For longer blades, I like longer bench stones. One of my favorite stones is the longer grey Spyderco ceramic stone, when working on kitchen blades.
For periodic edge maintenance, I use a 15" leather hone system with abrasive-powdered surfaces.
For rapid edge-formation on longer blades, where serious metal-removal is involved, I use a crude system of sandpaper clipped to a board. Using sandpaper or emory paper and a 2-hand stropping motion, you can re-form an edge rather quickly. Primitive - but fast.
[This message has been edited by bad4u (edited 02-08-2001).]