I can get hanging hair popping edges with .5 as the finsihing paste, but I am now using the .25 too. At first I thought TOO sharp was bad, but I am now a believer in the sharper the better. I am also a huge fan of the balsa inserts I mad for my handamerica hone. The edge seems to glide and hug the surface better than leather. There is no bounce at all. Tony, since you are now making balsa strops; how are you finding the surface for paste work?