Good Week, new sharpener

[LyonHaert]

Monday my EdgePro Apex arrived. The first knife I chose to sharpen was a kitchen knife. It used to cut about as well as my fingernails, but at least the edge wan't damaged, just really dull. That thing is nicely sharp now, and with just the Medium stone. Did a couple other knives, too, though the tip and belly of my BM 43 were a pain.

Today, my 40T and 710HS arrived back from BM, one fixed, one sharpened. The 710 doesn't seem quite as sharp as I remember when it came out of the box unused, but no matter. Soon I can put my own edge on it (and lower the bevel).

I'll soon be getting the expansion kit for the other stones, as well as an extra course stone (for a couple reprofiling/edge repair projects that have been lying around, including the 710HS). Also will be getting the ceramic steel and an extra blank. I plan on turning the extra blank into a strop like others have.

I have a question for the folks that also use the EdgePro (and anybody that uses water stones, really). How do you store and maintain the stones aside from the process of flattening them? Do you keep them wet, soaked in water? Do you let them air dry before putting them away? Is it normal for the stone to darken from the contact with metal (retaining particles apparently), or did I do something wrong already?

I did a quick search on google for this, but was getting unrelated results.

 

[Nosmo]

I store my hones in those clear plastic divided containers you see in fishing tackle shops.

While I am sharpening I have a water filled container just by my right hand with an old tooth brush. As I am sharpening , I wipe the hone with the brush.
Before putting away the hones I scrub them with a stiff brush under running water.Wipe dry and place each hone in its own divided compartment.

I submerge the hones I will be using about 1/2 hour before I start.