Thread: Another (still) newbie honing question

OK, so if I am honing on 3" wide hones, I have read that it is still in my interest to do an "X" in case the hone is slightly out of flat or if there is any warp to the razor.
My concern is that the heel will get more hone-time than the tip. Would it do any harm to reverse the X and go tip to heel every other stroke or so? Or maybe do 10 and 10?
Thoughts?

It just doesn't wear funny if you are doing nice even X strokes... I know it looks like it should, and logically it sounds like it should, but it just doesn't....
Tip-to-heel will reverse the striations on the edge, even if you manage to do it perfectly, which would not help the razor be a smooth cutter...

The only thing that really creates un-even wear is pressure, or an un-even stroke...

Some people intermix the X stroke with a few straight down the hone strokes also...

Thnaks for the info, Glen!

It really does seem like logic would mandate unever wear. But you have probably honed a few more razors than I have (I've done three....) so I think I'll take your word for it.
I'll stick to some nice X-strokes, and get back to it tonight. SOMETHING has to be to blame for the fact that I can get a razor JUST sharp enough to shave, but never anywhere close to what I would call "Shave ready." I've tried the pyramids, tried following the advice I get every time I come on here with my less than stellar results. If I hadn't learned my lesson about 500 times in the past, I would say
"if I just bought XYZ" THEN I could do it better. I have the Norton 320/1K, 4/8K set and a 12K. I'll stick to the X instead of all the straight strokes and see how I do.

When you say 12k I am assuming that you mean a Chinese 12k???


Why not try dropping that out of your routine, finish up on the 8k Norton like this...
Your last 10 laps let the stone go to almost dry, very carefully, as lightly and as smoothly as you you can manage do those last 10 strokes, then strop the crap outta the edge and try a shave..... I think you might be very surprised at how well a 8k Norton can really finish an edge...

The 12K Chinese has always been unpredictable for me. Could be 30 strokes and could be 50 strokes and I still finish with either .5 diamond spray/paste or chromium oxide with about 10 strokes.

The X stroke when done right is actually the most consistent stroke for bringing out a great edge in a razor. Very light touch and razor very flat on the stone. If I have a razor that will not lay perfectly flat, I usually go to a 45 degree angle X stroke and that seems to work very well.

On the pyramid, a good finish on the 8K if 1/3, 1/5 is not working would be as Glen is indicating with going up to 10 very very light strokes. A lot of times on SS razors, I will finish with a 1/5, 1/7 using the pyramid.

Have fun,

Lynn