Quote Originally Posted by Utopian View Post
No. The jump between 8k and 12k needs nothing between them. The Naniwa 12k is a fast hone that will finish off an 8k edge in 10-15 strokes, so any intermediate hone is unnecessary.

In addition, the Chinese hone, being of mystery grit equivalence, may not actually belong in that slot. Yours might better fit before the 8k or after the 12k. Only you can determine that with experimentation and magnification. If you want to keep it simple, and if you get the Specialty 12k, then make the Chinese hone a paperweight.
If you have any natural stone from Belgium or Japan that you are using as a paperweight feel free to send them to me.