boog21,sorry,I missed your question.I have large 220 and 325 grit diamond stones so I go from there to 400,600,1000,1500,2000.Any hard ,flat and true surface should work but I lay my paper on the 3"x8" diamond hone,which basically is a 3/8" thick steel bar.
I have used crocus cloth after the 2000 and also cardboard stropping.2000 grit is mighty fine.It sounds like a lot of steps but keep in mind that after the bevel is well established,it only takes several strokes with each successive grit and that goes very quickly.The KME,keeping that constant angle,takes all the fight out of it.