Sharpening

[shnuggs 0]

I had my skates sharpened a while ago. I di my usual routine - dropped them off come back 20 mins later and pick them up-- no problems. This time when i came to pick them i noticed there was somebody new sharpening the skates. As i picked up my skates i noticed my steel had a burnt look to it -- on both skates -- as if they were torched -- or to hot. Anyways - its been about a month now - i have had them sharpened again - and most of the burnt stuff has washed itself away. I dont know is it was just cosmetic or something more serious - but its been nagging at me. Want to know if theres any issues with my skates.

Thanks

Ben

[Keith 0]

Burnt steel is a sign of a really bad sharpening. I know the steel is more prone to nicks and chips and dulling when it is that way but I don't know about the rest of the blade. JR would know for sure.

[beaucoup_fish 0]

This also happens to me, at the front-most and rear-most ends of the blade, where it curves up into the holder...

[Chadd 916]

This also happens to me, at the front-most and rear-most ends of the blade, where it curves up into the holder...

usually that's the sign of someone who grinds both ways. The stopping and going back the other way leaves the wheel in contact with the steel for too long and heats it up.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Yes, but not necessarily a tell-tale symptom of climb-grinding. The sharpener can just be heavy-handed when he starts/finishes his final pass, hence the burn marks on the tips. One of the guys in my company who really isn't very good, but swears he is, was sharpening a pair of skates and I noticed a green Scotch-Brite pad on the counter. I never asked him what it was for, til I found out. When he is done, he swipes the tips with it. LOSER!

[XeF4 0]

From what i've seen, the brown on the bottom, isn't that big of a deal, not good, but it shouldn't effect your skates too much. Brown on the side of your skate blades is much worse.

I would find a new shop or make sure the same guy doesn't do them again.

[jimmy 194]

To answer the question though, burning steel does much more harm than just a little discoloration. It weakens the steel and it's ability to hold an edge. So, you get your skates sharpened and after one skate they are dull. Or worse, the steel snaps in half when you jump over the boards. Choose your sharpener carefully.

[shnuggs 0]

They're a reputable place in toronto -- i just guess they hired someone new and he was learning how to do it. The discoloration was on the sides of the steel --Not the bottom--- What do u guys suggest i do? -- I just dont want the steel bending and warping on me -- but from your guys posts-- i assuming this wont happen.

Ben

[DLIGHTNING 0]

They're a reputable place in toronto -- i just guess they hired someone new and he was learning how to do it. The discoloration was on the sides of the steel --Not the bottom--- What do u guys suggest i do? -- I just dont want the steel bending and warping on me -- but from your guys posts-- i assuming this wont happen.

Ben

Where is it Ben , I don't want to go there ?

[shnuggs 0]

I kinda didnt mention the place on purpose :) -- It was one sharpening-- people are entitled to a mistake now and then-- arent they?

Ben

[logan 0]

I've seen that same damn green scotchbrite pad around our shop too and never knew why it was there. I'm curious to find out who uses it now...

[DLIGHTNING 0]

I kinda didnt mention the place on purpose :) -- It was one sharpening-- people are entitled to a mistake now and then-- arent they?

Ben

Thats ok , I respect that , thanks

Sharpening skates is not as easy as it looks

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

From what i've seen, the brown on the bottom, isn't that big of a deal, not good, but it shouldn't effect your skates too much. Brown on the side of your skate blades is much worse.

I would find a new shop or make sure the same guy doesn't do them again.

It all boils down to this. Don't give away burnt blades.

That is one of the biggest problems with sharpeners...they settle for mediocrity.

[sk8ordie 0]

Burning blades is reversing what the steel manufacturer did to make them stronger. High end blades are ussually hardened or tempered steel so to make them harder, they bring it up to a critical temperature and then flash cool it by dunking in a liquid to freeze it's chemical structure which is a lot stronger. When you burn blades, you are bringing it up that temperature and then cooling slowly in air changing the structure and losing all the hardness.

[XeF4 0]

I agree, if you know what your doing, there is no reason to burn blades, however, I don't think a little burn does much damage to skate blades. not saying it's ok, but a tiny bit shouldn't effect you.

the most detrimental loss to the blades is the ductility of the steel(it becomes brittle). If your steel is burnt badly, you will know pretty quickly by the cracking sound of your blade snapping in half since they would rather break than flex.

and i've been told that the brown stuff you see when your skates have been burnt is actually a product of the steel reacting with the oxygen in the air, iron oxide. who woulda thunk it?

[Eazy_b97 1]

I agree, if you know what your doing, there is no reason to burn blades, however, I don't think a little burn does much damage to skate blades. not saying it's ok, but a tiny bit shouldn't effect you.

the most detrimental loss to the blades is the ductility of the steel(it becomes brittle). If your steel is burnt badly, you will know pretty quickly by the cracking sound of your blade snapping in half since they would rather break than flex.

and i've been told that the brown stuff you see when your skates have been burnt is actually a product of the steel reacting with the oxygen in the air, iron oxide. who woulda thunk it?

Burnt steel is usually paired with Bruised steel and neither are good. Weakens the blade, doesn't hold an edge as well and just takes away from everything a good sharpening is supposed to be.

Sometimes you can get "brown" marks on the wheel when it's dirty or a product is used for a finishing pass that some people mistake for "burn marks" as well.