A blade for a skate for skating on ice. The blade includes ice-contacting material with an ice-contacting surface for contacting the ice. The ice-contacting surface has a machined longitudinal profile with a radius of curvature that varies smoothly over a majority of the length of the blade. Such a radius of curvature may, in some cases, be an elliptical arc.

A tool for contouring an airfoil comprises a main body that includes a locator portion and an upper portion. The locator portion includes an engagement surface and the engagement surface is sized and configured to engage an airfoil. The upper portion includes an edge slot sized and configured for placement of an edge of the airfoil into the slot. An abrasive material is applied to the sides of the edge slot. The upper portion and the locator portion are together sized and shaped so that when the edge of the airfoil is disposed in the edge slot and the engagement surface of the locator portion is simultaneously pressed against the airfoil, engagement of the abrasive material with the edge of the airfoil is effective to contour the edge of the airfoil to a preselected and desired shape.

A multi-stage hand-held sharpener. In some embodiments, the sharpener has a handle adapted to be gripped by a hand of a user, the handle extending along a longitudinal axis between opposing first and second ends. A primary sharpening stage is provided in the handle between the first and second ends, the primary sharpening stage having a first abrasive surface extending at a first angle to facilitate a primary sharpening operation by a user upon the tool. An abrasive rod extends from the first end of the handle in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The handle includes a substantially flat guide surface linearly extending from the first end toward the abrasive rod at a second angle, the abrasive rod and the guide surface forming a second sharpening stage adapted to facilitate a secondary sharpening operation by the user upon the tool.

A blade holder tool is disclosed for a user to hold a skate blade and insert the skate blade into a sharpener unit for a sharpening operation. The blade holder tool includes an upper portion graspable by a user to hold the blade holder tool and place the blade holder tool in an inserted position in the sharpener unit. It further includes a lower blade-engaging portion that grasps the skate blade and locates the skate blade in a sharpening position in the sharpener unit.

A blade for a skate for skating on ice. The blade includes ice-contacting material with an ice-contacting surface for contacting the ice. The ice-contacting surface has a machined longitudinal profile with a radius of curvature that varies smoothly over a majority of the length of the blade. Such a radius of curvature may, in some cases, be an elliptical arc.

A tool for contouring an airfoil comprises a main body that includes a locator portion and an upper portion. The locator portion includes an engagement surface and the engagement surface is sized and configured to engage an airfoil. The upper portion includes an edge slot sized and configured for placement of an edge of the airfoil into the slot. An abrasive material is applied to the sides of the edge slot. The upper portion and the locator portion are together sized and shaped so that when the edge of the airfoil is disposed in the edge slot and the engagement surface of the locator portion is simultaneously pressed against the airfoil, engagement of the abrasive material with the edge of the airfoil is effective to contour the edge of the airfoil to a preselected and desired shape.

An oblong ceramic sharpener includes an oblong ceramic stick, a mounting head, a handle, and a buffering structure. A support rod extends from the handle and has a threaded section. The buffering structure includes a lower gasket, an oblong flexible sleeve, and an upper gasket. The lower gasket has a first projection. The upper gasket has a second projection. In assembly, the lower gasket and the oblong flexible sleeve are mounted on the support rod. Then, the oblong ceramic stick is mounted on the oblong flexible sleeve and has bottom locked on the first projection. Then, the upper gasket is mounted on the support rod, with the second projection being locked in the top of the oblong ceramic stick. Then, the mounting head is mounted on the upper gasket and has an internal thread screwed onto the threaded section.

An oblong ceramic sharpener includes an oblong ceramic stick, a mounting head, a handle, and a buffering structure. A support rod extends from the handle and has a threaded section. The buffering structure includes a lower gasket, an oblong flexible sleeve, and an upper gasket. The lower gasket has a first projection. The upper gasket has a second projection. In assembly, the lower gasket and the oblong flexible sleeve are mounted on the support rod. Then, the oblong ceramic stick is mounted on the oblong flexible sleeve and has bottom locked on the first projection. Then, the upper gasket is mounted on the support rod, with the second projection being locked in the top of the oblong ceramic stick. Then, the mounting head is mounted on the upper gasket and has an internal thread screwed onto the threaded section.

The invention relates to finishing metallic and non-metallic surfaces by abrasion techniques. In certain embodiments, the invention pertains to an apparatus configured for finishing a zone on the surface of a bladed article of manufacture, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more channels having a cross-sectional profile including at least one finishing area to finish an operative zone of the article that optimizes a clearance portion of the article, wherein an angle of each finishing area of the cross-sectional profile is substantively the same as an optimal clearance angle of the article, wherein the apparatus is configured to position the operable zone of the article along the angle of the finishing area during sharpening.

An apparatus and method for its use employ a magnet assembly to securely hold a knife by its blade. Along with a carriage and angle adjustment assembly that set and control the sharpening angle of the knife relative to a sharpening surface, the apparatus provides for sharpening of knives such as double hollow ground reed scraping knives, and bevel reed scraping knives.