jimmy

Law, here's a suggstion. If Dukes is where you want to go, why not purchase a skate holder and "lend" it to Dukes providing it's set up and aligned and ready for your skates. You'll then let them use the holder for other goalies and they sharpen your skates for free in return. Once they have a seperate holder, no reason why they can't sharpen you with FBV, no extra work or time needed at that point. The money you save from having to drive around will pay for the holder in no time.

Wow, you did everything you could to try to get that done. For $20 tip, I'd pick them up at your house and deliver them! Anyway, it does take 2x longer to do most goalie skates as it is, due to the better quality stainless. For FBV with one head, you have to change holder from a 2.9 to a 4.0, calibrate, sharpen, then go back to a 2.9, and calibrate. Not a fast process and way more labor than a regular FBV. This is why I got 2 more holders. In the beginning when I had one machine, I got backed up 12-15 pairs while doing a goalie or a Rocket Runner. I tried to have them leave them and come back but a lot couldn't do that. But, since I'm primarily a custom sharpening and radius shop, I just couldn't function right with 1 machine and 1 holder. I know Dukes is huge, but maybe they don't focus on sharpening, rather equipment.

First, the speed advantage for goalies IS negligable. But, some goalies may still want the FBV, that's their choice. But, I sympathize with the shop owner. It's not just a simple few click adjustment. With a line of people, stopping to do a FBV on a goalie really slows things down. So I can see why they wouldn't want to offer it for the very few goalies who may want to use it. I have 4 FBV heads and two holders set and aligned and ready to go for 3.2mm and 4.0mm blades, so for me it's not a problem. But the small shop who doesn't have the machines and holders, it's not cost effective for them to offer it.

Soft ice doesnt effect FBV as much as a hollow cut. The flat prevents the edges from sinking into the ice as much as hollows do.

Now you should try the "real" FBV. ;-)

Easy to figue out, Step XL steel is for skates that have Ls2.1 power steel. Same extra length. Howver, any skate any model that has LS2 holder can take Step regular or XL steel, totally interchangeable. X60's have regular lenngth LS2 steel so if you want to stay the same just get the regular Steps.

Do your blades have a ot of scratches on the sides? If so, this is what you could be feeling. Just skate on them and le tus know how they feel.

Did you hone them after sharpening?

Even though the steel is the same, most who use Velocity report that it holds edges longer than their regular STEPs. With the polished finish, the edges are stronger, they do not nick as easy as well. I love sharpening the velos, little to no honing required, the edge is just so much cleaner.

Step's big advantage is the taller height, which gives better turning and longer sharpening life. These have to be factored in. Yes the quality of the STEP regular stainless is better than stock steel, and the Velocity is even better than that, so either is a good choice. BlackEdge is really just hitting the market, and from what I've seen, it will be very good for edge retention. I radiused 3 sets yesterday and am very impressed with the quality. As for Nitinol, it is certainly the best, doesn't need the extra height for sharpening life as these will likely last 10 years or more. Plus unbreakable compared to all the others, + lighter, better glide. So from a cost/benefit perspective, Nitinol wins hands down, but it has it's issues. Virtually impossible to grind out a deep nick or lost edge, it can take hours and dressing after every 2 passes. I just re-sharpened a pair for a ex NHLr playing in Europe that were trashed, and it wasn't a nice experience. And I have the correct wheel to sharpen them. I fear if one uses a regular wheel, and they have to do a lot of passes, the chipping problem will be a big issue. If I had to recommend steel, it would be STEP Velocity and BlackEdges as my top choices.

I blame kohls, Joseph A. Bank and the big dept stores for conditioning shoppers into thinking everything is on sale, all the time. Jos A bank was running a commercial, "buy 1 suit get 6 free, plus 6 shirts". The margin on hockey equipment is just not like other retail products. That shirt at Kohls that is 80% off, has a 300% markup to start. I wish our industry had that, I'd have 80% off sales all the time.

Last year, got a phone call from another LHS giving us pre-warning and a name of guy who wrote bad checks at their place. We stuck it on side of register. Wouldn't you know it, several month later he shows up, tries to buy $1500 of goalie equipment. We stopped taking checks about 4 yrs ago. Just too many scammers, even long time customers and people you think you know well. IMO if you are writing checks now-a-days, something is very fishy. With free debit cards attached to checking accounts, there is absolutely no reason to write a check for a retail purchase.

Oh, I thought when you said this, "And that person even said with the steel they had (z-channel) that may be the reason and I agree", you meant that you agreed that it wouldn't work with the Z channel. Third party testing is the way to go (unlike thermoblades internal testing). I hope they don't use live skaters, rather controlled lab testing. Still I have yet to see a blade treatment that doesn't work better than a blade not treated, even plain wax improves glide.

Wow, you scared me for a moment! I've paid $75 for 1/4 oz of a different special stuff, so $25 for a kit is ok.

What, $25 for a treatment! Something doesn't seem right. Not worth more than $2. I've researched all the friction reducers, and experimented with almost all of them. Even the best NASA grade I use doesn't cost or is worth $25.

I've never used SK8T fuel but will say most blade treatments work well. The only way to know if it works for you is to try it. Friction reducers do work, they are not "snakeoil", they've been proven over and over. Oldtrainer guy, why would you say a blade treatment would not work on a Zchannel? I use them all the time on ZC's and they work well. A liquid one would be even better than say a wax type as it could easily be applied inside the channel. Not necessary though for friction reduction, more for snow removal in the channel. But a friction reducer on the outside of the channel would work identical to any other type sharpening.

He asked for the sharpest, that is the sharpest. I have several customers using it, and they like it and have no problems. They were on 100/75 prior and wanted more bite. Same scenario as OP. Shayno, yes, if they have the 100/1 spinner, that's what you'll ask for.

Try the 100/1

This is so true and funny at the same time. One of the guys I play with got some other guys to buy some of these knock off jerseys. When they came in I couldn't help but laugh to myself but also comment to each one of them, "so did you gain weight recently". They looked so stupid in their "large" jerseys that were actually smalls and fit like tights. SO funny looking. What a waste of money.

Perhaps you have an older holder. Behind the rear hole has a hump in the plastic, the slot is not as deep. That hump is the reverse of the cut out of the Elite, so the elite fits perfect. We tried to fit a PII and STEP in one, they both wouldn't fit. Customer tried at home and I tried as well. No go. I haven't tried it on a different pair yet, will do that when I get some time.

Yes, it's the same steel for the Eastons, same quality. I do a lot of them for my overseas customers because I'm not allowed to ship Easton steel outside the U.S. So STEP is my only option. It does not however fit in the new EQ line of skates, only the Elites fit in those. Looks like they changed the Razor holder.

Not necessary on the velo's, does nothing.

Guy comes in with a pair of x40's he bought online, wants sharpening and heat molding. I take my time and hope he sees the sale sign on our x40's that are the EXACT same price as the "monkey" sale price. Then I happily take his $55 for the services hoping he realizes he just spent $55 more than if he simply bought them from us. Sweet. I made $55 bucks and hopefully he's pissed that he didn't save anything by buying online.

haha, your so wrong, Kohl's has a 400% markup, then they have a 80% off sale and send you a coupon for another 30% off. They still end up making 200%. This kind of retail really brainwashes the average customer into thinking all retail stores have an insane profit regardless of product. If that were the case, why do so many hockey shops go out of business. People often ask us why we never have a sale (after all Kohls has a sale every week). I'd love to tell them, well a-hole, we are forced to price our equipment at online prices because if we don't, you a-holes will just use us to size, then buy online. Our online price is the bare minimum we can sell something and make a little profit to pay our expenses and perhaps take a paycheck. That's just the way it is. The old saying, "Do you know how to make a million in the hockey business? Answer, "Start with 2 million". Well, that's not far from the truth.