60x is a good starting point for a new honer, and can be purchased for as little as $2 up to $15 on line. There are many recent posts on magnification.

More important that the quality of the magnification is understanding what you are seeing. Here is a post where a new honer takes a razor from Ebay find to shave ready. (Second Try at Honing). It is filled with good micrographs of what to look for in an edge.

Is your 12k synthetic or a Natural stone? A good synthetic like a Naniwa Super Stone will revive an failing edge, a Natural may not, at least not with out a lot of work or lower grit stones.

Read the first three post in the Honing Forum, they have a lot of good information on honing for the beginner. You issue may not be a stropping issue as it may not be properly honed.