Ivan

Yes, they certainly are going to make a fortune selling those at $1700! I wonder if a shop would be better off buying an X02 to use as a dedicated FBV machine. Not really in the long run. You can use the convertable Spinner system on machines with a bigger diameter grinding wheel than the X0-2 has. Translates into MANY more skates sharpened per grinding wheel either if you go with a regular spinner or the FBV.

Probably because they would want to be the ones who came up with the idea. Otherwise, yes :D Only that would be reminding me Graf using TUUK holders on their skates in the past.

Great idea! I'm sure at least all these folks are gonna get pretty upset now

I had four customers for the FBV sharpening this evening. Three of them drove from a city over 800 kilometers away from me and one for about a 1000 kilometers. The first three ones were not going to buy anything. Just sharpening. The fourth bought a jersey on top of sharpening. This is insane. I didn't have the heart to charge them for sharpening though. Of course I'm in Ukraine now...

Blademaster has been the market leader for a long time. Now, Blackstone's FBV is a real break through within the past decades. Blademaster doesn't want to give in. So (IMO) they gotta try to come up with something in order not to continue losing their market share to Blackstone. And it may be very hard (to come up with something of their own). Hopefully, it all won't become nasty. Now Blackstone has the best competitive edge than ever (in addition to black color vs red :D , - the ceramic/teflon tabletop (Blademaster's responded with a granite tabletop (on their top end professional machinesonly), the Spinner, and then the FBV Spinner.

Kinda cool - more FBV options for professional Blackstone machines http://blackstonesport.com/products.cfm?category_id=18

Thank you! So that being said, is it correct that the two outside dials should have to be minimally adjusted from pair to pair? Also, how often do you adjust your center dial? Sorry if this seems redundant, but your help is GREATLY appreciated! Been mentioned before: don't play with the forward/back pitch dial, no real need to. Just leave it neutral. All seem to be getting better results that way.

Was pleased to discover today that basically ALL Blackstone machines are available with the pure SPINNER option. That also means FBV, of course. For those who are looking for other portable options with either regular Spinner or FBV, all these ones now available with the Spinner head as an option: http://www.blackstonesport.com/portable_sk...ng_machines.php The advantage - (except for the Classic one (FC-01 & FC-02), I believe) - you can do skate profiling (contouring/shaping) on them. Another advantage - on ALL these portables bigger diameter grinding wheels are used (translates into more skates sharpened per grinding wheel).

I thought I had little final pass polishing probs on a Turbo Spinner with the Ruby wheel. I was wrong. Different lighting made it look that way. Tried the Ruby grinding wheel on 90/75 sharpening for the first time. The edges and glide were perefect. My stops too. I'm pretty much sure the FBV is here to stay.

Same thing I mentioned a week ago. Made a big difference for me as well. I held off putting the spare FBV-cut steel in for now after just using a stone. Before the stone I ran my fingernail down towards the bottom of each blade and could feel a small 'lip'. A couple easy passes with an Arkansas stone and it was gone. Didn't lose an edge at all after that. I plan to go into my 3rd game with them like this and evaluate afterwards. Not sure if I can make it through the next 3 or 4 weeks without changing them out, but I'd like to try it if possible. And here is where the Miracle Stone kicks in (at least in my case). Works great with water.

I sincerely have no intention to promote my site that is in Ukraine through a North American forum, but if this is going to be helpful to anyone, the catalogue could be seen here

Dmitry Khristich http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8448484 is on the FBV too now And now he is coming back dragging friends-players with him

Dmitry Khristich http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockey...career.cgi?1077 is on the FBV too now

Well worth it if they know what they're doing. A combination of properly adjusted jig, and VERY light smooth Lube Tube /Fine Shine polishing final pass gives a perect result (at least in my case). Now doing skates for an NHLer and other pros. A get a kick out of doing the FBV for customers now

You just wait... I mean skate. In other words, give it some time

Don't sweat it You will learn over time. You've got a great machine/technology.

You need to do the final pass SLOWLY. Lube Tube/ Fine Shine polishes the blade. To the best of my knowledge, the final pass on the video IS SLOW http://www.vimeo.com/1739055 Think polishing(not sharpening) when you're doing the final pass. VERY light and gentle pressure. And again, GO SLOW. Takes a little bit of time to get used to. Good luck!

I've been getting a fantastic finish with the regular spinner on my X02 and the stock wheel. I did up some old tacks and the finish was stunning for a portable. Yeah, with the regular spinner I get perfect finish even without Lube Tube or Fine Shine. With the FBV seem to be getting there too now. I'm there now. Guess been lacking general sharpening experience. The finish on FBV is perfect now :D

It depends. Techically, I think you should, as the materials are expensive and it's a premium sharpening you're offerring (Mercedes vs. Chevrolet) I do free sharpenings on occasions. The guy who got for first sharpening free is now paying me $7 per sharpening. I always do it for free for friends, but that's another story.

Same feel for me - the 100/75 had way too much bite when stopping. Went to the 90/75 (new custom One95 (needed to get used to them alone). With a little bit of adjustment, usual boot break in and unlacing the top eyelet, skating feelt unreal at a drop in game earlier today. Sharpen my skates myself Blackstone recommends the 90/75 FBV as a starting point.

Worth every penny IMO

I've been getting a fantastic finish with the regular spinner on my X02 and the stock wheel. I did up some old tacks and the finish was stunning for a portable. Yeah, with the regular spinner I get perfect finish even without Lube Tube or Fine Shine. With the FBV seem to be getting there too now.

I would highly suggest if going from a regular hollow to the FBV you cross grind first (not a fan of cross grinding) but it seems to work the best to get the hollow in there properly. I don't have the opportunity to cross grind before doing the FBV. So I do 1" hollow with a regular spinner and then do the desired FBV. Seems to work fine

Seem to be getting quite better finishing/polishing results by putting some Fine Shine on top of Lube Tube before final pass. Again, I am using a regular Turbo Spinner portable, not an X-01 or X0-2. With the regular (non-FBV) spinner dresser polishiing has never been a problem. Using the full size Black Walnut grinding wheel.

Did 90/75 for Team Ukraine Coach Alexander Savitskiy http://www.sokol.kiev.ua/page-id-3026.html http://www.hockey.org.ua/Komanba/m513.htm His feedback was "just incredible". Team Ukraine head coach Dmitri Khristich (frmr. NHL player - Washington, Boston, Toronto, and LA) politely declined. The only reason he declined was his modesty. He had signed some jerseys for my friends in the States and didn't want me to feel obliged to him for doing that for me. Added 01/31: Savitskiy called me today and said he never skated so fast in his life. He played in the Russian Superleague and for various West European teams (I believe in Sweden too).