jimmy

I wear a 8 RBK. Today I got my Mako's and a 9 was perfect. Didn't make sense, but skate fitting never does. BTW, I love this skate. They felt like crap before they were molded, but after molding they were the sweetest feeling skate I have ever put on. Can't even describe it, but they fit so well. I did the goalie conversion today and am anxious to test them out Monday.

No, but the law does. I'm not sure on Canadian law but in the US, it's pretty clear about replacement parts.

I don't see that happening, replacement parts are exempt from patent protection, e.g, same as auto parts.

I'm sure Step will have it's version.

Yes, I go thru their distributor, that adds to the mess.. Would be nice to have them up the street! It's also tough getting CCM steel right from CCM, seems they are frequently out. There was a time I literally robbed steel from every skate in the store just to fill orders.

Trust me, I'd like nothing more to sell a set of steel to anyone, but getting steel from vendors sometimes is very difficult. I could have a dozen of one size in stock on Mon and be sold out on Wed. Then I reorder and they are backordered. Step doesn't always have all sizes in stock and it can take weeks to get what I need. People say, well why don't you just order more, well I do but when they only send me one pair when I ordered 10, that sucks. For my business, there is nothing worse than losing a custom radius order because I didn't have a set of steel for the radius customer. Someone who just wants a set of steel, no radius can get them instead from their local store or one of the big online stores.

There is a reason we don't just sell steel anymore. In the past when the big online stores ran out, folks would find us online (we come up in the top google rankings) and then we'd get cleaned out of our supply. Then we'd try to reorder but manufacturers would be out for weeks. So, when we had a radius customer, we had no steel for them. We had to put the restriction on to keep the supply avail for our radius customers. Nothing to be afraid of, we clearly tell you up front what our policy is.

Yup, I already have 5 conversions lined up, including me! Was ready to do it with a MLX but then concussion happened, so I held off.

I sold a pair of Blackedges to a guy I skate with back in June. He told me yesterday he's ready for his second sharpening. 36 sessions for him. Not bad. Jury is still out on Blacksteel, still too new to evaluate. I do like the extra height on the STEP blacksteel, especially if you are an aggressive leaner in turns. But given that both will withstand many more shapeneings than regular steel, both would be good choices.

What I really like in addition to the fit is the new holder, 2mm higher and steel with almost a 3 degree forward pitch. I think it's going be a great perfoming setup. Simply change the stock 9' radius to what works well for you and you got a winning lower.

I got some of the blacks in yesterday, so I hope not. They look nice.

Just got the word, Step will not be offering Gold steel, they couldn't get it manufactured to their liking so they have been cancelled.

I'll try to get a pic today. I know the base steel is velocity, but I don't think that would even be visible from under the coating. The coating itself has the glossy finish. Perhaps someone from STEP could explain more what the coating is. Also, unlike Blackedges, these are not coated on the bottom.

I got some Black models in today, I guess the distributor mixed it up when he told me the golds were shipped. Too bad, I was anxious to try some out. The Blacks are amazing though, nothing like the Blackedges appearance wise, but black with a super mirror like polish.

Funny you say that, I have some Gold on the way from distributor, it was the black they said they didn't have yet. One of my customers who can't always get up to me was letting his local guy hone his Blackedges, and that coating came off fairly easily. In my experience with DLC, honing is just not necessary, I've neve had to hone a pair to take off sharpening slivers because they just don't sliver.

Sizing down to size 4, nothing smaller. Only one model, prob will have others later, just like they are doing with the RS, lower models coming out next yr.

He should at least have eye protection! It's save my eyes many times.

If you have access to a 1/2" hollow measuring tool, drop it in and if it fits, you got a 1/2 spinner. You can also put a quarter on ta sharpened blade, if you have a FBV, it will clearly be flat in the middle.

No, it's a regular 1/2 hollow. You will have to buy your FBV spinners.

I would start with a 90/75, try that then try a 90/50 and compare the two and see which you like better. The Blackstone chart is not so precise, hence 100/50, 90/1 and 95/75 all around 1/2-9/16 bite range. So best to try one then compare. I will tell you, if you really like a 3/4 hollow, you prob won't like the bite of any FBV with more bite than 90/75.

Any aftermarket steel is better than LS2.1. But tell me, is the TI-SS on the market?

My distributor is saying they will have them from STEP in 4-6 weeks. They are going to be released in phases by brand, etc. So Bauers first, then the others will follow at later dates.. I didn't ask about the juniors but it likely the smaller sizes will come later. I'll have to check on that one.Both the Titanium Nitride and diamond coated versions will be approx the same cost. Since these coatings are going to be applied over their VELOCITY steel, the price is going to be fairly higher. I'm guessing they will sell for approx $160-$180 a pair.

There are 3 radius on a runner, all different. As JR said, the working radius is what most think as the factory radius. The toe and heel radius are different and different from manufacturer to manufacturer. With Steps, indeed the heel radius is larger than a stock radius. On the other hand, the RBK steel hase a 10' working radius but a shorter heel and toe radius, hence the 'Proformance" naming. If you like the STEPs, just have your sharpener match them manually to the radius you like. Many prefer the flatter heel as they get more power speed in heel turns, others like you may not like it. That's the beauty of profiling, the possible mods are endless to get the performance you want.

Titanium nitride is a great coating, been used on drill bits for years. Only problem, once sharpened, the advantage is lost. I like the idea of a tough outer coating on the side of blades as this will toughen the edges and help reduce nicking. I look forward to them being released as well.

No, it's more related to the fact that not many shops have purchased the new equipment to do it. Think also, just how many shops still to this day still do not offer the FBV. And speaking of FBV, when it first came out, there were many who didn't like it. At first when they only offered 100/75 and 90/75, many found the 100/75 too sharp and the 90/75 not sharp enough, so they went back to hollow sharpenings. Wasn't till the 100/50 was released did it really have mass appeal.