How often should skates be sharpened?

[chippa13 1844]

While you may prefer a flatter blade, noone should prefer a duller blade.

[-knowlzey- 0]

I remember hearing that one of the older Russian players (I think it was Fedorov) learned how to skate without having his skates sharpened cause his dad didn't know you had to.

[AHF 1]

A dull skate can still shave a fingernail.

I'm surprised it took this long for this to be mentioned. The fingernail test is not a good indicator.

As others have mentioned, simply run your finger on both sides of the blade to feel for nicks. The rougher it is, the more they need a sharpening.

[phunky_monkey 6]

I rarely sharpen my blades. I used to just use a hand sharpener, can'e remember what it was called, that was designed to keep them sharp between sharpens. I'm not a fan of overly bitey edges, so I found I could be more consistent doing it by hand myself.

I'm 9 games in this season playing around 30mins a game and haven't sharpened them again yet.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Think the question needs to be begged -

For those who rarely sharpen your skates, what is it about freshly sharpened skates that you don't like?

I think you just aren't in the right hollow.

[phunky_monkey 6]

Quite possibly JR. I never even knew there were differences in hollow before I came on here, nobody in my hockey store ever mentioned it when I used to get my skates sharpened years ago (I've had 5 years off).

[HattrickSwayze 3]

I used to get my skates sharpened every week, but now that I've changed hollows I get them done far less. I bought my One75's in September, and I think I've only had them sharpened twice since then. I normally skate a few times a week. 2-5 times depending on what's going on that week.

Before I changed hollows, I used to dread getting my skates sharpened because the generic hollow the local shop gives is 3/8". That was, and still is, WAY too sharp for me. It used to take a week or so before I felt comfortable on my skates. Now that I've gone to 5/8", I'm comfortable even after a fresh sharpening. To be honest, I don't tell a huge difference in my skates even after a few weeks of skating. I did on 3/8" and 1/2", but the difference with 5/8" is a lot less drastic.

[SolarWind 23]

I used to get my skates sharpened every week, but now that I've changed hollows I get them done far less. I bought my One75's in September, and I think I've only had them sharpened twice since then. I normally skate a few times a week. 2-5 times depending on what's going on that week.

Before I changed hollows, I used to dread getting my skates sharpened because the generic hollow the local shop gives is 3/8". That was, and still is, WAY too sharp for me. It used to take a week or so before I felt comfortable on my skates. Now that I've gone to 5/8", I'm comfortable even after a fresh sharpening. To be honest, I don't tell a huge difference in my skates even after a few weeks of skating. I did on 3/8" and 1/2", but the difference with 5/8" is a lot less drastic.

I'm in the same boat - as I progressed to 5/8 I don't sharpen my skates more then once a month if that, and I'm on ice at least 5 hrs a well

[pantherfan 0]

Think the question needs to be begged -

For those who rarely sharpen your skates, what is it about freshly sharpened skates that you don't like?

I think you just aren't in the right hollow.

Nothing wrong with it, just I don't feel the need for sharpening that often.

[krwwc6 0]

Think the question needs to be begged -

For those who rarely sharpen your skates, what is it about freshly sharpened skates that you don't like?

I think you just aren't in the right hollow.

I think that has a lot to do with it. At my store, and I think the St. Louis area in general, the "norm" is 1/2. Most of the customers come in and say they want their skates sharpened, and have no idea what hollow they normally get, so whoever is sharpening says "well we normally do it at 1/2."

I try to get people to go to 5/8's but they are afraid they will fall all over the place. I can't get over the ones that hate freshly sharpened skates because they are "too sharp" but the problem is most likely that they are in too deep of a cut. Before I began sharpening my skates, I would go in saying I wanted 7/8 or 3/4 the guy sharpening my skates would look at me like I was a complete idiot. . .

[epstud74 24]

I wonder how often Paul Coffey sharpened his skates?

[SAK 2]

I wonder how often Paul Coffey sharpened his skates?

He was great. He ended up on a 2" ROH and was really the trend setter to go to a high ROH. Infact he is one of the reason's for the FBV sharpening it just has taken so long for us to come up with it. He had to give up a lot of bite but he got so much more glide. I wish he was still playing today so that he could be on the FBV.

[theWB 2]

I wonder how often Paul Coffey sharpened his skates?

He was great. He ended up on a 2" ROH and was really the trend setter to go to a high ROH. Infact he is one of the reason's for the FBV sharpening it just has taken so long for us to come up with it. He had to give up a lot of bite but he got so much more glide. I wish he was still playing today so that he could be on the FBV.

2" thats insane. I don't think my quill goes above 1 1/2"

[SAK 2]

no we had to use the patch kit in order to do it.

[selke71 0]

Can someone explain the terms for the uninitiated/uninformed?

[CTK30 0]

I never really understood how it worked and I've been playing hockey for like 10 years lol

[kosydar 0]

Think the question needs to be begged -

For those who rarely sharpen your skates, what is it about freshly sharpened skates that you don't like?

I think you just aren't in the right hollow.

I typically skate on 1/2", but sometimes even 1". I get my skates sharpened about 3-4 times a year (but I'm only on the ice about once or twice a week). My main reason for not sharpening often is that nobody in my area does a good job. I know that I'm probably not in the right hollow, and I'm sure my radius is wrong, too. My skates are the one equipment thing I'm ignorant about, because even if I knew exactly what I wanted I probably couldn't get it. I also hate the feeling of newly sharpened skates ever since I was a kid.

[TBLfan 25]

Once you find the right hollow and you get a quality sharpening, you'll always be picky. I've been getting my skates sharpened a lot recently, been getting a lot of nicks in the wrong spots, think my guy overheated the steel. I'm about to buy another set of steel and get FBV done so that should be interesting... I'm expecting this set of steel to break any day now because of the overheating of the runner on the left skate.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

It wasn't me. LOL

[SAK 2]

Must have been me.

[TBLfan 25]

Definitely wasn't you Bouce. That sharpening lasted almost 2 months!

It's what I get for letting the other guy at the shop sharpen my skates. :(

[meteor 0]

Very interesting thread; been dormant for a while, but I wanted to add this:

The power skating instructor at my rink says that frequent sharpenings are not necessary. (He is also one of the guys who does the sharpenings so maybe he has a vested interest in not being busy) He claims that an accomplished skater will know how to accommodate for the wearing edges -- one must adjust the angle the skate makes with the ice. In other words, as the edges get dull, the skater increases the angle of attack to get the required bite.

I can't casually dismiss what he says because I've seen him leaned so far over (on what he says are dull edges) that he looks like a short-track speed skater!

[theWB 2]

Of course you can accommodate when your edges get dull but why would you want to. I don't want to be thinking about how to use my edges during a game, I want to know that they are sharp and will handle every instant reaction I make when I'm on the ice.

[SirJW 207]

I heard that Messier was very particular about his blades and that he had the multiple holes in his skates so he could change the angles (probably not the right term) even during a game depending on ice conditions, is that true? How often did he get his skates sharpened?

Also when Roenick was on the Kings he claimed that he couldn't get his skates sharpened properly cuz he had some funky set up. I doubt it was true but what was the real story about him and his skates that season? I mean c'mon if he really had such a particular set up why doesn't he know how to do it himself instead of throwing the EQM under the bus? I speculated that maybe the year off the ice (lockout) he couldn't get his skates to fit cuz he had bumps besides him being terribly out of shape.

[jimmy 194]

Of course you can accommodate when your edges get dull but why would you want to. I don't want to be thinking about how to use my edges during a game, I want to know that they are sharp and will handle every instant reaction I make when I'm on the ice.

Exactly correct. Not to mention that when you have to lean over at increased angles, you risk contacting the side of your boot with the ice and losing your edge, falling and risking injury. If your steel is worn down in height, this will happen even more frequently. The power skating instructor is technically correct, but in actual hockey play, having confident grip is essential, unless of course you are just moseying around. Then skating on dull blades is no big deal.