accommodate an entire razor blade. I took me a few weeks of frustration to find out why the majority of my razors were not sharp along the entire length of the edge...

Yes, an X-pattern is fine...


Bart.

Originally Posted by napoleon

So, an x pattern is fine. I dont have to learn a rolling x pattern?!

depends on whether you are honing a razor with a smile.

A rolling X-pattern IMHO is an advanced hoing technique that requires a lot of skill. If you do not get it right you risk worsening the shape of the cutting edge. I think it is a lot safer ot use a narrow hone for such a razor. Up to now I have managed without rolling.