Thread: Bench hone or paddle? Which pastes?

I'm wondering if you guys use a 4 sided paddle strop or a 2 sided bench hone...and why you chose one over the other.

Also...what pastes do you use - diamond, chromium, boron, etc....what's the difference between them?

Also...I've been looking at Tony's selection for his bench hones as far as picking leather types (smooth, honey brown, latigo) and whether both sides should get pasted or just one. I already have one of his hanging strops, so I am guessing that only getting one side pasted would be a waste...what do you think? Any suggestions on what to get it pasted with?

While I know much of this may be preference, I would love to hear what everyone prefers and maybe why.

Thanks guys!

I only use hanging strops. I tried paddles early on and didn't like them. I also don't use pastes, strictly hones. I think though if your going to used a pasted strop a paddle is the way to go. I don't think I would use a pasted hanging strop. You would need to keep it on a flat surface anyway. Pasted stropping hanging is not adviseable.

if you have a hanging strop then your daily normal stropping needs are all taken care of.

you are debating pasted paddle or bench hone for doing your touch ups. i have and use his 2sided smooth smooth (honey brown both) bench hone. its fantastic for couple reasons. i think he has said that he prefers the honey brown for pastes. the red latigo has a bit too much draw for the pastes and some use plain balsa wood when they are going with high grits. user preference. talk with tony and he'll explain all the difference in the leathers. give him a call and chat it up, he's great.

bench hones get the thumbs up from me.

1 - its large. 3x10. gives you plenty of room compared to paddles which are usually 2inches. this allows you to do normal stropping motion, no x pattern necessary, to do your touch ups

2 - it lays just like a normal hone, not too high. its sturdy and easy to use.

now as for pastes. i'd go with the normal 1.0 and 0.5 pasted sides.. this allows very smooth finish of your razors. people have said that the 0.25 gives a more weak edge that doesn't last long becuase its soo refined. the 1.0 will allow you to use it instead of getting your norton 8k side wet for a couple of strokes when you think the razor needs just a little more love. diamond or chromium/boron ..thats up to you. i use diamond becuase i got a needle full of both kinds of diamond paste but i think chromium does an excellent job and many here prefer it. so thats really up to you.

1.0diamond and a 0.5 chromium sounds tastey to me.

~J

Bench hone with 0.5 chromium oxide does the trick for me.

The wider bench models are pretty popular and I can add a handle. Most poaddles are actually only 1 3/8 wide like the TI or Dovo. My 4 side is 1 3/4" but is overkill if you only need 2 pasted sides. Right now I have dropped the price of the 12" strops as I have way too many on the shelves and am out of the 10" at the moment.


I agree with the 0.5 chromium as one of the choices and maybe 1.0 diamond for the other. These two are the real workhorse pastes.

I would NOT suggest pastes on a hanging strop for most people.

Tony

Thanks guys - you've been very helpful....

...Tony - you will be hearing from me as I will most definitely be getting a bench hone - just don't know how soon it will be...once I save enough $ I'll make the move

Thanks again for all the info everybody...I hope one day I will actually be able to help you guys or someone else on the forums rather than always being the one needing help!

I've got one of tony's old wide paddles, which I think was 10x3 or maybe 8x3, and that does the job just fine, I'm not sure what else a bench model would bring to the game. Plus it's got this nice hook on the end so I can hang it up with all the other strops.