After using this somewhat amazing stone for a few weeks, allows me to offer an opinion I can only say that this stone works, 'every' time.No worries going from 8/10k to this 20k stone. "price is an issue' . True but if you can imagine your best bevel set and then polishing it with this luxurious stone, I swear it's a magic shave..I'ts a $300 stone. It should be, thats it. Many will go the natural ROUTE and use the various JNATS. I'm not suggesting there is no role for nats, I'm simply telling you guys that your best finishers, haven't got a chance against the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. I am amazed seriously. This hone is half the price of a shapton equivalent.I mean how many of us have a thousand bucks for a 5mm shapton glass hones set. I'll stay happy with the Suehiro Gok 20k. Gents, feel free to rebutt my views, I just look to advance the techniques.