How to tell if you need your skates sharpened

Wondering if your skates need to be sharpened? Check for spots that reflect light, they are the easiest way to see dull spots. Please make sure you wear your skate guards, and watch where you walk.

[@eugwong]

Hi Joel, your other vieeo "True Holder Swap - VH to SHIFT" is set to "Made for Kids" so we can't comment and also cannot save the video. Can you change it so it's not for kids?

[@gpmurf]

Also, stop storing wet skates in plastic skate guards......

[@GRAW2dobber]

As a figure skater it seems the skill of finishing near the toe pick skill is not as good in Australia. Recently my sharpen guy did a crap job I noticed as soon as I was on a resurfaced rink catching at my picks in spins. Anyway I compared it to an old sharpen from a legend and it is different unfortunately he is the only skate sharpen guy so I am going bad to hopefully have him fix them Can you make a video about this please.

[@bsharpottawa]

What would you like to see?

[@NicholasG27]

The heel on those is wrecked.

[@mhicaoidh1]

Good video! I have a Prosharp Zuperior M profile on my Bladetech DLC steel. I have had them sharpened twice (once immediately after profiling and once since then). After how many sharpens should I start thinking about having the steel re-profiled to refresh the Zuperior M benefits? According to the internet and marketing material, some say every 15 sharpens while others say "3 times a year" (which would probably be more times than I actually have them sharpened). What's your "real world" finding?

[@bsharpottawa]

If you have an at home machine, probably more than if someone is professionally doing them. Machines like a Sparx are spring loaded and will change your profile faster than someone with a light touch. We suggest once a year if your sharpening them once or twice a week

[@mhicaoidh1]

Thanks! @@bsharpottawa

[@nicd5439]

Have you sharpened xc blades? Manufacturer says they sharpen like traditional steel. But with a few small extra steps. If so, how’s the edge retention, any feed back from customers?

[@bsharpottawa]

We have for sure. They sharpen like a Flare blade, and we see lots of the NHL refs using them. Edge retention is ok, if you know how to sharpen them properly.

[@nicd5439]

Interesting, I wonder why refs use them? It seems like a good idea that hasn’t quite been adopted yet. Kind of like straight skis from the 80’s vs parabolic skis in 90’s and standard now.

[@bsharpottawa]

@@nicd5439 more blade on the ice, so more glide. Less work to cover the same distance going up and down the rink all night. It hasn’t been widely adopted because there are a huge number of sharpeners in the world, and a very low percentage that know how to do it properly.

[@nicd5439]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHaxXpqEm9iKbpY I see, makes sense. This guy says it’s pretty much the same thing? Know anyone in the states that can sharpen xc blade’s correctly?

[@Drumma4life1000]

Not exactly sure what to look at here

[@nicd5439]

I recently switched to ccm xs holders, and to step steel. I used to skate on tuuk with ls4 steel. I feel the step steel has a really large toe and heel portion. It makes getting on toes when starting awkward and abrupt. Kind of “glitchy”. what would I need to do to smooth out the transition? I’ve heard of blending toe and heel, but I’m not sure exactly what to ask for at lhs. Thx

[@bsharpottawa]

You’re on XL blades vs Bauer’s stamped blades. You have a real setup, so it’s going to for sure feel different. It sounds like you need them profiled for a smaller radius and balance change because they feel “long” aka glitchy

[@nicd5439]

Exactly, I noticed the profile felt super long/flat. The transition feels like a rocking chair if it had a sharp 45° angle, instead of a smooth transition at the ends. I’ve been skating on a 10ft for years. I thought step came stock 10ft? Maybe I’ll try a 9’ see if that helps. Is a balance change more effective to move the center back or forward, or put a pitch in runner? I think true puts a 1/32 forward pitch?

[@bsharpottawa]

@@nicd5439Step and True are both neutral. If you’re use to Bauer, Bauer have a 2mm backwards lean. You’re not use to XL steel on the toes, as you’re running into that steel. On a Bauer, because they are “backwards”, you can’t hit the toe, so you don’t know it’s there.

[@chris10878]

Shiny!😂