Quote Originally Posted by AFDavis11 View Post
I place the Norton on a folded towel for this part. The towel folded up as I stand over the entire affair will allow the hone and the blade, held flat against the hone to pivot and gimbal in response to any pressure mistakes I may make. Keeping the pressure light, the hone will move with me if I make any mistakes and the blade will always be maintained in a perfectly flat position on the hone.

As the bevel becomes more perfect and sharp I will transition to an X pattern ensuring the blade contact pressure becomes even less (at this point about the weight of the blade alone will work). I use the X pattern for a variety of reasons. I ensure that each stroke is the same angle, lenght, and with equal (and light) pressure. But there must be enough to hold the razor flat to the hone and actually do something to the razor. The fewer strokes the better.

OK....comments?
Sorry for the newb question, but what kind of strokes were you doing prior to transitioning to the X pattern? Heel leading, straight down the stone?