Waterstones for sharpening VPA or Woodsmans

[Mint Hill Mule]

Just curious if anyone uses Waterstones for 3 blade. From what I'm reading they are better than Oilstones. Seem to get the job done quicker. Any thoughts?

[Ringneck]

Waterstones work very well but you have to keep them soaked with water or it takes a time for them to fill up. Also, if they get too cold they will crack if the water freezes in the stones. The faces of the stones need trued up now and then but they do work very nice. Diamond stones or oil stones would be alot less work.

[beyondmyken]

I have waterstones for my knives.  They have a certain cache but are not necessary. They are expensive and need a little more upkeep. To use them, you would have to buy several grits and as said above, they need truing up or they get a bow in them from use. My advice is to use a diamond flat plate, about 600 grit.  Then get 1000 grit and finer sandpaper and use on a flat plate of glass if you want a polished edge, otherwise stick to the 600 grit only.