I’ve been honing for about 5 minutes and have developed a “gefährliches halb Wissen” German for dangerous half knowledge. This is where you know enough about a subject to question the established wisdom without fully understanding all of the finer points. Armed with this half knowledge I’d like to challenge the traditional x-stroke.
Why do we use the X-Stroke?
On the face of it, the x-stroke seems to have been developed as a way to use thinner more economical hones. I think there is probably more to it than that and the truth may be the other way round. That thinner hones were developed to use the x-stroke. The main advantages I see to the x-stroke are as follows.
1. The x-stroke makes up for less than perfect stone and razor geometry. By moving the razor in an x-stroke you constantly change the point of contact and catch areas where you might be getting poor contact. Useful for honing smiles, frowns, twists and warps or using stones that aren’t quite flat.
2. The x-stroke adds a shearing action to the apex while honing that helps to strip a fin edge and prevent fin edges from forming.
3. It is one way of using a hone that is thinner than the blade is wide.
Problems with the X-Stroke
The x-stroke is not without its problems.
1. By using an x-stroke you are putting uneven wear on the blade. The toe of the razor is spending more time on the hone than the heal. This problem becomes progressively worse as the hone gets wider. As the stone gets thinner this effect reduces which may be why older hones were thinner. With an infinitely thin hone, like a round honing steel for example, the problem disappears all together.
2. As you get less and less blade on the hone it becomes harder and harder to keep the blade flat. This makes it hard to maintain even and flat contact with the hone. Poor contact and changing pressure invites blade distortion through honing.
Alternatives to the X-Stroke
To me it seems that heel leading strokes are a good alternative to the traditional x-stroke. This is essentially an x-stroke with the hone laid out at an angle in line with the direction of the stroke. The angle of the blade against the stones is the same.
Heel leading is preferred because you avoid clashes with the blade stabiliser of present. You can use steep angles that mimic very short x-strokes.
Advantages are:
1. Wear on the blade is even
2. With more blade on the hone maintaining good and even contact is easier.
Disadvantages are:
1. Relies on perfectly flat stones and perfectly straight edges
2. The technique works best with long wide hones. Short hones can be a limiting factor.
3. There is an area of the spine that doesn’t make contact with the hone. Over time this could create a high spot on the spine. For this reason heal and toe leading strokes should be used sparingly
What have I missed?
Am I missing any other reasons why the x-stroke has been taught and has become so established in the honing literature.
Why do we use the X-Stroke?
On the face of it, the x-stroke seems to have been developed as a way to use thinner more economical hones. I think there is probably more to it than that and the truth may be the other way round. That thinner hones were developed to use the x-stroke. The main advantages I see to the x-stroke are as follows.
1. The x-stroke makes up for less than perfect stone and razor geometry. By moving the razor in an x-stroke you constantly change the point of contact and catch areas where you might be getting poor contact. Useful for honing smiles, frowns, twists and warps or using stones that aren’t quite flat.
2. The x-stroke adds a shearing action to the apex while honing that helps to strip a fin edge and prevent fin edges from forming.
3. It is one way of using a hone that is thinner than the blade is wide.
Problems with the X-Stroke
The x-stroke is not without its problems.
1. By using an x-stroke you are putting uneven wear on the blade. The toe of the razor is spending more time on the hone than the heal. This problem becomes progressively worse as the hone gets wider. As the stone gets thinner this effect reduces which may be why older hones were thinner. With an infinitely thin hone, like a round honing steel for example, the problem disappears all together.
2. As you get less and less blade on the hone it becomes harder and harder to keep the blade flat. This makes it hard to maintain even and flat contact with the hone. Poor contact and changing pressure invites blade distortion through honing.
Alternatives to the X-Stroke
To me it seems that heel leading strokes are a good alternative to the traditional x-stroke. This is essentially an x-stroke with the hone laid out at an angle in line with the direction of the stroke. The angle of the blade against the stones is the same.
Heel leading is preferred because you avoid clashes with the blade stabiliser of present. You can use steep angles that mimic very short x-strokes.
Advantages are:
1. Wear on the blade is even
2. With more blade on the hone maintaining good and even contact is easier.
Disadvantages are:
1. Relies on perfectly flat stones and perfectly straight edges
2. The technique works best with long wide hones. Short hones can be a limiting factor.
3. There is an area of the spine that doesn’t make contact with the hone. Over time this could create a high spot on the spine. For this reason heal and toe leading strokes should be used sparingly
What have I missed?
Am I missing any other reasons why the x-stroke has been taught and has become so established in the honing literature.
