Thread: X pattern

I am totally lost with that question


Here is the wiki link to tons of honing info, I just don't quite know what yer asking?????

Category:Honing - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am totally lost with that question


Here is the wiki link to tons of honing info, I just don't quite know what yer asking?????

Category:Honing - Straight Razor Place Wiki

OK, I'll try to be a bit more descriptive if I can:

Say I have a 2 inch wide stone. I start with the heel very close to the right edge of the stone, and as I start to move the blade at an angle (by definition of the X pattern) the vicinity of the heel leaves the hone pretty quickly, say it stays on the hone for a fifth of the stroke duration, while the midpoint of the edge gets full time. The complement of this holds for the point of the razor.

Hope this clarifies what I'm trying to ask.

Yes it does,
I am reading both of your recent posts are we talking about the Dovo that you were mentioning in the other thread?????

That peculiarity and the improvised method I described on the other post are on the 1200 grit DMT, which is wide enough to not require the X pattern. My concern voiced in this thread arises after moving on to belgian stones. (and is rather theoretical, and razor independent, actually.)

OK lets take it step by step....
Setting the bevel: you can start with straight across stoke, then after the sharpness starts, change to the X pattern to finish out I use a heel forward angle...
Sharpening: Use the X pattern I know it seems like the blade would be uneven from this but it will not, watch the water as you slide the razor across the hone you will notice how it moves upward (toward the toe) along the edge... So does the point of contact giving a even sliding motion across the hone....
I do not use a rolling X on a straight edge only on a smiling edge...
You only want to use enough pressure to keep the razor level and even on the hone no more no less...
This same question has come up many times but just so long as you use a nice light even stroke the X pattern will not give an uneven edge...
Personally I like a slightly heel forward stoke it seems to work better, but everyones honing stoke is slightly different so you have to figure out what works for you the best as you progress.....

Changing to x pattern even on a wide hone sounds strange but I'll give it a shot next time around. After all, I think I am getting the compulsory honing disorder.

Thanks a lot.

If you pay really close attention to the shape of the razors edge you will find that most of them are not perfectly straight. Because of that it is impossible for the entire edge to lay flat on the hone. Thus the rolling X pattern stroke is necessary. Most of the people who watch the flow of either the water or slurry move from the heel to the toe will develop the "rolling" stroke as a consequence.

Hope this makes sense.

if i understand your question right ? .you are asking when you do x pattern heel is touching to the hone less the other parts of the blade example point.
you are right it is.
Now if you want to avoid this you can use a little strange x pattern,
when you use x pattern you keep your razor constantly 90 degree to the stone right?
Now change it aproximately 120 see what will happens.
Please understand i am not saying narrow stone won't do the job this is just another way to resolve that problem.
hope this helps.

Thank you I'll try that.

Is there any known downside to using a curved stroke? My tendency is to start out straight so the heel gets more time, then make a sudden curve, and end straight as well, like the (vertically) middle section of the letter S.

Originally Posted by kuoytfouy

OK, I'll try to be a bit more descriptive if I can:

Say I have a 2 inch wide stone. I start with the heel very close to the right edge of the stone, and as I start to move the blade at an angle (by definition of the X pattern) the vicinity of the heel leaves the hone pretty quickly, say it stays on the hone for a fifth of the stroke duration, while the midpoint of the edge gets full time. The complement of this holds for the point of the razor.

Hope this clarifies what I'm trying to ask.

I will guess that you are concerned about getting more "hone time" in the center of your razor and getting a frowning edge as a result. As in pg. 24, fig. 20 in this pdf file: 1961 Barbering Text - Honing.pdf
File:Help Files Permanent Archive Barbering Textbooks 1961 Barbering Text - Honing.pdf - Straight Razor Place Wiki .

The pdf has the cure if that starts to happen. The "cure" is also a good way to put a smiling edge on any razor that you wish.