Quote Originally Posted by onimaru55 View Post
Hate to tell you but the Shapton 12 k you ordered is very abrasive ... for a 12 k at least.... so it is not the least abrasive manner for honing but it may be appropriate.
My question to you is how do you know what is appropriate & when do you stop honing? If you have a method you will be fine. You will likely need to do less than you think.
+1

Shaptons do seem to be abrasive (read as fast).

Use a light touch and half the strokes to start.
Adjust more or less as you learn the hone.
Where a Chinese 12?K natural might take 100 strokes
a Shapton might be done at five or six. Also
there is little concern for hardness. Hard or soft
steel the Shapton seems to do well with both. At least
my hard New York state razors hone as quick and easy
as old English steel.

This is possibly a place where a balsa or other "tight" pasted
strop can add that last final polish to eliminate harshness.