Ok...I know this is the millionth sharpening thread...but
I'm relatively new to hand tools but I got some Shapton stones for xmas. 1000 and 5000 and do to an oversight on my list I got both 8000 and 12000. Being as I'm just getting started with lots of other tools to buy, I don't see the need for both the 8k and 12k and can allocate those funds elsewhere. This lead to numerous searches about which to keep...and I stumbled upon numerous threads talking about the 5000 shapton being a dog of a stone and the sigma6000 being much better.
So, I guess my question is this. Seeing as I have the shapton5000 in hand, is the sigma pro 6000 that much better of a stone? And if so, would the sigma stone fit in well with other shaptons? Seems the shapton1000 is highly regarded. Would you go with a shapton 8000 or 12000? I guess put another way...if you could choose three stones out of shapton 1k, 5k, 8k 12k and sigma 6k, what would you choose?
I should also note that I don't have easy access to water in my shop, and my shop time is very limited, so I really like the splash and go idea of the shapton. It seems from reading that the sigma6k can be used and performs well as a splash and go stone.
i should also add that I have everything from Narex chisels, old Stanley planes and A2 and PM11 steel