Protecting OPS blades

[cabreezy 0]

My tour beemer blade has ended up splitting right down the middle (longways) because I tend to take a lot of slapshots (I don't know if its the result of technique or just excess wear). There is also significantly more wear on the heel of my blade and every session I find that the tape on the bottom of heel portion of my blade is always ripped and worn out completely. In an attempt to try minimizing the wear i've just taken a strip of cloth tape and place it right along the bottom edge of the stick blade, but it really reduces the performance and feel of the stick with added friction, etc. I'm just looking for a way to increase the longevity of the blades of my OPS'

So to my question, I was just wondering if anybody has any effective techniques to protecting the blades on your OPS' from the friction of roller hockey surfaces, with minimal effects on performance. I have friends who do the longways tape job on their blades, but leave the bottom exposed for rigorous wear and tear. I've read on here that some people use epoxy, so that will wear down rather than the blade itself. Are there any other alternatives, or tape techniques you use on your blades to better preserve them for roller hockey?

[whbd18 0]

Your stick is too long. This will cause your blade to hit too much ground and thats why its cracked,that would also explain why the tape is wearing down quicky on your heel.

[cabreezy 0]

probably explains it, although I like using longer sticks, it's what I'm use to. so easily broken blades is the price i have to pay :( but despite the fact is there still any useful blade-saving techniques?

[Prhockey2607 0]

You could put a strip or two of tape right along the bottom and then tape it the normal way you do. That can help stop your blade/tape from wearing down quickly.

[malcb33 97]

tape your stick up (heel to toe) and use wax if you don't like the added friction. I've found bee's wax to be the best!

[All Torhs Team 0]

You could put a strip or two of tape right along the bottom and then tape it the normal way you do. That can help stop your blade/tape from wearing down quickly.

but that doesnt work with roller hockey floors cause of the friction. sooner or later the bottom of the tape will wear through like always and then the blade somewhat "lags" like the blade moves slower when its on the floor.

to the question, I dont think theres a real solution, its always gona happen. All though ive never had a blade crack like that in roller, only ice.

[ash_96 0]

When i play roller i put an extra layer of tape along the bottom of my blade, then tape it normally, then wax it welll. Then when i get to the rink, i get loadsa dust from the corners of the rink or whatever and make sure its all over the bottom of my blade, that why it doesnt stick to the floor and drag as much

Works well for me because my rink is pretty dirty :P

[captainnifty 0]

I've seen a few guys do this little number:

Tape the blade normally, then put a strip or two along the bottom, and then smear on a layer of super glue or super glue gel.

[cabreezy 0]

what i may end up doing is putting a strip along the bottom edge of the blade, then a layer of super glue or epoxy, let it dry, then another strip of tape and wax it over. but i'll put more thought into it because i think it would end up making my stick blade heavy.

[opus22 0]

if the heel of your blade is the problem, it may be the pattern your using has a lie too high for you. not always true, but its possible.

[Chadd 916]

what i may end up doing is putting a strip along the bottom edge of the blade, then a layer of super glue or epoxy, let it dry, then another strip of tape and wax it over. but i'll put more thought into it because i think it would end up making my stick blade heavy.

Just put a strip of electrical tape on the bottom, it's a lot faster than the multi-step suggestions.

[iceburg19 1]

if your blade is worn on the toe of the blade ,you need a higher lie,if your blade is worn on the heel you need a lower lie,lower lie angle sticks are used by players who skate low to the ice and carry the puck more in front of them,lies 7 and 8 are made for skaters who skate more upright and carry the puck more close to their skates.

[TBLfan 25]

i wear down the heel of my blade from sweeping it in front of me while playing defense. It just depends on how you're wearing down the heel, if you're wearing it down from puckhandling then you need a lower lie.

[iceburg19 1]

if you take the blade of any stick and put it on a flat surface(wood floor or concrete)youll notice the blade has a rocker to it, higher in the middle,it is like a universal lie ,the stick industry uses that for inventory purposes.

[cabreezy 0]

The beemer was [similar to] an easton modano and i recently got a vapor xxx pm9 (hossa) pattern and those are both a lie of 5. i really like the curvature of these patterns but if i'm looking for a lower lie the only alternative i can immediately tell is the inno/warrior fedorov (not even sure how similar the curve is to modano or hossa, haven't seen it in person). Will a 0.5 reduction on lie make a real difference? i am planning on getting an ak27 combo next, but i didn't plan on that for about a year or so, and i really don't have an LHS nearby, just a modell's and sports authority with the typical octane shafts and old model wooden sticks (mostly LH Jr sticks).

[TBLfan 25]

if you like the blade stick with it. Just know that you won't have as much blade as possible on the ground for puck handling.

[iceburg19 1]

cabreezy,look at the blade your useing ,put it on a flat surface,most blades have a rocker ,(higher in the middle)so the lie of the blade differs depending on the hieght of the stick or angle the blade is on the playing surface.each lie =2full degrees of angle.some blades lie might not make a big differance to the player because of that rocker.on the wood blades you could shave the bottom to get the right lie,not on a composite blade.

[cabreezy 0]

i see what your saying. i went out skating at a park roller hockey rink the other day and i noticed that i think it was primarily because i was using the long stick + i hunch over a lot when i play, i'm cutting down my sticks around 1-2 inches, although there is really nothing i can do about the wear due to slapshots, i put a lot of weight down on the stick. there wasn't that much wear on my beemer after i cut it, until i started working on one-timers with a friend. i haven't gotten to use my vapor xxx yet, but i'm going to cut it down and try not to take too many slappers with it. i think i'd have to keep two different sticks on hand when i start up league play again, b/c i play all positions, and i get slotted in where we don't have enough guys to play those positions. i like the longer sticks for defense and then the shorter ones for O.

i'm going to try the suggested methods on the xxx starting with the electrical tape, i'll let u know how it goes.

EDIT: i may not need two sticks i could probably just buy the composite butt-end and add or remove it depending on what my position is for games, but i'm a lazy person.

[iceburg19 1]

when i cut my sticks i stand flat foot ,put the stick up to nose and make a line,that way when i have my skates on its under my chin.all my sticks are the same length.i tape them all the same,i use electrical at the butt end so my gloves dont wear out that fast.

[Dante2004 0]

if you take the blade of any stick and put it on a flat surface(wood floor or concrete)youll notice the blade has a rocker to it, higher in the middle,it is like a universal lie ,the stick industry uses that for inventory purposes.

Not sure what pattern you are looking at...but I don't find this to be true. My sticks have a SLIGHT rocker to them as you explain, but there is a significant difference in lie between 5,6,7,8,etc. Especially on patterns that have a square toe (elimanates the "universal lie" you mentioned completely)

[iceburg19 1]

of couse your not going to have a 5 to 8 lie on all blades ,maybe 4to5 or 6to7,most blades have a rocker,some more than others.

[cabreezy 0]

does a lower lie mean the stick will look more like an L? i think thats what it said on inlinewarehouse, wouldn't that make it even worse on the heel?

[Patrick67 1]

Nope, it's the other way around.

The higher the lie, the more it looks like a L.

[cabreezy 0]

ok thank you

yea, i've been using my xxx and have used a lot of tape at the base and with my playing style it's naturally wearin down at the heel, i had even cut it down and inch and a half. after this stick i'm going to think about trying out warrior sticks with the Federov pattern and see how that works out.