Both methods work well, some of us prefer one over the other, some use both on different razors, some use both on the same razor.


Pastes work best on a hard surface like a paddle or bench hone or strop, not on hanging strops which would tend to round the edge. Using a pasted paddle is easier than learning to hone but that does not make it better or worse, just different. I use both hones and pasted paddles depending on whether I am doing a quick, couple of stroke refresh (paddles) or sitting down to sharpen a new or multiple razors (hone). You will find that some razors work out better on one tool over the other.

Tony