Lynn's "New" Circle/X Stroke Honing Technique

[JimmyHAD]

I'm not sure how new it is but I first saw a bit of it in Lynn's razorcon '09 honing video here. I had already learned to use circles and following with the x pattern in setting bevels but never had used them beyond that.

About a month ago I was reading a thread on doing pyramids with Naniwas and holli4pirating posted on sitting down with Lynn real time and watching him hone with the circle and x stroke method here. Using 40 circles and following with 10 x strokes up through the 1k, 3k, and 5k grit levels and repeating if necessary. Then 10x strokes on the 8 and 12k.

I gave it a try on one razor, I really don't recall which, and it worked for me but I went back to the pyramid I'm familiar with afterwards on whatever I've honed since until yesterday. Then i read forum member ShavedZombie's experience of going over to visit Lynn here and the same honing technique was described.

So with my memory refreshed I took an old Hermes I recently acquired and set the bevel with the circles and x pattern. I am not sure how many circles and x strokes I had to do to get the bevel. I wasn't really paying attention to counting but that old HC Hermes was butter knife dull when I started. I got it to where it was shaving leg hair easily (touching the skin) all along the length of the blade.

Then I did as holli described in the fore mentioned thread and did 40 circles and 10 x pattern strokes on the 3k and 5k Naniwa superstones and then 10 X pattern on the 8k and the 12k without the circles. The blade was popping arm hair (without touching the skin) all along the length so I took it to the strop and did the 50 linen and 50 leather.

Tried the HHT and it was doing it out 1/3 the length of the blade from the heel to point but not for the other 2/3. So going by the hair popping on the arm I figured it was going to give a good shave anyhow and I was not disappointed. Smooth, irritation free and bbs close.

I like honing by numbers as in the pyramids so this circle/x pattern technique suits me well. I am going to hone a few more with this method and see if it doesn't shoot the pyramid method out of the saddle for me. So if you haven't tried it yet give it a whirl it is a very efficient method to get a razor up to speed.

If you're going to try this watch the Razorcon '09 video linked above. It is a great honing video of the master in action using this method and explaining it as he works.