Skate Grinders

[skatedoctor 0]

Hi there guys, whick skate grinders are the best to use?

Mainly for a mobile use?

Any help would be great?

Dean

[sogaduch 0]

i like the blademaster ones because there simple,easy to use

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

It depends on what you are doing with it. I couldn't justify dropping $1500 on a Blademaster portable if you're just going to do your skates - a Wissota might serve you better.

[skatedoctor 0]

Well, currently im using a cag profiler, just wondering if there is anything better out there!

Im mainly looking for an automatic, cause im not too sure i want to be practising on 'customers' skates with a hand held machine.

I currently offer a 'mobile' service not a shop based one!

Its just mainly for my hockey team members and officials!

[jimmy 194]

The CAG profiler is not good for sharpening. From what you say your volume is, a Wissota is all you need.

[Chadd 916]

I've used just about everything and my favorite by far is the blackstone.

[skatedoctor 0]

Just wish i checked this site out before i bought one back in june! and had it shipped over to the uk

[skatedoctor 0]

Jimmy i know you have PM'd me but do you have any more tips etc? ill have to use the machine now to get some money back on it!

[jimmy 194]

Jimmy i know you have PM'd me but do you have any more tips etc? ill have to use the machine now to get some money back on it!

A lot of folks have misconceptions about automatic machines. They are only as good as the sharpener who uses it, just like manual machines.. You still need to measure with caliper EVERY skate blade and dress the stone for the width. You have to measure evenness of edges and ensure you select enough passes for the machine to bring edges back to level. You have to inspect when done and do additional passes if needed. You have to check the hollow along the length of the blade to ensure the correct hollow is there. You have to keep the machine clean and check calibration. You have to use fresh diamonds and don't try to cheat and extend diamond/stone life.

If you do all the right things, the profiler can sharpen skates well. It is very time consuming, that's why I don't use it for sharpening. I have a volume business, approx 10-15k pairs a year. The profiler is just too slow to dress and sharpen since it goes thru the measurement process, and the speed of stroke too slow.

I wouldn't go crazy and give up on it yet. Sounds like you ony do a few pairs at a time. Measure blade width, deress the stone, sharpen 4-6 passes, inspect, then repeat if necessary. If you know the hollow that is on the skate you are doing, that will make life easier. 2-4 passes is usually all that is needed.

Feel free to PM me for more info.

[skatedoctor 0]

Jimmy thanks for the info, (i just seen this posting as well as PM'ing you)

I got a blade thickness gauge with a hollow tester on it so that helps out a lot, and i do dress the wheel to the thickness of the skate blade and to the hollow that the customer wants, so it looks like things are going ok. As you say it takes time to do a pair of skates using the profiler. I just thought i was doing something wrong!

Roughly how many pairs of skates can you do off a wheel on the cag profiler? On the information they said about 120 pairs, i think thats a lot less????

[jimmy 194]

Jimmy thanks for the info, (i just seen this posting as well as PM'ing you)

I got a blade thickness gauge with a hollow tester on it so that helps out a lot, and i do dress the wheel to the thickness of the skate blade and to the hollow that the customer wants, so it looks like things are going ok. As you say it takes time to do a pair of skates using the profiler. I just thought i was doing something wrong!

Roughly how many pairs of skates can you do off a wheel on the cag profiler? On the information they said about 120 pairs, i think thats a lot less????

Sounds like you are OK. You need to know what the hollow is in the blade before you sharpen, that dictates how many passes you will need to get it perfect.

If you dress for each customer, you will not get 120 pairs out of a stone. I get roughly 60 pairs. I dress for each, as all good skate sharpeners should. You get a better finish in the result. If you do everyone at say 1/2, you can get more, but that's not what a good sharpener should do. You have to offer many hollows. The downside is you use more stones, the plus side is happy repeat customers.

[skatedoctor 0]

Just wondering what are the prosharp skate grinders are like?

[jimmy 194]

Just wondering what are the prosharp skate grinders are like?

Prosharp are basically the same as CAGs without the case. SOme minor differences but similar. Use to be called Ericson.

[skatedoctor 0]

Cheers jimmy, you know your stuff!

[skatedoctor 0]

What is the SSM range of sharpeners like?

[hockechamp14 0]

Jimmy thanks for the info, (i just seen this posting as well as PM'ing you)

I got a blade thickness gauge with a hollow tester on it so that helps out a lot, and i do dress the wheel to the thickness of the skate blade and to the hollow that the customer wants, so it looks like things are going ok. As you say it takes time to do a pair of skates using the profiler. I just thought i was doing something wrong!

Roughly how many pairs of skates can you do off a wheel on the cag profiler? On the information they said about 120 pairs, i think thats a lot less????

Sounds like you are OK. You need to know what the hollow is in the blade before you sharpen, that dictates how many passes you will need to get it perfect.

If you dress for each customer, you will not get 120 pairs out of a stone. I get roughly 60 pairs. I dress for each, as all good skate sharpeners should. You get a better finish in the result. If you do everyone at say 1/2, you can get more, but that's not what a good sharpener should do. You have to offer many hollows. The downside is you use more stones, the plus side is happy repeat customers.

My local pro shop told me it would be 15 extra dollars to get a half inch hollow on my skates. I gave them a WTF? look, paid 5 dollars for a 7/16 and will never go back to the store.

--looks like I'll be fixing up my dad's old machine...

[jimmy 194]

My local pro shop told me it would be 15 extra dollars to get a half inch hollow on my skates. I gave them a WTF? look, paid 5 dollars for a 7/16 and will never go back to the store.

--looks like I'll be fixing up my dad's old machine...

Wow, I've heared of ripping people off but that's ridiculous. I charge as low as $3.30 for a custom hollow, whatever you want, 15/32; goalie, a RCH over a 1/2 whatever!

[Chadd 916]

Damn, what great service. We put on any hollow for the same price and I'll offer to change a hollow for free if it doesn't feel right. Only if they come in right after practice or a game though.

[skatedoctor 0]

Guys, how much is the going rate for a skate grind in your areas? Are you in canada or america?

Im trying to compare prices over here in the UK

[jimmy 194]

Damn, what great service. We put on any hollow for the same price and I'll offer to change a hollow for free if it doesn't feel right. Only if they come in right after practice or a game though.

Yea, I offer a free adjustment as well. Rarely have to as I usually nail it right the first time! :P

[jimmy 194]

Guys, how much is the going rate for a skate grind in your areas? Are you in canada or america?

Im trying to compare prices over here in the UK

In the US it is around $5, more in high cost of living areas like NY city, etc. I've heard as high as $10.

My philosopy is if you keep it reasonable, they will come back often. I sell discount prepaid cards 15 for $50. Most of my customers buy these.

Don't have a clue what you could get in the UK. What do your rinks charge?

[sogaduch 0]

we do 7 dollars for player/goal(excluding the combo)/figure skates that have already been sharpened 10 if there brand new, also like chadd we do not charge extra for different hollows.

[Chadd 916]

Damn, what great service. We put on any hollow for the same price and I'll offer to change a hollow for free if it doesn't feel right. Only if they come in right after practice or a game though.

Yea, I offer a free adjustment as well. Rarely have to as I usually nail it right the first time! :P

I like it when they want a change but end up going back to what they had in the first place.

[DarkStar50 680]

Northern NJ-

$6 - Hockey sharpening

$8 - Goalie Sharpening

$8 - Recreational Figure Sharpening

$25 - Competitive Figure Sharpening - Hand finished with bullet stones, 20 minute process.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

$4 for hockey, $5 for figure/goal, $10 for new not bought in our store.

At RDV it was $5 overnight, $7.50 same day, any type of skate.