Four Sharpening Station Solutions.

What I've done to contain all of the mess is use a shallow baking pan (stolen from the kitchen!). It's maybe 3/4" deep but that's more than enough to contain the mess without interfering with the sharpening. I clamp it loosely between a couple of bench dogs. When I get doe sharpening I use it to hold a piece of 3/8" glass, take it out to the driveway, and flatten the stones. Works well for me.

The mess is one of the reasons I quit using waterstones and went to sandpaper on a piece of 1/2" glass 1 X 4 foot. Works great as long as you keep a shop vac handy for the metal dust. I just set it in the corner when I am not using it.

The space I use for sharpening is covered with inexpensive plastic material bought from a hardware store and intended for lining kitchen shelves. It's somewhat "non-slip". I also use a paper towel under the waterstones which keeps them from slipping and contains the mess.

I also use the waffle pattern shelf liner. I think it is rock solid. I bought a small folding table and I sharpen at the sofa on Sunday afternoons watching football. Must remember to do it before drinking beer. It may not be an issue this year with the season uncertain.

What's all the green and blue stuff on the sharpening stone and knife ?

A shadow of something - not sure what.

Neat. I'm thinking about the same thing, but with some sort of drawer to accommodate my burgeoning diamond/oilstone collection as well as other assorted sharpening brickabrack. A sort of horizontal writing desk with flip-up handles and someplace to put honing oil would be, ahem, handy. Also some way to incorporate a strop. If only I had someplace to elaborate . . . .

Old sink drain board. Hangs over the edge of my workbench so the water and muck can drain into a bucket. Put a piece of shelf liner in it to keep the stones from shifting around.