Originally Posted by
gssixgun
This is actually a very good question on a very mis-understood stroke...
First off NEVER take the spine off the hone, period...
The spine and the edge directly across from that spot of the spine have to both be touching the hone at the same time.
The "rolling" is more pressure, than actual lifting of the razor, yes I know what it shows in the Wiki and the Videos but those are both exaggerated to show the stroke..
Something to keep in the back of your mind, the Rolling X is a "cheater" stroke it is designed to get the edge sharp again on a difficult smile /wedge, it will not correct the bevel, you will end up with a "Lumpy" bevel.. Honest
Don't think I am right??? just try a 45 heel forward across the hone stroke, and tell me what you feel, it will go thump, thump, thump, all the way across.. What you are doing is just getting the very edge of the bevel sharp again... It works, and you can shave, but you are not fixing the bevel...Does that even matter??? that is for you to answer... (this of course pertains to an old razor that has been honed a lot)
As Dylan said already, watch the ripple of water, keep that as even as you possibly can and you should be fine,, learn the Magic Marker test too it helps when you first start...
Embrace the Challenge !!! :)