Patent ID: 8790162

Claim:
A method for sharpening a tool having a blade portion with opposing side surfaces, a cutting edge and a top edge opposite the cutting edge, the method comprising: placing a selected side surface of the tool in contacting engagement against a lower reverse sharpening guide surface to orient the tool at an acute angle with respect to an abrasive surface, wherein the abrasive surface extends in a lateral direction from a first end to a second end along a first plane, the lower reverse sharpening guide surface is located proximate the first end and aligned along a second plane that intersects the first plane at the acute angle, the top edge of the tool is a first distance from the first end of the abrasive surface, and the cutting edge of the tool is a second distance from the abrasive surface greater than the first distance; slidingly advancing the selected side surface of the tool along the reverse sharpening guide surface until the cutting edge nominally reaches the first plane of the abrasive surface; and moving the tool away from the reverse sharpening guide surface and along the abrasive surface in said lateral direction toward the second end while nominally maintaining the tool at the acute angle so that the cutting edge of the tool is sharpened against the abrasive surface in a trailing cutting edge orientation.