Graf Steel

[noodle1083 0]

I've had a pair of graf 705's for a couple of years now, and almost everytime I get them sharpened, the blades have to be straightened. Sometimes I can even feel a wobble when I'm on the ice. One knowledgeable skate sharpener that I talked to said that Graf steel was known to be pretty bad. Any truth to this? Anyone else experience this problem?

[ilovehockey 0]

not with grafs, but with the xxx's and the one90's. ...my guys usually say it is because of the holders being misaligned??

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Noodle - it's a mismount if the steel is bent.

Graf steel is very hard, hence more brittle than other steel on the market. Has nothing to do with bending however.

[bugscoe 2]

My old pair of Grafs suffered from a bent blade. However, I determined the problem to be with the sole of the boot rather than a misaligned holder.

For some reason the sole was not flat where it needed to be. So when the screw was tightened down, it was pulling the holder down with it which in turn was causing the holder and steel to then bend. I ended up putting in some plastic spacers between the holder and sole to 'lift' up the holder. This solved the problem for the most part - there was still a very minor bend.

Needless to say, I was dissapointed with having to deal with such a thing! Prior to purchasing that pair of skates, it never dawned on me that I should be checking to make sure the blades are on straight. You think that would be a major concern for a skate maker and not something a consumer would need to check!??

You can bet the next pair of skates I bought, I checked the holders to be sure that the steel was straight as an arrow! And for what it's worth, I purchased another pair of Grafs, this time with perfectly straight steel/holders.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

That is crosslasting and that is the problem that djinferno had with his Grafs.

[bugscoe 2]

"crosslasting" never heard the term before. Can you give me a few more details?

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Overlap in material under sole when the skate is built. The sole is not flat because of it.

[bugscoe 2]

Interesting! You think that would be something quality control would be all over?

Sometimes when I go into the LHS to look at stuff, I'll check out skates and flip them over just to look at the straightness of the holders/steel. I'm amazed at how many different skates have either misaligned holders or this crosslasting issue! I think I've seen it on more skates than not!

It's baffling to me! It's like a car mfg putting their car together on a warped frame.

[jimmy 194]

Usually the graf steel is straight and the problem is with the holder. However graf steel quality is all over the place. I have one steel blade in the shop that is bent so bad, it cannot be straightened, no matter what. Put it in the blade straightener and give in a good max reverse bend and it pops right back to bent. I've even put a 3" reverse bend in it and it still pops back.

Graf is certainly not the worst brand for quality control but ranks up there. If you do get a good blade, it's damn good though. Super hard (not brittle) and holds an edge excellent. Easily rusts.

[djinferno 2]

bent steel? warped sole??

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/index.php?showtopic=4840&hl

nuff said

[bugscoe 2]

Wow, that was quite the ordeal. Hope it worked out for the best in the end.

I'm happy with my Ultra Graf G5's. I've also been told by my LHS employees that Grafs CS is crap to deal with.

[djinferno 2]

Wow, that was quite the ordeal. Hope it worked out for the best in the end.

I'm happy with my Ultra Graf G5's. I've also been told by my LHS employees that Grafs CS is crap to deal with.

Yeah, it seems like there new soles on the Ultra series looks to be much better but i'm still not giving them my money, wating on the new Mission 120 to come out...