jimmy

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.

I don't think you'll find many on it to begin with, finding someone who has been on it a long time will be pretty difficult.

Sorry Chadd, I have to say you are wrong on this one. Instead of a video of someone skating on a ZC, you prefer what, someone talking about it in a post? What is your answer to the orig question of long term use of ZC? I know of no skater who has used the ZC longer than the skater in the video. There is simply no one else in North America who has used it longer. That's why I offered it. I can recall a while back where everyone was so adamant that they wanted to see videos of people skating, but now it's somehow "irrelevant".

Not necessarily. Generally if a new method of sharpening on the street is bad, it would be evident quick. What beter way to see that it performs than to see someone actually skating well on it? There is no "marketing" involved in the video, the young man is simply skating well for his Bauer contest, which has nothing to do with his skate sharpening. I can remember back when FBV first came out, all the naysayers had to say about that. The ZC is no different, it works well for some, others not so well, just like FBV's.

I'm not a video chopping expert so didn't know how to edit out the non-skating scenes, but if you can fast forward to them you will see some awesome skating. The kid certainly has great skills. BTW, he won the Bauer Contest and a nice shiny pair of APX skates.

Based on your statement, then we should never ask questions on forums. After all, isn't everything all personal preference, equipment, sharpening, durability, whatever? The question was if anyone had used it a length of time. The kid in the video has been using it for years. That's why I posted it. He was on FBV, but liked the ZC better. In the vid one can see maneuvers possible with the edges, so I think it could give someone a perspective of what it's like.

This skater has been on the ZC since it came out. Perhaps watching him skate will satisfy your curiousity.

All stainless steel can break from the low quality steel to the best quality. Stainless is just not strong like carbon. Some things can accellerate breakage, like blocking shots, loose runners, to tight runners, jumping over boards, and overheating to name a few. It's the price we pay to avoid rusting. If steel has a defect from poor Chinese manufacturing or raw materials, it would break rather quickly after first usage.

Not really, the Fusions are $130 and they are just half aluminum, so a little bit more for titanium is not bad. Titanium is expensive, I recently paid $95 for a titanium firing pin for one of my pistols, and the amount of titanium on it is way less than what would be on a pair of runners.

That makes sense, I didn't see any reference to nanoglide, I thought he was refering to nitinol not being avail.

Umm, nitinol is avail to everyone. The height does offer improvements, the length does not.

Except that it's really not $300, by the time yo get the spinners, vacuum, edge checker, etc, that bumps up the actual cost quite a bit. yes, i agree stupid for a high volume shop not to support goalies. As a goalie myself, I use to always get pissed when we were dissed because we were not in the majority. There is a shop near me that actually charges goalie $2 more for a regular sharpening because the guy doesn't want to vary from his 1/2" house cut player setting.