Skate Sharpening By Mail

[Riggo 0]

I would appreciate it if people could post on their experiences with having their blades sharpened through the mail. Who is good and reliable? What holder/blade combination works best for constantly changing blades? What is the best packaging method for shipping so blades are not bent or damaged? How many blades do you keep on hand?

Does anyone have this down to a science?

Thank you for posting your insights.

[tbintexas 0]

I'll put in my vote for No Icing Sports http://www.noicingsports.com

Read their skate sharpening info and FAQ's (I was impressed) and you'll see that they're first-class. Packaging consists of taping the blades inside a USPS cardboard envelope so they don't move/slice through the envelope.

[Monty22 834]

CCM/RBK Prolite or E-Pro holders are in my opinion the easiest and fastest to chance. All you need is a flathead screwdriver and a nut driver you're in business.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I do it for a fortunate few. I don't advertise however.

[tbintexas 0]

I've had JR sharpen and work on my skates and it was excellent as well. Riggo, stay with the people who do this for a living (JR and No Icing) and you'll be taken care of. Stay away from the big shops where you might get a $6 an hour temp employee hacking away.

[usahockey22 0]

Well if there are any good sharpeners here on the board that can do it, I may be in need of the service...the closest reliable LHS is about an hour away from me, the sharpeners in town are terrible. Every time you bring in the skates you get something different.

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

I've had JR sharpen and work on my skates and it was excellent as well. Riggo, stay with the people who do this for a living (JR and No Icing) and you'll be taken care of. Stay away from the big shops where you might get a $6 an hour temp employee hacking away.

the problem with your comment is that some of the larger shops overall do a better job because of the training. However it would be not in the best interest of the customer in the US for Canadain shops to do the sharpening and send it down.

That being said if I was to do I am sure I would in that top list.

We dont have any $6 an hour guys all our part time guys have to pass a 20 page written test as well as the practical.

[skatedoctor 0]

I've had JR sharpen and work on my skates and it was excellent as well. Riggo, stay with the people who do this for a living (JR and No Icing) and you'll be taken care of. Stay away from the big shops where you might get a $6 an hour temp employee hacking away.

the problem with your comment is that some of the larger shops overall do a better job because of the training. However it would be not in the best interest of the customer in the US for Canadain shops to do the sharpening and send it down.

That being said if I was to do I am sure I would in that top list.

We dont have any $6 an hour guys all our part time guys have to pass a 20 page written test as well as the practical.

Gees 20 page written test and a practical test, just to sharpen skates!

Id sure like to have a look at these tests.

Im pleased i just tought myself and with hours and hours and hours worth of practise (on old blades/skates) and not customers.

Plus i aint got a shop, my business is all word of mouth!

[margaratz 0]

i have also had my skates done by JR and no icing and both are outstanding! you might have to listen to JR tell you about his one timer that just missed but it's worth it!

:D

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

I've had JR sharpen and work on my skates and it was excellent as well. Riggo, stay with the people who do this for a living (JR and No Icing) and you'll be taken care of. Stay away from the big shops where you might get a $6 an hour temp employee hacking away.

the problem with your comment is that some of the larger shops overall do a better job because of the training. However it would be not in the best interest of the customer in the US for Canadain shops to do the sharpening and send it down.

That being said if I was to do I am sure I would in that top list.

We dont have any $6 an hour guys all our part time guys have to pass a 20 page written test as well as the practical.

Gees 20 page written test and a practical test, just to sharpen skates!

Id sure like to have a look at these tests.

Im pleased i just tought myself and with hours and hours and hours worth of practise (on old blades/skates) and not customers.

Plus i aint got a shop, my business is all word of mouth!

The problem with letting you see the test you would have to read the manual I worte as well then I would have to kill you......its a top secret thing...being in England and having 007 I am sure you understand......

I think everyone really teaches themsleves but most have guidance....

I am sure if you had someone that did know more give you some advice as you were beggining you would be even better than you are now.

I thought I was good when I started but was shown by a couple of the more expierenced guys and I do think I am one of the better ones around my area.

(for the same reason as yourself word of mouth)

Boris......sory I was unable to get to your skates.

[enwah16 0]

I second No Icing Sports http://www.noicingsports.com. Excellent service and sharpening. I even had my profiling done and Bob was able to dial it right in. I send my blades down every few weeks and they are turned around in a day.

[tbintexas 0]

I've had JR sharpen and work on my skates and it was excellent as well. Riggo, stay with the people who do this for a living (JR and No Icing) and you'll be taken care of. Stay away from the big shops where you might get a $6 an hour temp employee hacking away.

the problem with your comment is that some of the larger shops overall do a better job because of the training. However it would be not in the best interest of the customer in the US for Canadain shops to do the sharpening and send it down.

That being said if I was to do I am sure I would in that top list.

We dont have any $6 an hour guys all our part time guys have to pass a 20 page written test as well as the practical.

OTG - when I said 'big shops', I was talking about the big online stores like Hockey Giant and Perani's. Not that they don't have any good sharpeners, but you don't know what you're going to get. Sending it to a trusted and recommended source is what I was getting at. I trust and recommend JR and No Icing based on my experience. I hear you're pretty good at sharpening too eh! :)

[jcmagna 0]

Yup, No-Icing. Consistant. Dependable. Fast TAT.

Have pointed a few comrades there, only positive experiences.

John

[skatedoctor 0]

I've had JR sharpen and work on my skates and it was excellent as well. Riggo, stay with the people who do this for a living (JR and No Icing) and you'll be taken care of. Stay away from the big shops where you might get a $6 an hour temp employee hacking away.

the problem with your comment is that some of the larger shops overall do a better job because of the training. However it would be not in the best interest of the customer in the US for Canadain shops to do the sharpening and send it down.

That being said if I was to do I am sure I would in that top list.

We dont have any $6 an hour guys all our part time guys have to pass a 20 page written test as well as the practical.

Gees 20 page written test and a practical test, just to sharpen skates!

Id sure like to have a look at these tests.

Im pleased i just tought myself and with hours and hours and hours worth of practise (on old blades/skates) and not customers.

Plus i aint got a shop, my business is all word of mouth!

The problem with letting you see the test you would have to read the manual I worte as well then I would have to kill you......its a top secret thing...being in England and having 007 I am sure you understand......

I think everyone really teaches themsleves but most have guidance....

I am sure if you had someone that did know more give you some advice as you were beggining you would be even better than you are now.

I thought I was good when I started but was shown by a couple of the more expierenced guys and I do think I am one of the better ones around my area.

(for the same reason as yourself word of mouth)

Boris......sory I was unable to get to your skates.

Hey thats ok, you can come over to here and kill me, but show me the information first, but let me have at least a good go of it, before you kill me!

[AK10R 0]

I'll put in my vote for No Icing Sports http://www.noicingsports.com

Read their skate sharpening info and FAQ's (I was impressed) and you'll see that they're first-class. Packaging consists of taping the blades inside a USPS cardboard envelope so they don't move/slice through the envelope.

Regardless who you send them to the link is a great read…. Thanks

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

Hey thats ok, you can come over to here and kill me, but show me the information first, but let me have at least a good go of it, before you kill me!

Well i just talked to my old Chiro that has moved to Scotland and well maybe I will just do that and visit her at the same time you know kill 2 birds with one stone.......

wow that was a really bad joke.....old english humor....

[hockeymom 2]

OTG....I'm quite positive in is in your contract that you are not permitted vacations during the hockey season.

[DarkStar50 679]

I'll put in my vote for No Icing Sports http://www.noicingsports.com

Read their skate sharpening info and FAQ's (I was impressed) and you'll see that they're first-class. Packaging consists of taping the blades inside a USPS cardboard envelope so they don't move/slice through the envelope.

Regardless who you send them to the link is a great read…. Thanks

Sounds like a lot of hype! Any independent tests?

Happy New Year!!

[Powerfibers 8]

I ordered some new skates, and I am about to send some steels off to No Icing to get radiused. When I sent the online profile in to Bob, he gave me a recommended ROH. I had a local shop put that ROH on my old skates and man did it make a difference. I think there really is something to this, and as a relative beginner I am shocked at how many times I got skates sharpened without ever knowing the ROH etc...

I think when Bob profiles the new blades, it will be unbelieveable. I thought the video on his page was quite interesting. http://www.exn.ca/video/?video=exn20021125-skatesharpen.asx

In short, I don't think it is hype.

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

I ordered some new skates, and I am about to send some steels off to No Icing to get radiused. When I sent the online profile in to Bob, he gave me a recommended ROH. I had a local shop put that ROH on my old skates and man did it make a difference. I think there really is something to this, and as a relative beginner I am shocked at how many times I got skates sharpened without ever knowing the ROH etc...

I think when Bob profiles the new blades, it will be unbelieveable. I thought the video on his page was quite interesting. http://www.exn.ca/video/?video=exn20021125-skatesharpen.asx

In short, I don't think it is hype.

Yes but isnt that video the Max Edge one? And No-Icing has a diffrent method correct? just asking because I couldnt view the link.

[hockeymom 2]

I ordered some new skates, and I am about to send some steels off to No Icing to get radiused. When I sent the online profile in to Bob, he gave me a recommended ROH. I had a local shop put that ROH on my old skates and man did it make a difference. I think there really is something to this, and as a relative beginner I am shocked at how many times I got skates sharpened without ever knowing the ROH etc...

I think when Bob profiles the new blades, it will be unbelieveable. I thought the video on his page was quite interesting. http://www.exn.ca/video/?video=exn20021125-skatesharpen.asx

In short, I don't think it is hype.

Yes but isnt that video the Max Edge one? And No-Icing has a diffrent method correct? just asking because I couldnt view the link.

Yes, that is the video from the Discovery Channel which covers the Maximum Edge method.

[DarkStar50 679]

In short, I don't think it is hype.

Since you have just joined MSH, the "hype" line is pretty much a running joke. I'm sure you will find out about it soon enough.

Welcome aboard.

[jimmy 194]

I don't think the video supports any particular "method", rather it identifies that the skater has options on how their skates are profiled and that they can possibly skate better with some changes. The video is an excellent educational tool, isn't it?

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

Well it definatly supports the ME method because if it didnt Bob wouldnt have his shirt on and you would be able to obtain the video from Discovery Channel. Seeing as the canadain office is across the street from mine I thought it would have been easy but they will not release the video or copy of for any price.

So I would have to say its a ME video oh and the Dr in the video wont give up a copy either.

But yes its an awesome tool.

[Guy Incognito 0]

I've skated on Jimmy's (Bob @ No Icing) and it was the best I've ever felt. I was having chatter problems on my hockey stop, but his sharpening stopped that altogether. When the season starts on the 14th, I'm going to be throwing on JR B's work and I'm sure it'll be brilliant as well.