I don't have enough experience to be certain, but what I'm finding is that I have to do a rolling X on most of the older bades I'm honing.

A few, mostly new razors seem to do fine with a straight X or a 30-45 degree X. But I'm working through a number of older, good-quality razors (Bengall, Reynolds, Rodgers, various Solingen brands) now, and I find that the Magic Marker almost invariably will not get wiped off the edge of the bevel along the entire length unless I do a rolling X. Most indicate a mild bow in the blade -- on one side, only the belly touches the hone, and on the opposite side only the toe and the heel touch the hone.

I know that Lynn favors a 30-45-degree X pattern. Others tell me that this should handle the great majority of blades with irregular edges. But I am not finding that to be the case. Am I missing something?