rachael7

They do actually have some of the tweener FBV profiles for the X machines - they just aren't listed on the site. For example, I was able to obtain get a 95/75 that wasn't listed on the site. Shoot them an email or give them a call and Gerard or anyone there can take care of you.

The whole testing each spinner each morning, taking a mold of the resulting blade and examining it under a microscope thing is kinda odd too. Once or twice, why not I suppose, if you're dedicated. But every morning? Seriously? We're talking hockey skates here, not artificial heart valves.

Mental masturbation is a perfectly natural thing and nothing to be ashamed of. Just don't tell that to the attorney general :-P

You're on the right track, Steve, but as was correctly noted, there are other factors, including vibration, that make the test considerably more complicated. Yes, all those factors do matter in the final outcome, of course, and controlling for them is not to suggest that they don't affect real world results. But the point is that we're talking about measuring variation in the spinners (which is what was claimed to be an issue), not variation in the operator, the stones or the machine. So if we want to test the spinners by making a grind with them, that grind would have to be absolutely consistent from pass to pass to make the results of any use in assessing the QC and relative tolerances of the spinners. Something similar to a Cag One type setup, where it is totally done by machine in a rigid fixture would give a reasonable chance at determining the actual variation in the spinners, which was what was originally being discussed. And even in a well controlled test setup of that type, with this many possible variables, you would need to take a statistically significant number of samples with each spinner (something on the order of 30 blades or so with each spinner) to get any kind of meaningful results. One can throw about fancy terms like six-sigma that few here understand (I do, for the record), but when you're making claims of 25% variation from unit to unit, you're going to have to back that up with some reasonable sort of QC setup and test protocol if you want to be believed. Or at least some actual data for cryin' out loud. It is an entirely academic discussion anyway, since LOTS of people are using and liking the FBV spinner, and have no problem discerning a meaningful difference in performance through the different profiles. There is also a noticeable lack of complaints from people saying things like "I got a 100/50 at one place and it was nothing like the 100/50 I got at this other place." If there were a body of complaints to that effect, then this discussion would be relevant and something other than mere mental masturbation. But in the absence of such complaints in any significant number, it makes me question the motives of the people claiming (once again, with no data to back it up) that there is some massive problem with Blackstone's QC or technology.... especially when both of the posters making these comments are very low post count ids with no real rep here. Smells like sock-puppetry to me.

Because the goal isn't to test the human. I could care less if you or the guy who does your skates has a good hand. We're talking about the equipment. And if that isn't obvious to you, then you probably don't have the necessary experience in performing controlled experiments to get any meaningful results.

Yes, and also the only thing that could be measured reliably. Due to the textured surface and irregularities associated with a spinning object, measuring the spinner is largely irrelevant, imo, and measuring the wheel is only slightly better. The finished result is the only thing worth measuring here, but you would have to use a different holder arrangement for testing purposes so that the human elements and deformation of the felt were accounted for. Measuring one spinner compared to another is of some use in assessing manufacturing consistency, but only if you can measure it while spinning. As I said before, even with a high power optical comparator (maybe 100x - 150x magnification) you're only looking at one point on the spinner, which would tell you very little about the actual profile it would apply to the wheel.

I'm looking forward to seeing both the methodology and results of these alleged tests, although somehow I doubt they are forthcoming. They sound like bunk to me and I find these posts suspicious, quite frankly. In order to actually measure the spinner in a useful way, it would have to be spinning, like it is in use - the relevant shape is not what is measured at any one point on the circumference, but the cumulative effect of the entire thing. The equipment to measure that does of course exist, but it is certainly not at all common, nor is it the most effective way to test the spinner. If it were my lab, we'd measure the shape that resulted from using the spinner, which would be a meaningful and repeatable test, rather than trying to measure the spinner itself, which would be extremely difficult and of very limited value.

Stomach flu sucks. It just sucks.

Same basic reasons we have things like 'teabaggers'. The rise of extremism and the renewed acceptance of bigotry, hate, and discrimination that seem to be the mainstay of our commercial media these days. And there ain't nothing wrong with being sexy, baby ;-) As long as there's, you know, sex and drugs, I can live without the rock and roll

Sexist assholes. You'd think I'd be used to it by my age, but somehow it keeps on sucking.

How'd that commercial go... not your father's Oldsmobile... something like that. I guess now this one IS your mother's Oldsmobile. That sucks.

Sweet Spot & Venting Spot, eh? I guess its safe to say you have mixed feelings about it.

Those are some sweet R8s!

My team held our own tonight against one of the best teams around here... loaded with ringers - at least three or four that are probably ex-NCAA (we're just a rec league team). Last time we played this team, they were beating us 9-0 when the score-keeper stopped hitting the button for them out of sympathy. This time we fought them to a 1-1 tie. Felt like we won a championship or something

Sure sounds like an excuse to me. You're basically saying that if he goes shopping around purely on price and deliberately f**ks his LHS, that's bad; but if he just accidentally f**ks his LHS because he stumbled upon a slightly lower price without really meaning to, well then that's ok. Like I said, some people just don't understand loyalty, decency or what it takes to keep a valuable business in their town. I don't even own or work at an LHS; but as a business owner, I sympathize completely - BS like this is why this thread exists in the first place.

Its about loyalty and being a decent person, qualities which are sadly in very short supply these days, not to mention simple logic. If you want your LHS to be there next time you need something, you have to give them business so they survive. If they suck and don't deserve to survive, fine, it happens. But when they bust their butts to help you, yeah, you owe them the decency of holding off and buying it there. Don't be a douche.

Damn x-mas music. I can avoid most of it by staying out of stores, but when they start piping that crap in during stick and puck... grrrr

There's a 95/75 that is a good compromise between the two.

He's a dorky spaz, no question; I just think he's a lovable dorky spaz. I really like his child-like excitement and love for the game. He does 80 B's games a year and yet still manages to have the excited innocence of a kid going to his first game with his dad. I get where you're coming from though - I suppose his style isn't for everyone.

Seriously? You guys don't like Jack? I think he's one of the better hockey play by play guys on TV. Granted, many better on radio, but as far as TV goes, there's LOTS worse.

Scored my first goal for my new team tonight - coast to coast with a beautiful little give and go at the blue line

I think last year's was probably my favorite as well, but this year's is quite striking in its own right. It took my breath away when I first saw it Of course, I'm an alumna, so there's a bit of nostalgia mixed in there too

Thanks, Mike. And thanks for the tip that helped me snag it - I owe you one! Congrats on producing a beautiful design!

Unfortunately, no. It was actually a fluke that I picked this one up - just in the right place at the right time when an extra showed up because one of the parents ordered one and didn't pick it up or something like that. Beautiful sweater... still debating if I'm going to wear it or hang it on the wall

I finally snagged something worthy of a Show-it-Off post Just picked this up in Troy today... game-worn RPI 'Black Saturday' jersey: