well to muddy things up a bit further......I don't use the 8k side of my Norton. I dislike it for it's "gummy" feeling. I go from the 4k side to a Belgian blue, then to belgian yellow coticule, then to Shapton 15k. I am very impressed with the Shapton. For being such a fine grit, the stone still darkens quite rapidly, so I don't feel I need TOO many laps on it. After that, .25 micron paste. .......Jeff