How long does it take you to sharpen on a benchstone?

Sooooooooo many variables. You asked a question that would take hours to answer properly. In a nutshell with average steel (D2- 154) and an average pocket knife; New, 20-25* per side, re-profile to 15* per side with an average coarse stone- say XC DMT or coarse (200grit maybe?) crystalon. For me, this takes 10-15 minutes... maybe 20. Medium stone (400grit), taking out the coarse scratches, and removing burr, around 10-15 minutes. Fine stone (1k), 10-15 minutes. Getting sharp (3k), same thing. At this point, the knife is shaving sharp, and ready for work. Getting really sharp, about 10 minutes on 5k and another 15 on 10k, that's mirror, hair popping sharp.

I think that is pretty accurate, and normal. I'm not rushing, just working carefully. Notice though, that I use appropriate stones, and other than re-profiling, they are Choseras. Good, clean, flat stones are key.

All told, that's an hour to an hour and a half, freehand, slightly convex.

Kitchen knives are way faster in every area.
 
It generally takes me about thirty minutes until I'm satisfied with an edge. I don't like going to a 10 (1-10 scale) in sharpness every time when a 7 is perfectly satisfactory for my needs.
 
Like other people said... too many variables. Knife steel, type, purpose, final goal, etc. I've spent 5 minutes on some and a whole day on others. Sharpening is not something you want to do in a hurry. It requires concentration.
 
I was just at a friend's place. He is very good at free hand sharpening. It took him about 30 seconds to take my Sage I from sharp to hair popping sharp. Wish I could do that.

I takes me longer... a lot longer.

Ric
 
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