Thread: Swaty or pasted paddle

If you had your choice between using a 3 line Franz swaty hone, or a pasted paddle strop, 3.0,1.0 diamond and .5Crohnium oxide, which would you choose for touching up a dulling razor?

Swaty, no contest.

Well, I have a Swaty and I don't have paste, so I might have a bias.
I have been under the impression from this forum that edges from pastes do not last as long. As people respond to this thread, could you address this? I don't think this hijacks the thread as I consider it to be directly relevant.

So far paste seems to be the option that most people would choose. I chose as paste as well because I think that I get an edge faster, but how about the rest of the people?

In more detail:

The 0.5 chrome does give me a bit sharper edge than the Swaty. For some reason I still prefer the feel of the shaving edge off of the Swaty. I think it cuts my coarse stubble more comfortably.

I like using high quality stones more than pastes but have never had the opportunity to try the famous Swaty.

An unfair question because I think most people don't use pasted paddles, hones and barbers hones. I think most gravitate to one over the other as a personal preference. I use mostly hones and pasted paddles now and then but I just don't like barbers hones. I guess I just never warmed up to them.

Wait a minute, you mean you have an opportunity to have both and you are going to choose one or the other?

Repeat the mantra after me:


"Must have more hones"


"Must have more hones"


"Must have more hones"

(Be sure to take a deep breath between chants...)

Pasty strops work well but seem to require more upkeep than hones, IMHO. I've, lately, become a fan of cushioned strop backed hones. They're excellent for maintaining an edge and are compact and sturdy making them a good choice for travel.