If you're not able to hone that razor to HHT prior to taking it to a fine polish stone like the coticule, you have more work to do on the 4000/8000 and the coticule will NOT bring that edge to HHT.

Unless you have very fine hair, you should get an HHT edge off the 4000 side or most certainly off your 8000 side of your Norton. For me, normally I can't get an edge to pass the HHT unless I've correctly set a bevel and therefore am prematurely going to 8000+ grits with the non-HHT edges.

What the coticule will do for you (I own one) is take an edge that is already popping those hairs in half off of the Norton and passing the HHT and refine the edge for greater shaving comfort. Even though I have a terrible case of HAD and pretty much want every hone out there, believe it or not I'm all for economy (......in theory and in practice by others with more willpower than I have!). So......If you're looking for an inexpensive (albeit slow) polishing stone to take your edge to the next level, you would not go wrong with the $35 Chinese 12K from Woodcraft.com. You WOULD have to lap that stone, as you would any other.

One other thought. If you're working like the dickens on this razor and simply can not get that edge to pass the HHT no matter what you do.....make sure that blade is not warped. It could have a very subtle warp or uneven spine which prevents the edge with normal honing technique from being set.

Keep us posted.

Chris L