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.

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 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.

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.

A skate sharpening tool for ice hockey and figure skating applications comprises a housing having a plurality of grooves configured to hold grinding rods in predetermined positions. The plurality of grinding rods are held within the grooves and positioned at an angle of 0.3 to 1 degree off from a skate blade reference plane, for smaller diameter rods to achieve the cutting effect of larger diameter rods. The grinding rods include at least a first rod for roughing operations with diamond grit, a second rod for smoothing operations with finer abrasives, and a third rod for polishing operations comprising porous material such as wood for diamond paste adhesion. A plurality of clamping screws adjust tightness of the tool onto skate blades of varying thickness. The off-angle positioning allows the tool to create multiple blade profiles and Radius of Hollow configurations while maintaining manageable tool size.