Attachment 223693
I don't know if I am a better honer because I waited until later in my honing career to get one of these but I did all 3 blades up to shave ready with ease. Going from using the dilucot on a coticule to using a 4/8k norton is a huge difference. I was used to the dilucot/unicot procedure and it's hit and miss.. I've got to say it's so easy to hone a blade on a Norton 4/8k. Honestly I thought I would have to dick around with the blades like on a natural but no straight to the point. The point of shave ready. I can only imagine if I bought one of these to begin with the skill I would have now. No wonder these stones are recommended. I now know why. Not claiming to be an expert now but if you've been using coticules from the start a Norton 4/8k is much much easier and more efficient to use. Maybe not a better finisher but to get to shave ready hands down norton 4/8k for the win.
For a first attempt I'll be shave testing later but the blades passed all my tests for shave ready with flying colours. Going to become my work horse hone I can see that now