As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been using the Half-X honing pattern because I didn’t think there would be any difference between it and the Full-X. And now, after reading the Treatise on sharpening mentioned in another post, I don’t think either pattern is sufficient. First, I’ll explain why then discuss the new pattern, the 4-X.

Let's establish some terminology:

Let's assume conventional honing is used, NOT back-honing.

If the blade is drawn across the hone from heel to toe, the scratches will start at the edge and slant forward toward the toe - let's call this toe-leaning.

If the blade is drawn from across the hone from toe to heel, the scratches will start at the edge and slant backward toward the heel - let's call this heel-leaning.

Considering each side of the blade separately, since we may shave with the heel leading or the toe leading or anywhere in between, I don't see what difference it would make if the scratches are toe-leaning or heel-leaning.

I think the only significant difference between the Full-X and Half-X must be at the edge itself in how the scratches come together at the edge.

In the Full-X, the scratches on both sides will be toe-leaning and look like this:

(toe-leaning)
////////////////////////////////////////////////////// toe of blade
-------------------------------------------------------edge
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\
(toe-leaning)


In the Half-X, the scratches will approach the edge from opposite directions and look like this:

(toe-leaning)
////////////////////////////////////////////////////// toe of blade
------------------------------------------------------edge
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
(heel-leaning)

The question is, do either of these patterns produce an optimum edge?


The treatise on sharpening mentioned in another post discusses a 4-stroke X pattern, consisting of both toe-to-heel and heel-to-toe strokes on both sides of the blade, resulting in this:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX toe of blade
---------------------------------------------------------edge
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


This stroke eliminates any grooves by honing each side in both directions and will result in the most uniform and smoothest edge.

I’m going re-hone one of my shavers with the 4-X, using my usual 8000 waterstone, coticule, .5 pasted strop and .25 pasted strop, and try it tomorrow. I’ll post the results.

Tom