Blademaster Help

[skatedoctor 0]

Hi there guys,

I got the blademaster portable SPB851 sharpener.

After 5 months of use, its starting to give me a bit of bother.

When im grinding even on the first pass, is scorching the blade and various passes after that is scorching and burning the blade, and doesnt even 'sound' right as its cutting.

Im not heavy handed and applying loads of pressure on the holder to the wheel either.

I have been using the 8MXR ruby wheel which come with the machine first, then used them for a while, which oftern give a bit of scorching but was easily removed, and the use of the gusto glide.

I have tried the 8MXR blue wheel which has been good but did give me a little bit of bother towards the end of the wheel.

I have fitted a new wheel, new diamond, cleaned everything down and im getting poor results all of a sudden. Things as scorching, even 'waiviness' down the blade.

I started to place the skate in the holder with the toe to the right as described by blademaster in the video, but after reading postings on here and seeing a few other sharpeners, sharpening skates with the toe to the left, which seems to better, but some skates require it to be the other way.

Which is the best wheel to use?

Which diamonds are the best to use?

And can anybody help out with any information in resolving these issues.

Thanks

Dean

[PH_Hockey2 4]

This has happen to me at work before and it was from sombody not tighting the wheel goood enough when changing it. It also could be that your diamond is getting bad too.

[skatedoctor 0]

This has happen to me at work before and it was from sombody not tighting the wheel goood enough when changing it. It also could be that your diamond is getting bad too.

Wheel is tight, and diamond is new!

[joshy207 15]

Is the diamond tight? If it's loose, you won't get a good dress on the wheel...

[skatedoctor 0]

Yeah the diamond is tight.

[skatedoctor 0]

Any more help guys?

[skatedoctor 0]

Has anybody got anymore help on my blademaster problem?

Thanks

[analog999 0]

I'm not an expert, as I've only had my Wissota for a month or two but I notice scorching if I change my method. Maybe its you and not the machine?

[skatedoctor 0]

I aint changed anything apart from the wheels, going back to the original type.

If it aint broke dont fix it.

I havent changed any methods, just a bit strange thats all, for it to happen all of a sudden.

[Chadd 916]

Have you tried a different wheel? If it isn't you, the issue has to be with the wheel or the steel.

[analog999 0]

I resharpened my skates and although I didn't notice waviness, I did notice some scortching on the tail end of one of the skates. As far as I could tell, this was due to me applying more pressure as I was finishing up the skate. I think its your technique. Try doing another with really really light pressure and see what happens.

[skatedoctor 0]

The problem has seemed to have settled down after getting a little bit into the wheel.

What wheels do most of you guys use on the blademasters in the LHS's?

[dix0r 0]

ruby (or pink when we run out).

in the blademaster ad that was supposed to look like an article by the oilers equipment manager, he said he used the grey multi-grit ones...

[skatedoctor 0]

ruby (or pink when we run out).

in the blademaster ad that was supposed to look like an article by the oilers equipment manager, he said he used the grey multi-grit ones...

Yeah but did you see what was fitted to the machine in the picture?

Looks like all ruby to me!

[Superman847 0]

my store uses the ruby, and just wondering what kind of skates do you have??? i ask because i've noticed that sometimes when i sharpen graf skates they make a strange noise and burn on the first or second pass, but it usually goes away quickly.

[skatedoctor 0]

my store uses the ruby, and just wondering what kind of skates do you have???

I get them all, graf, bauer, easton the lot.

[Superman847 0]

oh i wasnt sure if you were just using the sharpener personally, sorry just ignore the last post then.

[skatedoctor 0]

Superman, its ok.

[Superman847 0]

does it start to burn skates on the first sharpening after you dress the wheel? or does it only do it later?

[skatedoctor 0]

Yeah it does it straight away, it settles down after a while but with only the use of gusto glide, but it soon clogs the wheel up with metal so i got to keep redressing.

Seems to have settled down a bit now though.

I might re order some of the blue wheels, never had much problem with them!

[Superman847 0]

i see, well then i'm out of ideas. but from personal experience the red wheels are much better, they dont seem to get as hot as the blue ones do, so IMO if your having problems burning skates, then maybe getting a wheel that gets hotter than the one you are currently using isn't such a good idea, but then again that's my opinion and if they are working for ya then do whatever.

[biff44 0]

Well, you do not mention what type of skate blades. But if they look scorched (steel has blue discoloration) you have probably overheated them enough so the temper is gone and the blades will not be able to hold an edge for long. In other words, you might need new runners.

I would assume that you are just pressing too hard on the skate when you grind them. You mention that bits of metal are sticking into the wheel! That is a new one on me! I get a little blackish discoloration on the wheel (I use a ruby wheel) but never actual bits of metal.

Try this. Very lightly press the blade to the wheel when you make a pass. After one pass, feel the blade with your fingers. If it is hot, wate 30 seconds to make the next pass. If it is only warm, make another pass and check the blade temperature again. They do have a wax stick you can use to reduce friction on the blade to the stone--maybe you could try that.

When I sharpen, I use very little pressure to hold the blade to the wheel. I make lots of passes. First few passes are against the direction of the wheel (takes the most metal off). Then I change direction and push the skate in the direction the wheel is turing (takes less metal off per pass). I watch the pattern of sparks to tell when I am done. If there is a tiny line of sparks, there is still a high edge. When the sparks seem to be coming from a broad surface across the whole blade width, I know there is no longer any high edge. My very last pass with the wheel direction is done very slowly and lightly to eliminate any scalloping of the blade, but I only do this when the blade temperature is somewhat cooled down.

Practice on your old runners, and when you have it figured out, replace the runners with new ones.

[skatedoctor 0]

Well, you do not mention what type of skate blades.  But if they look scorched (steel has blue discoloration) you have probably overheated them enough so the temper is gone and the blades will not be able to hold an edge for long.  In other words, you might need new runners. 

I would assume that you are just pressing too hard on the skate when you grind them.  You mention that bits of metal are sticking into the wheel!  That is a new one on me!  I get a little blackish discoloration on the wheel (I use a ruby wheel) but never actual bits of metal.

Try this.  Very lightly press the blade to the wheel when you make a pass.  After one pass, feel the blade with your fingers.  If it is hot, wate 30 seconds to make the next pass.  If it is only warm, make another pass and check the blade temperature again.  They do have a wax stick you can use to reduce friction on the blade to the stone--maybe you could try that.

When I sharpen, I use very little pressure to hold the blade to the wheel.  I make lots of passes.  First few passes are against the direction of the wheel (takes the most metal off).  Then I change direction and push the skate in the direction the wheel is turing (takes less metal off per pass).  I watch the pattern of sparks to tell when I am done.  If there is a tiny line of sparks, there is still a high edge.  When the sparks seem to be coming from a broad surface across the whole blade width, I know there is no longer any high edge.  My very last pass with the wheel direction is done very slowly and lightly to eliminate any scalloping of the blade, but I only do this when the blade temperature is somewhat cooled down.

Practice on your old runners, and when you have it figured out, replace the runners with new ones.

Thanks for the info!

They are not my runners.

They are different skates from different people. Graf skates, Easton Skates, Bauer skates, it was happening on them all.

I even tried it on a old pair of runners on a flat 1 & 1/2" hollow and it was doing the same.

I do not apply to much pressure to the wheel (see first post) and also i havent changed anything eg methods etc (yet again see first post). Ihavent started to do anything different, just couldnt work out how all of a sudden i had the problem!

[jimmy 194]

Burning is too much pressure or pausing the stroke. Doesn't matter what diamond or wheel, if you use the right techniques you will not burn.

[analog999 0]

If there is a tiny line of sparks, there is still a high edge. When the sparks seem to be coming from a broad surface across the whole blade width, I know there is no longer any high edge.

Are you doing your own skates or other peoples too? I assume you know what you're doing and I am speaking more for other people's sake, but just because there is a whole width of the blade sparks doesn't mean that your edges are even. Yes you can see the sparks from only one side when one edge is being ground down, but at some point if the alignment is not right then you'll be grinding the whole blade and the edges could be way off.