I've done some side by side test of the monster brushes (180 grit) and kevins honing powder (220 grit) on travertine with a water based wax on, a very pitted limestone that was heavily soiled, Victorian floors, and a York stone floor with thick varnish on.
I like both system for different reasons, and both slight down falls but only in certain situations and conditions.
For example - I found the aqau mix honing powder plus sealing and coating remover would be first choice on a York stone with varnish. Also honing powder gives you a cheap and very flexible option to jump up and down grits when required.
Monster clean well and hone back a dirty stone floor, but so would a honing powder, but the monster have less cleaning required as no abrasive material is left behind. Also when working on Victorian tiled floors, where missing grout is evident, honing powder can clog up the grout joints, monster would be a better option or a spray diamond impregnated pad.
Again with stone like travertine with very skinny joints, the monster are 5 pad on the bottom on the machine. This creates more down force but stiffer brushes. As a result the stiffer brushes did not preform as well with cleaning the skinny joints as the honing powders do. So in this situation honing powders would be first choice.
Is there a 400 grit monster pad. I would be intrested to see the finish it leaves as a 400 grit honing powder is pure beauty and leaves a wonder flat consistent finish.
I my option I would get the monster and a full line up of Kevin honing powders in every grit. This way, as a floor care professional, you can provide the best service to your customer in every situation.
As for the question of the fastest stripping brushes. In some situations, they are fast, but just as fast a 200 spray grit diamond pad can strip and a 220 hoping powder can strip a floor. But believe me, there's nothing fast about going over every Grout joint with a brush to touch it up, when your initial stripping process hasn't worked.
