Pastes can do a lot, but if you use it to finish an edge that is not already shave ready you will deprive yourself of the opportunity to improve your honing. If your goal is to learn to get the most from your hones, use the past only to guild the lily or touch up the edge. If your goal is to just get the razor shave ready NOW, use the crox and get back to shaving.

Personally I fall into the get the most from the hones group. I would think that if 10 - 20 passes at 12k did not bring the edge back. Dropping down to 8k would be a good next step.

Jonathan