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Being a woodworker I have all kinds of sharpening equipment, and while I agree with sierraben that a ceramic rod type sharpener will keep a good edge on knives (I use a Lansky Crock Stick, Lansky Professional Crock Stick Sharpener)
It's hard to beat my faithful Norton India combination stone for putting a good edge back on a dull knife. Norton Professional Sharpening Solutions - - - Culinary Sharpening Stones
With a coarse and medium side it's easy to remove nicks and reshape the bevel to where you can keep it sharp without much fuss.
I find kerosene to be the most effective lubricant.
Sharp enough right from the medium stone for most cutting chores.
In fact a little "tooth" helps in many cases.
Shaving sharp knives tend to dull faster because there's less metal supporting the cutting edge.
It's a skill, and now you have a reason to practice.
As a custom knifemaker I use the Lansky Diamond Sharpening System. Ceramic rods are nice for finish and to keep a knife sharp, but not good to sharpen dull blades. The Lansky System is error free in it lets you sharpen both sides with the same angles. I finish with with a ceramic stone then a leather strop & green rouge.
One day I was walking to somewhere, and I noticed a dude sitting on the corner,
sharpening his knife, on the edge of the side walk, which at the time, was made
from granite.