customskateworks

Doesn't matter to me. Blue wheels. Loser buys the beer next time.

It's on as long as you don't put maple syrup in my fine Shine again.

Our Blackstone Professional Portable with single Spinner dressing is great. The 4" wheels can't match the efficiency and finish, they don't have high enough feet per second. On a side note, I've been using the new Blackstone Goal sled for the last week and it is great. Especially for cowlings with low steel and rec skates that are hard to get onto other sleds. A little on the heavy side, but the performance makes up for it.

New Blackstone on the left, old Blackstone in the middle, Blademaster on the right.

Remove the holders, cut out grip tape (skateboard grip tape works great) in the shape of the front and rear plates, stick the grip tape cut outs to the outsole, remount the holders. The grip tape gives the holders something to bite into to keep them from shifting and loosening the rivets.

I recently had all of our Blackstone Butterfly gauges replaced. The first batch of the squares had the thumb screws mounted too high, which resulted in the screw usually only clamping part of the top edge of the runner and wanting to pull it to the side a bit. If you compare the height to the BR100 or BR200 you will notice the difference in screw placement. I got the new ones in from Blackstone a couple weeks ago and haven't had anymore problems.

Hang the wheel on something (screwdriver, pencil, etc.) and tap it (I use the wheel wrench). A good wheel makes a "ringing" sound. A wheel that has internal damage, that may not be visible, will make a dead "thunking" sound.

I would not recommend operating the machine without the wheel cover securely in place. While it does not happen often (especially if you're "ring" testing your grinding wheels before using them), wheels do blow up sometimes. When it happens while it's spinning at 4400 RPM, you and any exposed body parts will be thankful those guards are there.

Correct. In a few years you're going to be surprised what 3D printing will do for hockey. I've been to a few seminars here in town where they are printing parts from numerous types of plastics. It will only be a matter of how precise your measurement methods are and how fast your CAD technician can get designs to the printer.

Comfort is on par with my G75's, even though they are slightly big. Mobility wasn't quite as good, but the VH is a stiffer boot and they aren't as broken in as my Grafs.

It was a pretty easy mount. Profiles of the chassis and boot matched up pretty good. Just needed some thin wedges in the back.

Skated on the VHs with the Carbon/Kevlar Razor Bladz Wednesday night. As expected they were extremely stiff. Boots felt great even though they were a half size bigger than I would like, but still managed to get a good heel lock. Similar stance to the Mako and felt like the boot is cut slightly higher. The holders are stiff and unforgiving, but they were fast. It also helped I cut them at 90/50. So yesterday I took off the Razor Bladz and mounted the Mission Magnesium chassis from my Makos and skated inline on them last night. Felt very quick on my feet. You notice a few different things about a boot when you use them for ice and inline since you change your stride a bit. For me it came in the stiffness of the tendon guard, which I noticed more playing inline. Overall, great boots, lightweight, impressive build quality, and a high degree of thermo-formability.

Carbon Kevlar Razor Bladz off the old Easton Z-Air. Had them laying around so I thought I'd give them a whirl since I assume nobody else has. If they feel like garbage I'll put some LS Edge on them or see how they feel as an inline boot. I'm fortunate enough to have a mad-scientist "skate lab" where I essentially have free reign to do whatever my warped mind desires.

These now exist... whatever these are that I've created. In the words of Dr. (Young) Frankenstein, "He is beautiful... and he is mine...". I really can't wait to get this love/hate relationship on the ice.

Technically this is a piece of equipment, since it will reside in my hockey bag. I had some tongue scraps laying around so I made a coozie. Features you ask? It has a black matte microfiber "upper", 3/8" white felt padding keeps your beverage of choice cool, all sewn up with a Speedy Stitcher. Eyelets on either side for putting a lace through so you can wear it, and yes... it has a 100% carbon fiber outsole. I'm not saying my coozie is better than yours, but...