#skate sharpening

[electronicsquid]

Skate sharpening for prep school hockey team

(1948)

[restlessandhockey]

Why Hand Sharpening Still Has Its Place In Hockey

Does a standard hand sharpen still have it's place in ice hockey or does the Sparx Skate Sharpener paved the way for automated skate sharpening for hockey? We discuss the cost to get a skate sharpen, maintenance of skate sharpeners, and how hockey can benefit from both sharpening machines.

[chesterflagg]

Sharpen Hockey Skates Like a Shop Pro: Hollow, Edges, Trust

This guide frames sharpening as trust management. A consistent hollow and level edges determine whether a skater believes in the next cutback, especially when the ice gets chippy late. The piece stresses that “sharp” is not one thing: it is two edges and a groove, and the goal is repeatability more than bite. 

The how to steps focus on control. Choose a radius of hollow that matches weight, ice hardness, and style, rather than copying whatever the room uses. Deburr carefully because burrs can fake sharpness. Check edges with a tool, not a thumbnail, and correct any lean before the player feels it. 

It also separates profiling from sharpening. Profiling changes the rocker along the blade, while sharpening changes the groove across it, so instability might be a profile issue, not a deeper cut. Finally, it warns about heat: too much pressure can burn steel and shorten edge life. The takeaway is a simple ritual: align, dress the wheel, grind in light passes, deburr, and verify level edges every time.

How to Sharpen Hockey Skates Beyond the Grind

How to sharpen hockey skates like a pro: pick the right hollow, keep edges level, protect steel so every stop and pivot feels the same.

[welshhockeyfan]

[damnoldnylon]

Just your average day at the rink. I absolutely despise rental skates.

[fmcicesports]

Get the Edge: Skate Sharpening

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran on the ice or just starting out, skate sharpening is a must for everyone, but is also a topic for debate. Since no skate sharpening can be identical to the last, the majority of hockey players prefer to get their skates done by the same shop each time. Some manufacturers have attempted to achieve blade uniformity by using robotic sharpeners, but others continue to rely on the trusty pro-shop guy who’s got skate sharpening down to a science.

If you’re a hockey player, you have probably heard the term “radius” thrown around in the locker room, or have been asked by your local skate sharpener what radius you’d like on your skates. But because there are two different types of radii per skate blade, it is important to know the function of each.

The most familiar radius on a skate blade is the Radius of Hollow (ROH) pictured right. On a single skate blade there are two edges. The ROH refers to the depth, or hollow, in between these two edges. ROH preferences vary for each individual, but are always relevant to the hardness of the ice you are skating on. If a player plans to skate on an ice surface that is harder than what they are used to, a hollow that is deeper than usual would be advised. Goaltenders typically get their skates sharpened with a 1 inch

hollow, thus allowing them to easily slide side to side in goal. Whether you are a forward, defenseman, or goalie, it is important to try out different ROH’s and find your preference.

Custom radius sharpening, or blade profiling, is one aspect of skate sharpening that isn’t frequently discussed, but very important. Buying the top of the line skate is always exciting. Your feet have a new home that’s likely to be more comfortable, durable and lighter than your old skates, but there’s another thing you can do to your skates that will help you reach your peak performance level: blade profiling, or “custom radius sharpening” pictured above.

When skating, only a small portion of the actual skate blade touches the ice at a time. The amount of blade touching the ice corresponds to the profile radius of your skate blade. Standard profile radii for senior skates include 9 foot, 11 foot, and 13 foot blade profiles. The larger the profile radius, the more of the skate blade will be touching the ice. It is important to pick a blade profile that meshes well with your skating attributes. A shifty player who wants to easily maneuver in the corners with quick turns would lean towards a smaller blade profile, while a defensemen looking to build up speed fast to join a play would lean towards a larger blade profile.

What most skaters are unaware of is that the majority of skates purchased in stores have factory blades with mismatched profiles. By getting a blade profile done you will be better prepared to reach your full skating potential.

For all of your skate sharpening needs, click here to find the FMC pro-shop and Pure Hockey store closest to you!

Make sure to check in with the next FMC newsletter where we’ll look into the evolving world of college hockey and what we can expect in future years!

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