CStan
My Washita definitely has a good side and a "bad" side. 'cept I like the toothier, dragier bad side. I form a burr on that side very quickly and then flip the stone over and take a few strokes on the 'good' side. It's almost like having two stones.

I keep it wrapped in a red shop rag from Auto Zone. It's not boxed. I just plop it down, rag and all, on my Workmate and do my thing. If the burr is a little too distinct it takes the black Arky and a strop to flex it off. Once the burr gets a certain size it seems to take too long to get it to break off on the Washita.