Quote Originally Posted by IamSt8ght View Post
I let a few of my straights get to the point where they were really pulling, tugging, and not shaving well so that they needed more than a touch-up. Then I pulled out the Naniwa 12k stone that I have always used as a finisher only. I did some circles with pressure, some Japanese type back and forth strokes with pressure, x strokes with pressure, then rinsed the stone, and finished the razors with 8 strokes of light pressure.

There was no need to resort to the Norton 4/8k.
I agree that there was no need "to resort to the Norton 4/8k," but I suspect that there was no need to resort to anything other than 8 strokes with NO pressure on the Naniwa 12k. Unless you have evidence of damage to the edge, the first attempt at restoring the edge should be a minimal touch up. Oftentimes that is actually all that is needed.