After years of using a 300 grit waterstone for initial flattening of backs and sharpening I yearned for a faster way. It just takes too long.

Thought I'd try some 360 Wet/Dry and found that it cut orders of magnitude faster. A trial of 180 Wet/Dry then sped up the whole process.

Finished/polished up through the waterstone grades to 6000.

Moral of the story is that the grit ratings of waterstones and wet/dry are not indicative of their comparitive cutting abilities. Also a 300 grit waterstone is not suitable for initial flattening or indeed taking out nicks.