Polishing apparatus for treating a running base that comprises a blade with two opposing blade edges which are separated one from the other by an intermediate section, the polishing apparatus comprising: a body housing comprising at least a first and a second opposing side wall, and a third base wall which extends between and links the first opposing side walls to the second opposing side wall, wherein the first and second opposing side walls and the base wall each comprise an inside surface which inside surfaces cooperate to form the inside of the body housing, and an outside surface which outside surfaces cooperate to form the outside of the body housing; a support body capable of carrying a polishing surface; and an elongate slot formed in the base wall of the body housing, characterised in that the elongate slot extends between and through the first and second opposing side walls,; and the polishing apparatus comprising blade alignment guide means and a polishing surface alignment system for facilitating alignment of the polishing surface with the intermediate section but not any part of the two opposing blade edges of the running base; wherein the polishing surface comprises a profile which is adapted to conform with one or more portions of the intermediate section which separates the two opposing blade edges; wherein the blade alignment guide means comprise one or more pairs of first and second blade alignment guides which first and second blade alignment guides in each pair are separated from each other by the polishing surface; and further wherein the blade alignment guide means is adapted for receiving, guiding and constraining a running base to ensure that when the polishing surface and the intermediate section between the two opposing blade edges of the received running base are brought into contact with one another, there is no contact between any portion of the polishing surface and any part of the two opposing blade edges of the running base; and wherein the polishing surface alignment system comprises: a cradle for receiving the support body, and which cradle is movable between a first and a second position; and four gimbal linkages (170a-d) each of which is adapted to cooperate with a first pivot means (172a-d) and with a second pivot means (174a-d); wherein the cradle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate slot and is adapted to be mounted inside the body housing between the inside surfaces of the first and second opposing side walls and; and wherein the gimbal linkages are adapted to facilitate movement of the cradle within the body housing between the first and second positions. a body housing comprising at least a first and a second opposing side wall, and a third base wall which extends between and links the first opposing side walls to the second opposing side wall, wherein the first and second opposing side walls and the base wall each comprise an inside surface which inside surfaces cooperate to form the inside of the body housing, and an outside surface which outside surfaces cooperate to form the outside of the body housing; a support body capable of carrying a polishing surface; and an elongate slot formed in the base wall of the body housing, characterised in that the elongate slot extends between and through the first and second opposing side walls,; and the polishing apparatus comprising blade alignment guide means and a polishing surface alignment system for facilitating alignment of the polishing surface with the intermediate section but not any part of the two opposing blade edges of the running base; wherein the polishing surface comprises a profile which is adapted to conform with one or more portions of the intermediate section which separates the two opposing blade edges; wherein the blade alignment guide means comprise one or more pairs of first and second blade alignment guides which first and second blade alignment guides in each pair are separated from each other by the polishing surface; and further wherein the blade alignment guide means is adapted for receiving, guiding and constraining a running base to ensure that when the polishing surface and the intermediate section between the two opposing blade edges of the received running base are brought into contact with one another, there is no contact between any portion of the polishing surface and any part of the two opposing blade edges of the running base; and wherein the polishing surface alignment system comprises: a cradle for receiving the support body, and which cradle is movable between a first and a second position; and four gimbal linkages (170a-d) each of which is adapted to cooperate with a first pivot means (172a-d) and with a second pivot means (174a-d); a cradle for receiving the support body, and which cradle is movable between a first and a second position; and four gimbal linkages (170a-d) each of which is adapted to cooperate with a first pivot means (172a-d) and with a second pivot means (174a-d); wherein the cradle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate slot and is adapted to be mounted inside the body housing between the inside surfaces of the first and second opposing side walls and; and wherein the gimbal linkages are adapted to facilitate movement of the cradle within the body housing between the first and second positions.