Types of Hockey Skate Sharpening Hollows

If you would like more information, you can check out my article, where I answered 7 different questions about sharpening figure skates. So let’s discuss a bit more about radius size in terms of skate sharpening. Make use of your flat file, and starting at the toe or heel of the blade, work it in a diagonal direction across the blade. When sharpening, the file need to be held in a position that is always perpendicular to the blade. The efficacy of your new skates on the ice is also dependent on the initial sharpening you give them after purchasing them. Do not, however, be in a hurry to try out your brand-new pair of skates on the ice.

That gap between the main points of contact with the ice can make a significant difference in the performance of the skate. You ought to log the number of hours you’re on the ice to see when they begin to become dull. This will help you determine when you’ll need to sharpen them again. A deep hollow is when a small radius is used, 3/8″ for example.

Parents can also hold the skate up and examine the blade. The three main signs to watch for are nicks or gouges, sharp edges and even edges. As these new players become more experienced, they can use sharper skates to develop speed and to become better at turning. The pros of skating on a sharp blade far outweigh the pros of skating on an unsharpened blade. When it comes down to it, playing with unsharpened blades will provide you with less balance, and control.

We were one of those destination skate sharpening places – the best equipment, pride in the job we did, the whole package. The blades on hockey skates are made of very hard steel that can dull quickly with use. Touring skates are long blades that can be attached, via bindings, to hiking or cross-country ski boots and are used for long distance tour skating on natural ice. The blades are approximately 50 cm long with a radius of curvature of about 25 m . The blades are from 1 to 1.5 mm (0.04 to 0.06 in) wide, with a flat cross-section.

You can actually feel the difference as you run your fingers across the blades. 2) Blade hollow measurements refer to the radius of the circle that is cut into the blade by the grinding wheel of the skate sharpening machine. The grinding wheel actually only grinds a small portion or arc of that circle into the blade. A shallow hollow is recommended for people who are just learning how to skate, as it is more forgiving. Shallow hollows are also typically used by hockey players who need the ability to make quick stops, frequent changes in direction and skate with efficient speed. Ah its that time of year again, minor hockey across Canada and the Unites States will be kicking off within the next week or two.

Most ice hockey skates do not come pre-sharpened and are not game-ready. Unlike a standard re-sharpening, new hockey skates are first cross-grinded which removes any imbalances or unevenness in the blades prior to the standard sharpening. Here at IW target flyswatter Hockey, we include cross-grinding into every sharpening on new skates or blades for no additional cost. Plenty of factors affect how frequently an ice hockey skate should be sharpened but a general rule of thumb is once a month for indoor play.