Jump to content
Slate Blackcurrant Watermelon Strawberry Orange Banana Apple Emerald Chocolate Marble
Slate Blackcurrant Watermelon Strawberry Orange Banana Apple Emerald Chocolate Marble

stick9

Senior Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    2601

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    84

  • Feedback

    100%

Posts posted by stick9

  1. Posted · Edited by stick9 · Report reply

    2 hours ago, marka said:

    Howdy,

    So... Gen3 is kinda a disappointment to me.  Gen 2 made sense as a refinement, but I expected gen3 to introduce some new capabilities.

    So... What _should_ gen 3 have been?  🙂

    To me, the biggest downside of the Sparx is that you can't get the same blade finish / edge as what you can get with a really good manual sharpening.  I think that likely comes down the grit size on the wheel, but possibly also its the pressure used / pass speed?  Unsure.  My understanding is that on a manual machine, you lubricate the steel & use less pressure on your final pass.

    To change the grit size, you'd have to swap rings.  And any ring swap is going to introduce some edge height error since the center of each ring isn't guaranteed to be identical (though they're obviously damn close).  Plus you have to take the skate out to swap the wheel.  And you've now literally got 2x the cost for a given radius / hollow.  The advantage is that there's nothing that would fundamentally have to change to enable this.

    If a grit size change isn't required but rather a finishing lube would work, that would be pretty easy to apply manually.  Might not even have to unclamp the skate.  Heck, its not totally inconceivable that it could be automatically applied.

    To change the pressure, you'd need a modified carriage that would allow you to remove some of the spring pressure without changing the ring height.  Likely that means a re-design to have two springs, one of which could be locked out with a button / lever / ??

    To me, none of that seems inconceivable.  I would think that some capabilities like this could be added for incremental cost vs. wholesale redesign.

    The next step would be support for profiling.  That would seem to be as straightforward as to adding a motor that controls the height of the grinding ring, or more likely, a grinding ring assembly that still contains a spring loaded height setup.  You'd also need the ability to know where the grinding ring is along the X axis (I doubt that is possible with the current hardware, but perhaps its as simple as adding an encoder).  Might also need the skate clamp to have a way to precisely locate the skate blade fore/aft as well as pitch, but perhaps not as well... Perhaps that's actually measured once the skate is placed in the machine.  After that, everything should be software... Shouldn't be any need for actual physical templates, CNC has been around for a long time.

    I think that's likely a decent bit more $$... Adding a motor plus encoders on both axis anyway.  Maybe some type of sensor as well to be able to measure where the blade actually is.

    All of this may even ignore the simplest change, which would be support for a cross grinding ring.  Seems like all you need for that is to beef up the ability of the machine to handle larger / hotter swarf.  That can't be too far off already, since the gen 1 pro versions already have it.

    Anyway, what type of reasonable (or maybe not so reasonable) design changes would you all have liked to see?

    Mark

    The question you need to ask yourself, will your average Sparx owner notice the difference, or what percentage of users would actually use it? 

    TBH, Im not sure I would and there are other things I would want before that. Automatic calibration (height and width), an option to profile or 100% maintenance free. 

  2. Posted · Edited by stick9 · Report reply

    6 hours ago, pgeorgan said:

    I think it's a great machine. Folks that don't already have a Gen 1/2 will love it. It's not an iphone, so don't expect massive leaps and bounds in R&D year after year. At the end of the day, it's a grinding stone passing over some steel. No need to overthink it.

    I like that Beam is backwards compatible. Hopefully in the future, they'll integrate it directly into the machine. IE, laser automates edge checking and adjustments. That's what I first thought when I read the release. Definitely would've purchased one had that been the case. Though, I don't know how useful it would be in a home setting. I don't check my edges often, because everytime I do, it just confirms that the machine is in fact accurate. 

    App functionality makes perfect sense. No need for Sparx to write entirely custom software. They're not making the mistake that automakers did betting against Carplay. In the future, expect the machine to have no buttons and be driven entirely by a smartphone. Additionally, it allows them to begin to collect usage and performance metrics, which can then be parlayed into further improvemnts in successive generations. 

    This might not appeal to users at first glance, but I think will ultimately bear fruit in years to come. 

    Great post! Spot on with the phone functionality and user data.

    Personally. I don't think it was intended to replace existing gen 1 or 2 machines. 

     

  4. Posted · Report reply

    So month or so later. I ditched the Ultrasonics for some FT6's. Decent enough piece of gear. They seemed worth the cost. Only downer, they will not stay in place. Of course I keep using them and bang up the other elbow. I'm back to the US's for time being. I'd rather not use those long term. I don't care for the bulk.

    Im open to buying one more set. Maybe go back to the Tacks or hunt down some Jofa/RBK gear.

  5. Posted · Edited by stick9 · Report reply

    On 9/7/2023 at 9:31 AM, walkerdb7 said:

    You might need to take a bit of a leap of faith on a custom product

    That's a sizable leap given the cost, no? Things have become too expensive to simply "try" and there is no reselling a one off custom helmet. 

    Not trying to be a complete downer. Costs are getting insane and I feel like they don't really care. 

  6. Posted · Report reply

    On 8/28/2023 at 11:08 AM, Paluce said:

    Ok great, an engineer in product development… That’s me as well.  Let me explain and it will all make sense. 
     

    When you look at the images on CompetitiveEdgeHockey.ca you can clearly see the edge from the sparks machine is not “sharp”, it’s rolled over.  That is from the aggressive diamond wheel they use. That’s how the get the speed out of that machine…  The yellow grinding wheel on the Blackstone (or blademaster) has the least amount of heat generation, and combined with fine shine lubricant heat is at a minimum allowing that keen edge.  (In the tool and Mold industry when you finish steel, heat must be kept under control). 
     

    So what is the effect…. for the same hollow, the Blackstone sharpening will “feel” sharper. This has been verified by hundreds of people I do skates for.  What does that mean… you can go with a shallower hollow on a Blackstone sharpening to get the same bite on the ice, except it will be much faster! 
     

    Anything can feel sharp, but can it feel sharp, and fast, and smooth.   That’s the advantage you get with a perfectly keen edge. That applies to a Skatescribe sharpening, or Blackstone or Blademaster, or Wissota sharpening. Hope that makes sense.

     

    Golly Gee, thanks for explaining it to me. Here I thought I was going waste a bunch of time commenting on a bunch of stuff I knew nothing about..................

    • Haha 1

  8. Posted · Edited by stick9 · Report reply

    So I'll be the one who asks...

    I'm a Sparx owner. What's the benefit to me as a player to go back to a manual sharpening?

    Not the smoothness and all that blah blah blah. I want someone to tell me the actual on ice benefits gained by going back to having some rando sharpen my skates...

    I work in product development engineering. Part of my job is doing competitive eval. Measurements are only a portion of the procedure. Once a product is measured. I set them up in a blind A/B, equal environments and situations. Then we bring in people to experience the products and track their feedback. It's 100% about the users feedback. Just because you can measure something doesn't mean you can experience it. If I were doing these tests. I would have given 50 users two sets of steel. One set with a Blackstone hollow (no sauce), the other a Sparx. Same steel, same hollow, same profile...ie completely blind. This was not the case here. I find the entire discussion irrelevant and the data to be incomplete. 

    • Like 1

  9. Posted · Report reply

    7 hours ago, Paluce said:

    Ya I read that… II think the point is how good of an edge can you get in a Blackstone. You can’t use fine shine on a sparks… Blackstone you can.  So ya, totally valid comparison. 

    No, it's not. A true comparison would be the Blackstone without the fine shine. Or a Sparx with a final pass by hand using the fine shine. It's beyond silly to argue otherwise. 

    End of story.

    • Like 1

  10. Posted · Report reply

    To add. Of you read thru the site. I think you'll find that no one has ever said a Sparx sharpening is better than a really really good hand sharpening. It is however far more consistent and convenient. I was a Blackstone customer for years and currently own a Sparx. I have never once had a bad sharpening on my Sparx, never. I have however received uneven edges, incorrect hollows, burnt edges and ruined profiles from some very highly regarded hand sharpeners.

    TBH, I think the market has spoken. 

    • Like 4

  17. Posted · Report reply

    A little late but... I've gone as far as to pack all my clothes and gear in my hockey bag and stayed below the 50lb limit, 47 IIRC. I put my clothes in air tight travel bags to keep them from smelling like hockey gear.

    The most important bit. Your bag and sticks are considered one item. Don't let them charge you extra for the sticks. It's outlined in their checked bag policy under sports equipment.

    • Like 1

  18. Posted · Report reply

    On 7/21/2023 at 3:11 PM, stick9 said:

    Got the UltraSonics yesterday. Overall not bad. I really like how my elbow sits the cap vs my Tacks. More emphasis on padding in the Bauers.

    Hopefully I don't need to test em. Elbow is still 20 shades green and yellow.

    After wearing them a few times. I'm kinda meh. I can and will continue to use them. They are protective, comfortable and look well made. They're kind of bulky though and I really don't care for the extended bicep guard. It feels like it's in the way when I strap them how I like. The quest continues. 

  20. Posted · Report reply

    11 hours ago, Jbear said:

    Upon what are your hypotheses based? Gut feeling?  Something read online?  In the course of selling these things we are very much aware of what customers are breaking and with what frequency.  We also get to speak with company reps about retail and pro usage/design. 

    Maybe you have insight to which I'm not privy.

    There's no rule as to what we are obligated to use, so you do you.  I'm just offering a possible solution for those who are experiencing breakage with some frequency.  I use top-tier myself, but...eyes wide open. 

    Actual use. Most recently but not excluded to, my FT3's lasted no longer than my FT5 Pro's. 

    I also use top tier sticks but I don't pay retail for them. $340 for a stick is just absurd. Especially when you can find pro stocks for a little more than half that. Now, when it comes to pro stocks, they never feel the same as their retail counter part. I've experienced this from CCM, Warrior & Bauer. So if the other part of your comment was true, they would feel and perform the same, no??

    I'm not talking with reps or customers who broke their stick on day 29. I'm talking about actual on ice usage from the same player playing in the same groups and leagues.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    I don't know if I fully buy in on "lower tier sticks are more durable". That hasn't been my experience. I definitely don't buy in on "top tier sticks are made for people who don't pay for sticks". People who don't pay for sticks, aka pros, generally don't use off the rack retail twigs. While the cost of breaking sticks doesn't affect them, breaking sticks during play does and that's far more costly than the price of the stick itself. Ovie's infamous 8 stick game and the WJC OT game quickly come to mind.

  24. Posted · Edited by stick9 · Report reply

    I got a bit of the pointy elbow syndrome going on. When my arm is bent, the point of my elbow can touch the exposed D30 in the elbow cup of my Ultra Tacks. Which is why I didn't just upgrade to the ASV's. After some suggestions here and much online research. I ended up grabbing some UltraSonics on closeout directly from Bauer. If they don't work out I can return them or flip em on sideline. If that happens. I'll be on the lookout for some Warriors or maybe I'll revisit the Mach's or M5 Pro's.

     

     

    • Like 1

  25. Posted · Report reply

    @xstartxtodayx Dang, that was data dump. Thanks! I tried the FT4 pros when they came out. I didn't really care for the fit and they seemed short to me. I figure the FT6 is built upon that so I've kind of crossed that off my list. The new Tacks stuff is just an evolution of what I already have, so that's a no go. I tried the new Mach and M5 elbows yesterday. Neither really wowed me but I did notice you point about the cap design. I might try an UltraSonic. Bauer has them on closeout for $112. If I don't like them I can always return them or flip em Sideline.

    @noupf It's funny you mention warrior. I have wanted to try their protective for so long now its not even funny. Too bad I never get to see them in a store.

×
×
  • Create New...