I've got a Norton set, 1/4/8K and Shapton Kuromaku (Japanese Pro) set 1/2/5/12K. I end up using the Norton stones more often because I typically finish on a natural stone. There's not much point in my estimation honing an edge up to 12K just to back it down somewhere between 8 and 10K. To that end, I use the Nortons then jump to my finisher. But by and large your bevel setter is your most important stone. After that I would place my finisher. It doesn't matter if I use the Norton series, the Shapton set, or mix and match between the two. All of that should, in theory, be erased by what I've done on my final stone. The only difference the mid grade stones ought to make is how fast I reach that 8K to 12K mark.

Quote Originally Posted by dshaves View Post
I have Shapton Glass stones and a lot of blades with hard steel, currently using the 1k chosera, SG 4k, 8k for low and mid range. What do you think about that 1k to 4k gap? I am wondering if I should just add the 2k and call it a better progression? Thank you
As you can probably tell by my Shapton line up, I prefer a smaller jump. More accurately to double the grit rating, or come as close to that approximation as I can come with a given series. In my humble opinion 1/2/4/8 etc is ideal.

Quote Originally Posted by ejmolitor37 View Post
I believe the 1k to 4k gap is doable. That's what alot of guys seem to use, Norton 1k, 4k, 8k. That's what I started with and it works.
Unfortunately Norton doesn't have anything to close that gap. But after getting the Shapton 1/2/5 setup I found a new appreciation for that 2K grit stone.

I mean technically I could go from a 1K to a 12K and get the job done. Might not even be slow if done right. But smaller jumps make it easier to get the stria from the previous hone removed without any left behind. The edge is probably no smoother by the time all is said and done. When you move from the from the 2K to the 4K, you have a 2K edge going in and a 4K coming out heading to your 8K hone. When you move from a 1K to a 4K stone, you have a 1K edge going in and that same 4K edge going forward to the 8K hone if you did your job right. I wouldn't start doing a 1/2/3/4/5/6/8/10/12/16 progression, but in the early phase 1/2/4, 1/2/5, or 1/3/5 is kinda nice. You can skip the 2/3K hone but it makes life just a touch easier.