Hi,

Fairly new to the practice of honing.

By now, I have a good basic set-up; Norton waterstones in 1k, 4k, and 8k, and a nice, wide, well-conditioned leather-strop. I've looked at the honing how-tos here and elsewhere, and think I understand the basics. I also think I'm missing a fine honing stone in my collection, which explains why that perfect edge is being so darn elusive.

Now, from what I read here, good choices for the fine stone are the Thuringian, the Escher, and the Naniwa (10 or 12k). I have identified a source for the T & (gray-green) E, and one for the N.

Question is which one, or do I need a combination of two ? I'm trying to achieve the finest edge possible, for a super-smooth shave. I'm leaning towards the Naniwa, partially for cost (at $80, it's about $40 less than the others), but also, if I'm reading correctly, it's used without slurry, which seems just a little simpler. Would appreciate any input from the experts. Thanks!