Handheld sharpening apparatus

A portable hand held or bench operating abrading apparatus comprising:

• a support block that is elongated and generally rectangular, with two opposed planar surfaces and a first flared end and a second flared end;
• a reduced waist size between the first flared end and the second flared end;
• said first flared end of the support block including two bars and two slots which are approximately parallel to one another, wherein the two bars and the two slots are for optionally retaining none or one or two of a flexible abrasive tape generally having a width the same or slightly less than the reduced waist size of the support block,
• wherein said two slots are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support block, are elongated, and are formed all the way through the support block,
• wherein the bars are disposed alternately with the slots,
• wherein the bars and slots are configured for wrapping one or two of the flexible abrasive tapes around any one of the bars, wherein an end of one of the flexible abrasive tapes can be passed through the adjacent slot closest to the reduced waist size of the support block, and an opposite end of the one of the flexible abrasive tapes is disposed at the second flared end of the support block;
• the an elastic ring, preferably abrasion resistant, wherein the elastic ring is held in place by the second flared end of the support block and is tightly fitted onto the reduced waist size, wherein the one or two abrasive tapes are passed though the elastic ring thereby holding the one or two abrasive tapes to the support block;
• and
• first and second abrasive tape support bases, wherein the first and second abrasive tape support bases are made of resilient or non-resilient material and are respectively attached to one of the opposed planar surfaces between the first flared and the second flared end.