New to skate sharpening?
Visit our Skatesharpening 101 page to learn more.
Sharpening
Skate sharpening is based on creating a radius of hollow (RoH) in a skate blade, which enables the skater to skate on two sharp, square edges. There isn’t one magic RoH for every skater. Each hollow has its advantages and disadvantages, and each skater makes an evaluation as to which is best for them. The profile of a skate blade hollow is not limited to a radius – there are an infinite number of shapes that can be transmitted onto a skate blade.
The ideal RoH is best determined by the skater’s comfort level on the ice. Because you can transfer essentially any number of profiles onto your blade, you really need to determine for yourself what edge you prefer to skate on. Here are some common recommendations to get you started:
This depends on how often you are skating as well as the condition of your blades. Hockey players that are often on the ice will insist on sharpening their skates before every game. Others only require sharpening monthly. Most blades should be sharpened if there are signs of rust or nicks in the blade as it will compromise the edge on your blade. Be sure to wipe down your blades before storing them as moisture left behind will result in rust buildup.
Check the condition of your diamond tip! It should not be rounded, but have a sharp point. Be sure to turn the tip with each dress to get a different facet of the diamond dressing the wheel. Make sure there is no play in the dresser arm or slides. Check the spring loaded end of the dresser arm for play. The finish of your dress relates directly to the finish on the blade
Though it isn't bad form to choose one way or the other, Blademaster always recommends that you sharpen from heel-to-toe. This is to stay consistent with contouring operations, which must be mounted heel-to-toe with the operator sharpening right to left to move with the wheel.
Blademaster’s BFD system optimizes the trade-off between bite and glide. We have reduced the area between the “flat” portion of the skate blade and the ice. This reduces the build up of ice/snow/water and improves gliding. However, we have done so without compromising the strength and integrity of the sharpened edges.
Contouring
Since the contour (also called 'rocker' or 'profile') of the blade determines how much of the blade will be in contact with the ice, it can have a dramatic effect on skater speed, agility, and performance. Though choosing a contour is often a matter of personal preference, Blademaster recommends that all new skates be contoured at least once at time of purchase to ensure that the left and right skates are perfectly matched.
The Radius of Contour (RoC) describes the lengthwise curvature of the skate blade. It is sometimes referred to as the 'profile' or 'rocker' on the blade. Skates commonly have a single radius of contour (eg. 9 foot, 11 foot), but Blademaster contouring systems can optimize performance by applying multiple radii or more complex shapes to your skates, therefore giving you improved speed and agility.
Pitch and Lie are the same thing, created by moving the apex or balance point on the blade forward or backward. When a skater is standing erect, they should be directly on the high point of the contour; balanced between falling forward or backward.
Because contouring shapes your blades, it is important to have your skates contoured to your preference upon purchasing them. For maintenance purposes, you should consider re-contouring them once or twice a year as it acts as a blank canvas for a suitable lie and radius on your blade. Should you damage your blades you should also consider re-contouring them.
Grinding Wheels
Many factors affect the performance of a grinding wheel and the resulting finish achieved on the bottom of the blade. These include the type of abrasive, bond material, grit size, balance, and ultimately personal preference, depending upon how aggressive the operator is in the sharpening process. Cost is also a consideration. However, our most popular wheel is the 8MXRUBY.
Wheels last approximately 200 - 250 sharpeners per wheel with variable speed machines.
Troubleshooting and Repair
Yes. Though it may not be required with every skate prior to sharpening, the purpose of cross grinding is to remove the old edge, which may have become dull and damaged, and to establish a grind pattern. Cross grinding acts as a blank canvas for a suitable lie and radius on your blade (similar to the contouring process)
Start with a straightened blade. If your blade is bent, you will not get an accurate reading. With your skate heel-to-toe in the skate holder, you’re going to create “witness marks” (known as the “touch method”) on both the heel and toe ends of the blade. To do so, you’re going to lightly and swiftly make contact with the wheel on both ends of the blade. It should look like this:
If your skate holder is already centered, your witness marks should be directly located in the center of your blade.
(a) If your skate holder has cam handles: If your witness marks are not centered, you’re going to want to adjust the cam handle on the end of the blade that isn’t centered – either adjust them up or down depending on where your witness mark is currently located on your blade.
• If the blade is too high, then you would be adjusting your cams down.
• If the blade is too low, then you would be adjusting your cams up.
Once you have adjusted your cam, create two new witness marks on each end of your blade.
Continue to make these adjustments until your witness marks on both ends are centered on your blade.
Once centered, you’re going to make one swift and complete pass (maintaining even pressure)across the wheel. If your blade is straight, you will see the hollow grind centered all along the entire length of your blade. If you have achieved this, you are ready to sharpen your skates.
(b) If your skate holder has three (3) detent (or “click”) knobs:
• If the witness mark is too high on one side, lower that side by turning the knob on at that side of the blade clockwise.
• If the witness mark is too low on one side, raise that side by turning the knob on that sideof the blade counter-clockwise.
• If the entire blade is too high, lower by turning the rear knob counter-clockwise.
• If the entire blade is too low, raise by turning the rear knob clockwise.
Note – Our High Performance family of holders (i.e. SH6000, SH7000, SH8000 etc.) are designed to work with our BR100 & BR1000 skate gages. Two clicks of the detent knobs are relative to one graduation line shown on the gage.
Be sure to calibrate your gage to the correct specs! Start by dressing your wheel to 3/8”. When you have done this, you’re to clean your table top of all debris. Once completed, you’re to set the height comparator gage in front of the finishing head and slowly move it so that the two bearings are cradling both sides of the wheel. Now lock the magnet in place. Once locked into place loosen the bezel clamp and begin turning the face of the bezel until you have reached the zero (0) indicator. Retighten the bezel clamp. Now that the gage is calibrated, you need to adjust your skate holder. Lock the gage to the table top where it is clear of everything. With your skate in its holder, you’re to touch the heel of your blade to the gage’s bearings. Adjust the holder until your bezel reads zero (0). Do the same of the toe of your skate. Once both sides of your skate reads zero (0), your skate holder has been centered and you are ready to sharpen.
You may want to check for the following if you’re experiencing issues with edge squareness:
• Is your blade straight? If your blade is bent, you will not have square edges after sharpening.
• Have you properly centered your holder? Refer to the above tips on how to center your skate holder.
• Could I have over-tightened my clamp? If you over-tighten your bronze clamp assembly you will warp your skate blade.
• Have I properly removed all burrs from my blade after sharpening? These little fibers of steel can be a contributing factor to uneven edges.
If you have checked the above and are still experiencing issues, you can contact our Customer Service department at toll-free 1-888-648-7776.
A couple of things could be contributing to this. Double check the following:
• Are you maintaining consistent cutting pressure on the holder when sharpening? Individuals new to sharpening often let up on the cutting pressure once their blade meets the wheel. You must try to maintain cutting consistency while sharpening.
• Are you using a finishing compound on your last pass? We recommend using our Gusto Glide (TSM4030) on your last pass as it should remove any remaining cross grind marks or chatter marks so long as you are maintaining consistent cutting pressure on your last pass.
• Have you recently changed your finishing wheel? Be sure that you have properly tightened the grinding wheel nut. There shouldn’t be any play with the wheel when it has been swapped out.
• Check the condition of your diamond tip! It should not be rounded, but have a sharp point. Be sure to turn the tip with each dress to get a different facet of the diamond dressing. Make sure there is no play in the dresser arm or slides. Check the spring loaded end of the dresser arm for play. The finish of your dress relates directly to the finish on the blade!
If you have checked the above and are still experiencing chatter marks, we recommend contacting your local area representative for further assistance.
It is all a matter of preference. Veteran skate sharpeners prefer our Gusto Glide (TSM4030) as it is a synthetic compound that provides you with a mirror finish without running the risk of over-polishing and gumming up your finishing wheel.
The majority of our stand-alone models will feature our filter status indicator light that will be lit when the filter requires maintenance. With this in mind, it is important to habitually clean your filter to ensure proper airflow. It is good form to clean your dust tray; depending on the volume of skates you are sharpening, you may want to consider cleaning it daily or weekly. We recommend that you tap out your filter to rid it of excess debris. Be careful not to wet the filter as it is coated with a flame retardant that is soluble. When you have noticed that cleaning the filter is no longer helping and the exhaust has diminished in suction, it is time to change your filter.
Skate pads will discolor and they will thin out in the center of your holder. Be careful not to scratch your tabletop due to grit buildup on your skate pads.
Head over to our YouTube channel to watch DaniB in the Blademaster assembly area as she goes through replacing a skate pad.
The skate pads are designed to peel off for quick replacement. Should you see any remnants of adhesive, please feel free to use a cleaner to remove any excess adhesive prior to the installation of the new pad.
Diamonds
The TSM687 is an economical diamond dresser that features a 1/15 carat diamond and is an ideal dresser for low volume sharpening. Our TSM688 is a 1/7 carat diamond dresser that is designed with high volume sharpening in mind. Both dressers feature a diamond tip that is precisely centered in the quill to ensure that an accurate RoH is imparted to the grinding wheel.
This all depends on how frequently you find yourself sharpening and redressing your finishing wheel. The average diamond allows you to dress 1-2 grinding wheel(s) depending on how often you are redressing your wheel. Be sure to always rotate your diamond quill to ensure even wear on your diamond; it should never be rounded as your diamond should always come to a point. Doing this rotation extends the life of your diamond
Not particularly. Both diamonds will allow you to dress your wheel to the highest of standards. Keep in mind, however, that the hardness of your wheel may affect the life of your diamond. For example, our premium 8GC wheel is a ceramic wheel. Because of its composition, the TSM688 would be a more suitable diamond to use alongside this wheel due to its unit of weight. Our high performance wheels (i.e. 8VBP, 8GC, 8AS etc.) are also designed with form dressing in mind.