TBR

San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate) equipment sale. Sunday, June 18th. 7AM to 1PM http://www.goldenedgesports.com/san-diego-gulls-pro-stock-sale/

Pretty sure the quality of work you'll get in Poway will put to shame anything the sparkle can do.

Thanks for the reply, Russ. I couldn't find any videos of the machine where you can actually hear it in action. Maybe when you get a chance you can post a link to one... I'd really like to hear how quiet it is and how level the edges are after each sharpening. Any information on how the machine handles rusty blades? Does it shorten the life of the rings significantly, or is it simply not advised to sharpen rusty blades at all? Do you have any concerns about the burrs having to be removed manually? Thanks again.

Are there any videos of this machine where you can actually hear it in action? I'm curious what it sounds like when it's on and sharpening. Also, it touts an alignment system that centers blades regardless of thickness, essentially guaranteeing level edges whether sharpening 3 or 4 millimeter steel. Are there any videos that can back that up using even a rudimentary edge checking tool? What happens once your skate comes off the machine? Are any possible burrs removed manually? If so, is a stone, along with instructions on how to use one provided? Is there a way to re-dress the grinding wheel during its lifespan? Say you're sharpening an old rusty pair of pond hockey skates and start getting that dreaded black streak from the wheel's grit being clogged, is your only option to buy a new one? What do you project to be the price for these wheels?

Just my two cents: It's good to have options for yourself and for your customers if you're a retailer. I personally use spinners for FBV and single-point diamonds for ROH's. The reality is that the single point diamond is only capable (at least for now) of creating radii, and as others have pointed out, using that method, you can dress very slowly, which allows you to feel and hear every granule being removed from the face of the grinding wheel. Also, whether you're dressing the wheel to 1/4"'s or 2" using a wissota, blademaster, blackstone, fleming gray, dupliskate, etc., it all comes down to one simple thing: A diamond is a diamond. Even a radius arm that has some wobble--causing the wheel's highpoint to shift up or down, or a diamond that's down to its nub--can still ultimately dress the wheel to an accurate curvature. However, with the spinners it's a little trickier. Right-off-the-bat you're counting on the accuracy of a manufactured piece of metal that is your final contact point when dressing the wheel. Assuming the metal's fabrication process is always spot on, there's also the accuracy of the diamond encrustation. Wear on thousands of tiny encrusted diamonds is harder to inspect than one ball-bearing-sized diamond on a quill. The points on diamonds also need to be exposed for a good fracture of the wheel. If I'm aggressive with my single-point diamond and, say, fail to rotate the quill, and the tip on the diamond is a little dull, all it takes is a few twists and a couple of up and downs on the stone and a sharp point is exposed once again. With the spinners, you need a trained eye to spot the fangs being translated onto the skate blade, let alone tell whether the imprint is still as crisp as it once was or if it's time to invest in a new spinner. But like I said, at least there are options nowadays for those that want to skate on something other than a hollow. Whether it's FBV, Z-channel or BFD, if that's what you like, or if that's what a customer wants (and is willing to pay for), so be it. Regardless of which cut you go with, my personal belief is that a good sharpening comes down to three important factors: consistent bite, keeping the blade's contour intact, and of course, level edges. If the amount of bite you receive each time you get a sharpening varies, your profile is altered significantly, and the edges are unlevel, there's a good chance you won't be a happy skater.

Yes. Cross grinding is an aggressive cutting mechanism, and should be reserved for situations like removing heavy rust or large, deep nicks from blades. It also comes in handy when edges are extremely unlevel. (A number of profiling/contouring/shaping systems also involve using the cross grinder.) If you have your blades cross ground prior to each sharpening, it will indeed shorten their lifespan considerably.

Picked up two of the BR1000's the other day. Checked them against the accuracy of the BR100's and they're spot on. My only gripe is, I wish the magnetic angle had a post or handle in the center to make it easier to place on and off the blade while it's in the holder. The BR100's are still my go-to edge checkers, but when sharpening runners only, or skates with fusion or perforated steel, the BR1000 comes in real handy.

Variations in blade width and bent steel is what makes FBV's more problematic. Having uneven edges is one thing, having no fangs is another.

I love when I get that guy who gives me an attitude over what he perceives to be a bad sharpening, and it turns out he missed the matting at the rink or collided with another player's blades. Customer: "You just did these the other day... I was falling all over the place...." Me: [Taking off his chewed up skate guard and showing him the jagged 3" long remnant of his outside edge.] Customer: "Oh, I didn't see that. I must've stepped on something." Me "Apology accepted."

Exactly. It's a great feeling when you see that happening regularly in your shop. Bingo. I was actually going to use that phrase. It applies perfectly.

Allow me to elaborate a bit further so nothing gets misconstrued about my tone when I object to performing certain services. When I chide a kid who's been playing travel hockey for 4 years that he should tape up his own stick, the parent will almost always say something like "Yeah Billy, and it's time you tied your own skates, too." And when I demo something for a beginner-adult or youth, they're very intrigued and generally pay close attention. A common response is "So that's how you do it." It's never "What's this guy's problem?" You see, I prefer to build a different long term relationship with my customers, not one solely based on the "The customer is always right; Give them what they want!", instant gratification culture. Moreover, I feel when you have a core of customers with an understanding of how your LHS operates, it makes everyone's experience better. I love people hanging around, talking to other parents, kids, coaches and shop employees before and after purchases. It says a lot about how comfortable they feel in the store. There is a true sense of community. Not something I'm worried about losing to the giant online monkeys or even any local competitor for that matter.

They won't ever develop the confidence or skill if someone always does it for them either. If you're a parent with kids playing hockey, you should own a screwdriver and know how to use it. If you're a player with any sort of playing experience, I would imagine you've taped up a stick once or twice in your life. If your attitude is that purchasing a roll of tape entitles you to a free tape job, then I would rather you shop elsewhere. (Sometimes they want just a tape job without any intention of actually buying a roll of tape!) As for possibly losing customers to competitors or online retailers, what's separates me from the competition is the important stuff like equipment selection, overall product knowledge, sharpenings, boot/blade work and, obviously, pricing--not whether I'm willing to make you a nice spiral grip with your newly purchased roll of pink camo tape.

Every so often a kid, or worse, an adult with some type of playing experience will ask to have their stick taped. Now to be fair, outside of skate/blade work, I find many service requests to be annoying. Not because I'm lazy, but because it's something I've always done on my own and feel people should get into good habits of doing as well. The only way I've ever felt my cage was on my helmet properly was if I installed it myself and triple checked every screw. The only way I know my sticks will be cut down to the exact spot that i want, and with minimal stress to the composite material, is if I'm the one behind the saw. That's not to say I won't gladly demonstrate a basic tape job for a beginner or inform them how to ensure their helmet doesn't fall apart, but this mindset that I've noticed in recent years, with parents becoming accustomed to rink attendants dressing their children before clinics and pro shop employees used as personal equipment managers, is something I definitely choose not to contribute to.