Thread: The X-stroke: uneven edge wear by design?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Hey Tony, since I don't hone razors for money generally, though I've made exceptions, mine is not a "professional" opinion. OTOH, I've honed a lot of razors so that is worth something I guess. Yeah, I don't start in the middle either but if I understand your post correctly you are doing it correctly.

Also to the OP, if you notice what appears to be unevenness in the size of the bevel or the wear on the spine, that isn't necessarily because of incorrect honing. Many razors are not exactly parallel from one end to the other or in the relationship of spine to bevel. If that is the case the point or heel may show a slightly wider or narrower bevel than the center area ..... or visa versa.

Thanks Jimmy! I've been working at it hard so I don't want all my hard work to go to waste if I've been doing it wrong -lol!

Tony, what do you mean when you are saying not to lay the razor flat and to start on toe edge or heel edge? To me you're describing a pronounced rolling x stroke. The only time I really lift the edge off the hone is when the smile is very pronounced or there is warping of the spine. Typically the rolling x-stroke is just rolling the 'pressure' from the heel of the spine to the toe of the spine. I wouldn't recommend lifting the spine of the blade off the hone unless there is an issue with the razor.

Originally Posted by brooksie967

Tony, what do you mean when you are saying not to lay the razor flat and to start on toe edge or heel edge? To me you're describing a pronounced rolling x stroke. The only time I really lift the edge off the hone is when the smile is very pronounced or there is warping of the spine. Typically the rolling x-stroke is just rolling the 'pressure' from the heel of the spine to the toe of the spine. I wouldn't recommend lifting the spine of the blade off the hone unless there is an issue with the razor.

basically I start with either the heel or the toe to the left or the right of the stone but not on the stone and then bring it down diagonally across the stone. then I take the opposite side put that off the stone and move diagonally in the opposite direction and thus the x pattern. basically I do very small x strokes because my nanis are very wide.

My only concern with the process you are describing is whether or not you're honing your razors on the stabilizer that may or may not exist on it. I haven't read too much into that but I don't typically lay any part of the stabilizer on the hone unless it is worn to that point already as to avoid creating a heel hook.

Originally Posted by brooksie967

My only concern with the process you are describing is whether or not you're honing your razors on the stabilizer that may or may not exist on it. I haven't read too much into that but I don't typically lay any part of the stabilizer on the hone unless it is worn to that point already as to avoid creating a heel hook.

that was a big problem for me but I learned to avoid the stabilizer and now I don't have a problem.

How do you start with the toe off the hone without having the stabilizer on the hone? Pictures?

Originally Posted by brooksie967

How do you start with the toe off the hone without having the stabilizer on the hone? Pictures?

with great difficulty. I do have a problem with the heel getting less sharper than the rest of the body of the blade, I assume this is why.