I've been using an Edge Pro for a couple years and if you can live with the cost I doubt you'd ever be disappointed. Short learning curve and it works incredibly.

here is a good resource. I ended upbuying a stone with 400 on one side and 1000 on the other. My knoves have never been sharper. I will most likely add a few stones just to play around with it but 400 and 1000 will get the job done. It was like $40 at a kitchen store

Was looking at CT's link and noticed a post from VI about his wife cutting herself (several times)... anyone own and use one of these when you're cutting meat?

I recently got a stone. 1000/6000 Japanese water stone
Long term learning to use a stone will be cheaper and sharper in terms of DIY options.
Edit* I have this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000DD2C9/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=cm_sw_su_dp

Chef's Choice 120 or 130.......no doubt.  They are about $150 and worth every penny.  I have the 130 which allows you to put a couple different edges on knifes.  It takes a while to figure out which knives need which edges, but it's all based on what you use them for.  Once you figure it out, it's a breeze. 

I also have a knife maker  / commercial knife sharpening service locally, they charge you per the inch sharpened.  I would take my knives, axes, machetes, etc in there all at once, then go back the next day to pick them up. 

I use plastic knives... Disposable :-/

I have a guy that lives at the end of the street. I take a good Tito's vodka and all my knives are sharp. He makes knives, just make and donated one to the Alamo.

 

I use a VSharp Xtreme edge.http://www.v-sharp.com/product/v-sharp-xe/ Use it in my shop, kitchen and fishing trips. Goof proof and works well for me

I have a Chef's Choice... Use it only when a steel no longer gives a sharp edge.  Works well.

I purchased the EdgePro Apex 4 kit about six months ago.  When I was shopping for this stuff, I was looking at this as well as the Wicked Edge system.  While I think the Wicked Edge system is a better overall solution due to the way it works, it does cost more than the Apex kit and it also appears that the replacement accessories are also more expensive. 

I went with the Apex 4 kit for a few reasons.  The first reason is because after watching a bunch of their videos on YouTube, I had every bit of confidence that I could sharpen anything I wanted to sharpen with this kit.  There is a bit of a learning curve with this system, so keep that in mind as you go.  Once I learned how to use it on some of my old cheap knives, I started putting some really seriously badassss edges on my pocket knives.  After that, I went back to some of my better kitchen knives and I'm completely happy with this system. 

The biggest part of the learning curve with this system (and would have the same curve with the Wicked Edge) is learning the process to figure out exactly what your blade angle is and how to set the machine up for it.  Once you do that and make notes of it for each knife you have, repeating the process is no issue. 

I'm quite happy with this purchase and would do it again.... as well as recommend it...  All I can say is take your time learning how to use it.  It's a fantastic tool.

Stones and a good steel.

AD18 said:

Spyderco Sharpmaker.  Similar to other designs, but this one actually works very well.  Very happy with it. 

Another vote for the Sharpmaker.  I tried various systems that held a stone at a fixed angle, but none of them worked as well or as easily as the Sharpmaker.  Mine came with a DVD that explains in detail how to use the Sharpmaker.  BTW, I use the stones to sharpen the blades on our food processor, mandolin and scissors.

horseflesh said:

I have a low-end Chef's Choice unit and it is a piece of junk, IMHO. It marks up the knives, and it is very hard to use well. I find it's basically impossible to sharpen the last inch or so of any knife with it. It is better than nothing, but not by much. I only use it because in my 4 decades on this Earth I have never been able to learn to sharpen a blade manually. Without fail, I always make them worse.

I would love to find an automagical sharpener that worked easily and well.

The VSharp Xtreme is goof proof. I have a $600 rig I use for sharpening my lathe tools and drawer full of stones and VSharp gets used for my knives. The VSharp keeps the angle between the blade and the stone consistent and correct. That's the hard part when sharpening without a jig.

I have been waiting to chime in here has any body tried the work sharp knive and tool wskts sharpener you can buy for 70 bucks. My neighbor prides himself in knive sharpening has all the stones,wheels and anything else you can think of. I showd him my chrismas gift and he just about fell over you can carve your name in a piece a paper and it takes no learning curve. I like sharp knives and this is a great product.