Radius and hollow

[Norm 0]

As people who live and die on our blades, we have a vested interest in them. And sometimes what we wish to be and what we are at odds.

So should one have their blades cut to their current abilities or would it be better to cut them in a way to elicit a certain skating prowess that must be achieved?

[jimmy 194]

It is better to have your blade match your current abilities, then slowly and in small increments adjust to achieve what you want. Some can handle big swings, others cant. For example, those who learned to skate on deep hollows like 3/8, they never really learned to use edges, because deep hollows are like skating with a "crutch". The skate controls them, rather than they controlling the skate. When they try to use shallower hollows later in life to attain say more speed, they have difficulty adjusting. I find minor adjustments in 32nds works fine.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

What would be a good radius for someone learning to skate?

[Tex 0]

I don't know that skating with a tighter radius now will prevent you from skating with a larger radius later on. I used to get a 3/8ths on my skates for the extra edge and easier turning. When I got heaver my weight put more edge into the ice by virtue of gravity, so now I get a 7/16ths. Every once in a while I'll try a different sharpening, but always come back to what feels right for me.

Just play around with different cuts. Don't just find one and use it forever ... keep experimenting.

I think the standard "house cut" at local hockey stores is a 7/16th (correct me if I'm wrong). Try that radius first and then compare it with others. If you are really light you'll benefit from a tighter radius.

[Chadd 916]

Our standard is 1/2" but I have a lot of customers who now use something different. It's all a matter of finding what works best for you.

[CHIEF22 0]

What would be a good radius for someone learning to skate?

I know that I am new to this and all, but aren't the last two posters talking about hollows, and this guy asked about radius?

Not trying to be a smart a$$, just asking..

Just curious also, as I'm in the same boat. And for what it's worth, where I get mine sharpened, the "standard" hollow is 5/8ths. Being a heavier guy, it works for me.

[Chadd 916]

What would be a good radius for someone learning to skate?

I know that I am new to this and all, but aren't the last two posters talking about hollows, and this guy asked about radius?

Not trying to be a smart a$$, just asking..

Just curious also, as I'm in the same boat. And for what it's worth, where I get mine sharpened, the "standard" hollow is 5/8ths. Being a heavier guy, it works for me.

Sorry, I was answering the previous post. I think having a longer radius(11-13) makes it easier to learn to skate as it increases stability. Once you start playing decent level hockey and need to address other skills, it's time to start shortening the radius to see what works best for you.

[jimmy 194]

What would be a good radius for someone learning to skate?

I know that I am new to this and all, but aren't the last two posters talking about hollows, and this guy asked about radius?

Not trying to be a smart a$$, just asking..

Just curious also, as I'm in the same boat. And for what it's worth, where I get mine sharpened, the "standard" hollow is 5/8ths. Being a heavier guy, it works for me.

Just to clarify for others.... there are two radius on skates, radius of hollow and rocker radius. Radius of hollow is what you get with regular sharpening.

[LuZZo 0]

This is an interesting topic. I recently purchased a new pair of skates (CCM Vector 6.5's). Now I noticed after skating on them for a couple of hours yesterday that it felt like the front part of the blade would make too much contact with the ice in my drive phase. Additionally I felt as though I couldn't turn as well. So when I got home I looked at my old skates and noticed that the rocker radius of my old skates (CCM 352 Tacks) was different. There was more of a pronounced ark on the older skates, which would explain why I felt as though the new skates had "too much blade". From what I understand manufacturers provide an excess of blade stock. Is this true?

I guess my only recourse is to have them contoured or rockered. Any advice for someone who has never had this done before? Can I bring in my old skates into the shop as ask them to use it as a guide?

Thanks and any help would be appreciated.

[flaming_june 2]

This is an interesting topic. I recently purchased a new pair of skates (CCM Vector 6.5's). Now I noticed after skating on them for a couple of hours yesterday that it felt like the front part of the blade would make too much contact with the ice in my drive phase. Additionally I felt as though I couldn't turn as well. So when I got home I looked at my old skates and noticed that the rocker radius of my old skates (CCM 352 Tacks) was different. There was more of a pronounced ark on the older skates, which would explain why I felt as though the new skates had "too much blade". From what I understand manufacturers provide an excess of blade stock. Is this true?

I guess my only recourse is to have them contoured or rockered. Any advice for someone who has never had this done before? Can I bring in my old skates into the shop as ask them to use it as a guide?

Thanks and any help would be appreciated.

funny how i have the same skates but the opposite problem, my 6.5 rocker radius were too small, and a smaller ammount of steel in the front was making contact with the ice. i could still turn and skate, but had no stability going into the corners. i got tuuk ls 2's installed and profiled to my liking and its perfect. enjoy the vector 6.5, its a great skate.

i would suggest you to go and bring your old skates in and ask you lhs to make the profile same as your old skates.

[jimmy 194]

I wouldn't recommend having the new skates matched to the old skates. The old skates prob have too little blade touching the ice as a result of repetative poor sharpenings. Take your new skates to an experienced shop that can properly profile and radius your skates.

[LuZZo 0]

I wouldn't recommend having the new skates matched to the old skates.  The old skates prob have too little blade touching the ice as a result of repetative poor sharpenings.  Take your new skates to an experienced shop that can properly profile and radius your skates.

Thanks for the input guys. Your probably right about the old skates having less blade due to repetitive sharpenings, but then how do I go about determining the proper profile and radius I want if I don't go by the old skates? I've never had this done before, and I learned to skate on the old skates so the new ones feel a bit off. I guess for the time being I'll see if I can simply adjust and figure out how much radius I want. Are there any guidelines to follow?

Thanks

[jimmy 194]

I wouldn't recommend having the new skates matched to the old skates.  The old skates prob have too little blade touching the ice as a result of repetative poor sharpenings.  Take your new skates to an experienced shop that can properly profile and radius your skates.

Thanks for the input guys. Your probably right about the old skates having less blade due to repetitive sharpenings, but then how do I go about determining the proper profile and radius I want if I don't go by the old skates? I've never had this done before, and I learned to skate on the old skates so the new ones feel a bit off. I guess for the time being I'll see if I can simply adjust and figure out how much radius I want. Are there any guidelines to follow?

Thanks

You are not going thru anything different than most go thru when they get new skates. If you take your skates to an experienced sharpener who specializes in radius cuts, he should be able to determine a proper radius for you.

[Shagel 0]

What is the hollow that is slighter then 9/16

[sogaduch 0]

What is the hollow that is slighter then 9/16

it would be 17/32nds

[chippa13 1844]

Matching the rocker from old to new shouldn't be a problem as long as decent sharpeners have been doing his skates. If the guy likes how his old skates are then there is no reason to do something different with the new skates.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Agreed, but a lot of skates think that the banana blades are a good thing. I used to get tons of guys in FL asking me to rocker them just like their old blades that were just ruined by poor sharpeners.

[Chadd 916]

Agreed, but a lot of skates think that the banana blades are a good thing. I used to get tons of guys in FL asking me to rocker them just like their old blades that were just ruined by poor sharpeners.

My favorites are the ones that have plastic ground away from the holder. Almost every pair I see like that are on banana blades. For some reason it seems like 80% are on CCMs around here, I'm sure it's just coincidence.

[chippa13 1844]

Sooner or later you're going to see a little plastic ground away once the blade gets down to a certain level in order to maintain the rocker.

[jimmy 194]

Matching the rocker from old to new shouldn't be a problem as long as decent sharpeners have been doing his skates. If the guy likes how his old skates are then there is no reason to do something different with the new skates.

So please tell me how they will match his old rocker exact?

[jimmy 194]

Sooner or later you're going to see a little plastic ground away once the blade gets down to a certain level in order to maintain the rocker.

WTF?

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Sooner or later you're going to see a little plastic ground away once the blade gets down to a certain level in order to maintain the rocker.

LOL...not if the sharpener knows what he is doing you won't.

[sogaduch 0]

Sooner or later you're going to see a little plastic ground away once the blade gets down to a certain level in order to maintain the rocker.

LOL...not if the sharpener knows what he is doing you won't.

exactly if he starts at one side of the wheel and ends on the other side itll round off

i find if i start on one side and end in the middle of the wheel it makes it not as round also doesnt burn the blade. that or starting just before the middle of the wheel and going right across the blade ending in the middle is ideal. a sharpener should never really hit the heel or toe of the skate all the time when sharpening they should only be touched in the first few passes and the final pass, but even still in the final pass the heel should not be touched alot

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Yep. It's simple, really.

[sogaduch 0]

Yep. It's simple, really.

if JR can do it then anybody can.lol

just jokin JR