Apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a powered sharpener has a main drive assembly with an electric motor, and a sharpening assembly with belt support surfaces to provide a routing path for the belt to define first and second belt segments. A first blade guide is configured to position a blade of the cutting tool at a first guide angle to sharpen a cutting edge of the blade against the first belt segment. A second blade guide is configured to position the blade at a second guide angle to sharpen the cutting edge of the blade against the second belt segment. The first and second belt segments may be parallel or non-parallel. As desired, anti-torsion members may be provided to contactingly engage a backing layer of the belt to resist torsional twisting of the belt during sharpening against the first and second belt segments.

Apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a powered sharpener has a main drive assembly with an electric motor, and a sharpening assembly with belt support surfaces to provide a routing path for the belt to define first and second belt segments. A first blade guide is configured to position a blade of the cutting tool at a first guide angle to sharpen a cutting edge of the blade against the first belt segment. A second blade guide is configured to position the blade at a second guide angle to sharpen the cutting edge of the blade against the second belt segment. The first and second belt segments may be parallel or non-parallel. As desired, anti-torsion members may be provided to contactingly engage a backing layer of the belt to resist torsional twisting of the belt during sharpening against the first and second belt segments.

Apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a powered sharpener has a main drive assembly with an electric motor, and a sharpening assembly with belt support surfaces to provide a routing path for the belt to define first and second belt segments. A first blade guide is configured to position a blade of the cutting tool at a first guide angle to sharpen a cutting edge of the blade against the first belt segment. A second blade guide is configured to position the blade at a second guide angle to sharpen the cutting edge of the blade against the second belt segment. The first and second belt segments may be parallel or non-parallel. As desired, anti-torsion members may be provided to contactingly engage a backing layer of the belt to resist torsional twisting of the belt during sharpening against the first and second belt segments.

Apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a tool sharpener includes an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface. A stationary tool support guide provides a guide surface that supports a side of the tool during presentation of a cutting edge of the tool against the abrasive surface. A rotatable edge guide has a roller member with a curvilinearly extending outer surface. The roller member is rotatable about an edge guide roller axis to engage, via rolling contact, the cutting edge during the presentation of the cutting edge against the abrasive surface.

Apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a tool sharpener includes an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface. A stationary tool support guide provides a guide surface that supports a side of the tool during presentation of a cutting edge of the tool against the abrasive surface. A rotatable edge guide has a roller member with a curvilinearly extending outer surface. The roller member is rotatable about an edge guide roller axis to engage, via rolling contact, the cutting edge during the presentation of the cutting edge against the abrasive surface.

Systems and methods for conditioning blades are provided. A method may include, for example, obtaining a cutting device, measuring various characteristics of the cutting edge of the cutting device, creating a current edge profile based on the characteristics, creating a modified edge profile, and/or conditioning the blade. Conditioning may include grinding, buffing and/or polishing. One or more of the conditioning steps may be based on the modified edge profile.

Systems and methods for conditioning blades are provided. A method may include, for example, obtaining a cutting device, measuring various characteristics of the cutting edge of the cutting device, creating a current edge profile based on the characteristics, creating a modified edge profile, and/or conditioning the blade. Conditioning may include grinding, buffing and/or polishing. One or more of the conditioning steps may be based on the modified edge profile.

An arm for a blade sharpening device, intended to be retrofitted onto an existing, conventional blade sharpening device so as to offer an inexpensive option to upgrade the operational simplicity and operability of the device. It has a three hingeable link linear support arm that has a lock collar affixed an its proximal end. The lock collar slidingly retains a blade clamp barrel with a blade clamp affixed at its proximal end. The lock collar allows the retraction, extension and limits the rotation of the blade.

An arm for a blade sharpening device, intended to be retrofitted onto an existing, conventional blade sharpening device so as to offer an inexpensive option to upgrade the operational simplicity and operability of the device. It has a three hingeable link linear support arm that has a lock collar affixed an its proximal end. The lock collar slidingly retains a blade clamp barrel with a blade clamp affixed at its proximal end. The lock collar allows the retraction, extension and limits the rotation of the blade.

Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, an abrasive endless belt is rotated in tension along a neutral plane between spaced apart first and second rollers. A guide assembly has spaced apart first and second guide surfaces which collectively converge to an intervening base surface to form a guide channel. Upon insertion of a blade of a cutting tool into the guide channel, a selected side of the blade contactingly slides against at least a selected one of the first or second guide surfaces and a first portion of a cutting edge of the blade contactingly engages the base surface to serve as a plunge depth limit stop for the blade. The endless belt is contactingly deflected by a second portion of the cutting edge away from the neutral plane to sharpen the second portion while the first portion remains in contact with the base surface.