VermonterDad

I finally got a reply from CCM. Here it is: "After reviewing the issue with our skate department , we have come to the conclusion that the thickness of the blades from top to bottom vary depending on the model of the blade. Some models may have a very slight taper depending on which model is used, although generally the goal is to have at least 2.75mm in contact with the ice which would help with the sharpening. 2.8mm and above is optimal. There’s no way for us to tell if this is a result of the first sharpening. Regards, ~CCM Hockey Team" The 2.8mm "optimal" thickness converts to .110". It would have been nice for them to go into why there might be a taper at all. Anyway, that's their answer.

So I'm getting the feeling that no one has heard of any runners that intentionally have this sort of thickness taper from the factory, and that any taper is the result of a manufacturing defect, bad sharpening/honing, or overuse of one of these V-shaped ceramic honing things. Thanks, guys. I appreciate the input.

Mark, I totally agree. JR, the steel does look "worked" to me. I just have no idea why the factory or someone not at the factory would grind or work the faces of the runners, other than to lighty stone and remove the burr from the grinding wheel of course. And as Mark points out, it would take many, many heavy stonings to get that much taper.

The runners were slightly different thickness. One was tapered more than the other. The one that was more tapered measured down almost at .100" in places. Yes I was using calipers. I routinely check the thickness of runners before I sharpen them and these seemed fine, but that's because I snugged up the tips of the calipers to just under the plastic holder, which gave me a normal thickness. But when I had problems getting a nice edge I checked again, more carefully and nearer the ice-contact edge and that's when I noticed the change in thickness there. Most of the skates I sharpen are Bauers and generally measure .115 or so thick . And although some are slightly thinner from multiple stonings, I've not seen runners so thin at the edge until these CCMs so I thought maybe CCm does this normally. I have contacted CCM to ask but have not heard back. BTW I inserted a link in my earlier post with a picture of the straight edge on the runner and the gap. Don't know whether you'll be able to see it.

Thanks for your reply. Here is a link to a picture of the boot and runner https://photos.app.goo.gl/mmpuuubdFouWYwiF6 Also, I don't know whether you can make it out, but here's a link to a picture showing the taper on the runner. You may be able to see the substantial gap under the straight edge on the last 1/16" or 3/32" of width on the runner. https://photos.app.goo.gl/tqK8CBuaGvAt9ekUA

I am relatively new to hockey and have been sharpening my kid's skates (and her teammates) for about a year. I have had very good results and feedback. But yesterday I got a pair of CCMs and I noticed that I was having trouble sharpening them. I took a close look at the runners and the thickness of the runners tapers from the usual .115" near the plastic holder to .100" or so at the edge that contacts the ice. You can actually see the falloff of the thickness of the metal as it nears the ice contact edge by holding a starrett straight edge to the face of the runner. I have not seen this on any other runners. The dad who gave me the skates said the CCM runners were brand new. So my question is whether this is an intentional part of the design or a manufacturing defect or something that happened on first sharpening when they were purchased? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.