Originally Posted by
rayman
I have a set of Naniwas 1k, 3k, 5k, 8k, 12k and a 16k Shapton. I noticed that using the 5/8k combination to do a pyramid seemed to take a little longer than I thought it should, and couldn't figure out why, until I read a grit chart posted by someone here on this thread that indicated that the Japanese stones are rated different. The 3k is closer to a 5k and the 5k is closer to an 8k. I then tried a pyramid with the 3/5k combination and it produced the results I was previously getting from a norton 4/8k but much smoother. I think if you can only get one stone it might be the 3k and you can finish with your barber hone. It might take longer, but eventually you will get there.
Ray