John, no doubt that a finish cut from a gouge sharpened on a 600 grit will be better. However IMO not that much. I don’t have a 600 wheel, but do have a leather belt ob a grinder I have used to polish a sharpened gouge. The better the finish on the gouge the better the cut finish. I don’t do that because the advantage is not enough to warrant it. Most of what we do are roughing cuts. For roughing cuts, I feel tools from a 180 grit are just as good as a tool with a polished bevel. A new turner is not going to know how to even make a finished cut or how to sharpen his tools, 80 grit sandpaper is his/her best friend. The OP has decided on the 180 -600 combination, but I still feel the 180 -80 combination will be far more useful to a new turner. I still have no desire to get a grit higher than 180. I think my older 180 is now more like 350 due to wear.
Edit: I will add since I mainly use Thompson and D-Way tools I find it not as necessary to get that super edge with those tool steels.
Last edited by William C Rogers; 02-03-2021 at 10:30 AM.
When working I had more money than time. In retirement I have more time than money. Love the time, miss the money.