Thread: What's the finest grit stone I will need?

As others have mentioned...nortons 4k/8k. 8k may be sufficient. The nortons are easy to use. For the money, the naniwas 12k is great and has worked well with the nortons. The naturals get pricey. I started with the norton 220/1k, 4k/8k, and a bit later the naniwa 12k before getting into naturals. I think it was the right path. I wouldn't have done it any differently.

Until you have learned enough that you can get regular good shaves off razor you have freshly honed to 8K, followed with ONLY leather, you don't need anything else.

Finishers (any stone considered above 8K) are interesting, expensive, and I really think "faddish". What I mean by that is the highlight will be on one stone or another. It is fading on the Escher/thuringians and starting to lean towards the Japanese natural finishers. I have a handful of finishers that go up to 30K. If I were to recommend a "first" finisher for someone it be a Naniwa 12K.

It actually appears as though you are just starting to entertain obtaining your first stones & that recommendation would be a Naniwa 3/8K or Norton 4/8K. Stick with one mfg if you are looking to get a full "system" from 1K on up... some stones don't mix and match well.