what stroke to use on a small stone?

I've been looking around but i couldn't find anything about this. i might have just missed it though. i have a coticule that is about 6" x 1.5" and i'm trying to figure out what stroke to use in the beginning. i really like how quickly and smoothly doing a circle stroke looks like it should be but everyone seems to have a much wider hone than i do when preforming that one. so should i just stick to the half stroke to try and get that much speed for my initial honing after setting my bevel?

Use an X stroke until you learn it, the others are a bit tricky at the beginning. Those strokes are kind of advanced techniques, try to use them later on when you have a bit of experince. Go slow, and you will be faster done with the work than if you hurry.

I agree. Learning the X stroke first is imperative. After that there is no reason that you can't do circles, half strokes or anything else. I have some smaller stones (even smaller than yours) and I can do almost any stroke on them. Where I have trouble is if I'm using larger stones for a while, then switch. What I find is hard is when the stones get smaller I have trouble keeping slurry on the stone, but we each learn our own technique for that.

You could try approaching the stone long ways. Do ovals rather than circles and follow with x strokes. The circles are very efficient and are faster but you can get there with x strokes. Just takes more time.

just use a short stroke

i've been honing various tools and knive for a long time so i'm pretty familiar with the x stroke, and all my wood working hones are large enough to pretty much use how ever i want. so i was just curious if i should even attempt circles on a stone this small or if i should just stick with what i know works. so thanks! i just won't worry about it for now till i can get some el cheapo razors to practice it with. Till then i will stick with x patterns half stroke and short strokes etc. thanks everyone!

Try the backstroke.....!

you can use a lot of different stroke(x, half, ovals, ...) you just have to take it slow in the beginning
I have a 3*12cm coticule and I have to say I wouldn't even want any bigger(i have though but I rarely use it)

kind regards
Stijn