First, let me clarify that i am stropping, don't get me wrong. I still have to master the terms that i never ever used and listenned to before i got myself into shavette and straight razor shaving. In my original post, i was trying to state that i am looking for fast and reliable hones and that i am NOT interested use PADDLE STROPS and / or pastes.

I see that advices vary from - 'you will get a good shave out of an 8k stone' to 'i never got a good shave out of an 8k'. Also, some of you responded that i need to get used to honing and that i need to get the most of the 8k stone before using a 12k or 16k stone for the 'ultimate' shave. Well, i can buy this and abide by this. However, i need to understand, and this is the reason for the post, what the 12k or 16k stone provides and what the 'ultimate shave' mean.

To those using the 12k or 16k stones, how different is the shave. I am interested in the practical impact on shaving experience. If you have a dense beard, do you feel that the shaving is any better ?

Also, what is the issue of using a high grit hone when starting ?