I understand what you're saying about not removing more material, (the enemy of good is better). So you don't cut down in layers or slices, you just go all the way down and then cut across, removing the full depths worth of material in one move?
Also, if we call the left side of the axle, 8 o' clock, and the right side 4, is it as I imagined, that your cutting something like 7-8, then 6-7, etc.?