Jordan

pics man...sounds like a sweet set-up. Congrats !

QUOTE (Jordan @ Feb 9 2009, 10:41 PM) I think that he will know very quickly, within 20 minutes. If 100/75 feels like the edge grabs too much, definitely try 90/75! Hey Neal... A couple of points: A move from 100/75 to 90/75, does change the amount of bite despite the "75" measure of the depth of the edeg - this is because the angle of the edge changes. you can see this in the diagram. For me, coming from 3/4 ROH, I felt that I had plenty of edge with the 90/75. The 100/50 may well turn the trick for you, I haven't tried and only found out about it the other day. While know from experience that there is a significant and detectable increase in glide going from standard to FBV, I don't know if one can tell the difference in glide between the 100 FBVs and the 90 FBVs. My sense is that glide would feel about the same but you would notice the difference in edge bite more on the various FBV profiles.

I guess that everyone is different, but my son tried 100/75 for a couple of skates and he liked it, okay. Took about 10 minutes to adjust to. Tried 90/75 and I could tell instantly that it was right. I tried 90/75 myself...and I was instantly amazed, completely comfortable in a matter of minutes. All you do is get them sharpened with a regular sharpening. nothing to it. I think that he will know very quickly, within 20 minutes. If 100/75 feels like the edge grabs too much, definitely try 90/75! There is a definite improvement in speed and gliding!!!!! :P

Fair comment...was just thinking that without a proper jig, and not knowing the correct wheel speed, or grit of the cutting wheel thatbthere was great potential for disaster. :o

The next time you are at a sharpening shop take a look at one of their big machines. Usually they have a cross grinding station on them. It is a wheel that is positioned on the vertical plane rather than on a horizontal plain (how a regular sharpening wheel sits). It has a profile on the edge that is flat, and is used when you have to remove steel. It gets used when profiling, or when the blades are seriously out of level - edge relative to edge or when one skate blade is too tall versus the other. It also gets used if you have severe damage to a blade and a lot of steel has to come off to get the blade below the damged steel. In theory, I suppose if it had the correct grit, one could use a home bench grinder...but the odds of success would be extremely low.

Ummm, well...when the axle spins around one time, so does the disk. It doesn't matter what size the disk is. The previous poster made sense when talking about the speed of the grinding surface at the edge of the wheel.

Well, I tried the 90/75 tonight...OMG ! The glide is ridiculous. I skated with my son for 3 hours! Now that would normally mean exhaustion and knee pain for me, none at all with the FBV. The edges seemed a fair bit sharper than my normal 3/4" cut, but man oh man do they cut ice. Okay this is seriously fun. B) Now SHHHHHHHH...I really want to keep this a secret!

Hey OTG, I wouldn't sweat it about network54...it is a dog's breakfast at best. That site regulary trashes kids, coaches, and well everything under the sun. At various times they have attcked profiling, powerskating/skating instruction, various organisations, getting your kid decent skates...it just goes on and on. Anyhow, my guy is loving it, and is skating better than ever. Infact, I am on my way to have my skates done. Keep your chin up!

Wow..that is impressive ! :o

That says it all ! :D

OTG...I think that it won't be long before this becomes a standard request from those who are keen about hockey. I am in Toronto...Markham is the closest for me in the existing list (they need a new 100/75 spinner though). Wishing you could get it to the Yonge and Sheppard location - guessing that they don't have a Blackstone. Anyhow...had my son try the 95/75 (I think?) when the 100/75 wasn't available. He felt it to be a little too slippery, but I have to tell that I don't think that has ever skated better or more fluidly. I do have one question for you though about profile: If a skater tends to slip a little in his stride as he reaches the toe flick, is there anything that he could change in the profile, that would help this? Also, have you noticed any changes to profile that compliment or generally go well with the change to FBV ? Thanks

Hey Jimmy, Which FBV did you go with ?

Well, I am in central Toronto, closest to the Young and sheppard location...but most of the team is in Etobicoke.

Hey OTG, Yes it is indeed going well. My guy is really skating well on the 75/100 that you suggested. I haven't exactly mentioned it to the teammates just yet...it's too much fun watching the other parents stare at my son. Also, Markham is a little far most on the team. I will have to let them in on it prior to the play-offs though <_<

Yes - if you could get it for that amount. Notice, though that the reserve has not been met, and the "buy it now" price is $15,000 USD

Here it is: skate sharpener on ebay

Has anyone experimented with other FBV ROHs (other than 75/100) ? If so comments would be welcomed.

OR...buy the Blacksrone personal sharpener !!!!

UPDATE: Okay, my son has now been on the FBV 75/100 for 3 team practices, 2 power skates, and a game. I need to take back all of my comments posted above (where I said that there wasn't much of a difference). It took a few times out on the ice for him to fully adjust, but then, I would have to say that there is indeed a significant improvement in glide and overall speed. I think that the sharper edges were grabbing a little bit during crossovers etc, and as a result he was checking his speed. Now, he is beating teammates in skating drills and races who were equally matched prior to the FBV. Anyhow, I would say give it a try, but stick with it for a while if you don't immediately jump for joy. Congrats to the Blackstone gang, you have a winner! :P :P :P

Pitch and radius probably don't contribute to the equation. That being said, there was post way back in this thread where someone talked about SAK suggesting that he also move the balance point back, when he changed. That might have been due to another problem, don't know

SAK, Would it be possible to post a list rough equvilencies or FBV hollows that you would suggest when coming from a traditional hollow. For example: I currently skate on 3/4, with a 9' radius, and fwd pitch. What would I use?

Could be. Perhaps I was expecting more based early reports. Still think it may be that it makes a bigger difference for heavier players. Don't get me wrong, not really a complaint. More of an observation.

OTG, He is an 8 year old. Weighs in at about 75 pounds, soaking wet. Plays T1 in the NYHL (the highest level in Toronto for his age group) ...his team is going as a group to becoming an AAA team next year. Skating wise, fwd and backward crosscuts are about perfect, has a great stride. Very agile dipsy doodler type. His skating is at the top of his age group. I am not saying that it was bad, he just didn't think it was that big of a deal. For info purposes, he does feel his edges quite well; always commenting about when he needs a sharp, and which sharpening shop he prefers etc. He definitely noticed the sharper edges, but he didn't think the glide was very different. I think we will try it for a few more skates and see how he feels about it after that. Any other feedback would be great!

Tried 75/100 FBV on my son's skates...didn't notice much of a difference besides the sharper edges. For my son, hardly a "wow" experience. Maybe it makes a bigger difference for heavier players. Might try it myself to see if I can feel a difference.

What FBV is the nost popular ? Have people been doing much experimenting ?