3rd-party or Tuuk LS2 blades?

[ktang 34]

I just got some new non-perforated blades for my Tuuk LS2 holders. However, they don't have the TUUK or LS2 logos on them; instead there is a "Stainless Steel" / small maple leaf logo.

Is this a new logo for genuine Tuuk LS2 blades, or are these blades from a 3rd-party manufacturer?

Thanks in advance again.

[warrior37 0]

it sounds like that it might be the Step Steel that eastwesthockey.com had. http://www.stepskates.com/stepskates.html

[peter54 0]

Is this it?

Step

East West Hockey

[ktang 34]

Yes, that's it. I guess I got bait-and-switched, because I asked the LHS for Tuuk LS2 blades.

Has anybody used these, and how well do they hold their edges?

The ones I got (for 272mm) are a little bit shorter in the back, but as the website says they seem to have a little bit more blade on them.

Thanks!

[jimmy 194]

I've found that the aftermarket steel is way better than the stock steel. The main reason is the aftermarket guys are actually steel guys, so they know their stuff and steel is all that they do. I have Hotblade "LS2" replacement steel and it is excellent. Holds edge better and less prone to breaking.

[top 0]

the glide on those blades, are simply amazing, and a sharpening lasts pretty long to boot, defenitly a good buy.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I've found that the aftermarket steel is way better than the stock steel. The main reason is the aftermarket guys are actually steel guys, so they know their stuff and steel is all that they do. I have Hotblade "LS2" replacement steel and it is excellent. Holds edge better and less prone to breaking.

I am quite positive the guys who make NBH's steel are "steel guys." I doubt the blades are made alongside skates.

[jimmy 194]

I've found that the aftermarket steel is way better than the stock steel. The main reason is the aftermarket guys are actually steel guys, so they know their stuff and steel is all that they do. I have Hotblade "LS2" replacement steel and it is excellent. Holds edge better and less prone to breaking.

I am quite positive the guys who make NBH's steel are "steel guys." I doubt the blades are made alongside skates.

True, manufacturers do use sub contractors to make their steel. The point I was trying to make is that the little guys steel is hand-crafted, just like how micro-brew beer is better than massed produced beer. From what I've seen from the aftermarket steel, it's simply better. Holds edges longer and rarely breaks.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Gotcha.

Does it come normal instead of those funky colors?

[jimmy 194]

Gotcha.

Does it come normal instead of those funky colors?

Actually, Hotblades does not make the high carbon steel runners with the colors anymore, they switched to a high quality stainless.(even though tere still is a demand for the carbon ones). I tested the stainless about a year ago while they were developing it, put them in a few juniors skates and they were very happy. They only have 2 sizes in full production now with more coming. I don't even buy the Bauer runners any more in those sizes. The Hotblades are just so much better. A higher quality steel, with better tempering. And I'm not just picking on Bauer, the hotblades steel IMO is superior to all but the Mission. I've also been looking at the CT blades. They seem very good as well, just not in distribution yet. They wanted to complete studies and testing first. I have a customer who snaged a set and I sharpen them regularly. From what I can tell, good quality and the 4 degree offset is definately interesting. My customer does a 2" hollow on them and loves it.

[skatedoctor 0]

Just a quick one here, but are these manufactures allowed to do this?

eg copy the nike bauer steel, surely there must be some patent on the design of the steel/holder?

[ktang 34]

I've used the Step blades for 5 games now, and they feel great. They feel stiffer, but probably because there is so much more steel. Also, there isn't the "clicking" that I had with the original Tuuk LS2 blades (before I re-shaped the parts that met the holder).

The initial sharpener for these Step blades didn't blend the toe or heel. I'm not having any trouble with that, but when I bought the skates originally (8090s), the sharpener at the LHS insisted on blending away the toe and the heel of the blades (he wouldn't listen to my request to not do that). The initial sharpening for my other blades prior to these skates didn't do that (CCM perforated E-RPL and Tuuk Custom+).

I can get used to anything quickly, so what would be the advantages of doing the blending? Or of leaving the shape alone? My backwards crossover starts seem to have better 'bite' with the unblended toe, for example. I notice fewer banana blade profiles in the Stanley Cup playoffs, too.

[epstud74 24]

I've used the Step blades for 5 games now, and they feel great. They feel stiffer, but probably because there is so much more steel. Also, there isn't the "clicking" that I had with the original Tuuk LS2 blades (before I re-shaped the parts that met the holder).

The initial sharpener for these Step blades didn't blend the toe or heel. I'm not having any trouble with that, but when I bought the skates originally (8090s), the sharpener at the LHS insisted on blending away the toe and the heel of the blades (he wouldn't listen to my request to not do that). The initial sharpening for my other blades prior to these skates didn't do that (CCM perforated E-RPL and Tuuk Custom+).

I can get used to anything quickly, so what would be the advantages of doing the blending? Or of leaving the shape alone? My backwards crossover starts seem to have better 'bite' with the unblended toe, for example. I notice fewer banana blade profiles in the Stanley Cup playoffs, too.

I wonder how my 8090s would look with a black holder and black HotBlades?

[jimmy 194]

The initial sharpener for these Step blades didn't blend the toe or heel. I'm not having any trouble with that, but when I bought the skates originally (8090s), the sharpener at the LHS insisted on blending away the toe and the heel of the blades (he wouldn't listen to my request to not do that). The initial sharpening for my other blades prior to these skates didn't do that (CCM perforated E-RPL and Tuuk Custom+).

I can get used to anything quickly, so what would be the advantages of doing the blending? Or of leaving the shape alone? My backwards crossover starts seem to have better 'bite' with the unblended toe, for example. I notice fewer banana blade profiles in the Stanley Cup playoffs, too.

People have their toes and heels shaved down a bit so the transition from their old skates which likely had a "banana" rocker will be easier. It's more of a comfort zone thing than a performance thing. In fact the more steel on the heel the better for crossovers, backwards pushes, pivots and power in turns, and the more steel on the toe gives a better stride and more power in the push.

Funny, I have one internet customer who goes thru 6 pairs of steel a year. He sends me his old banana blades and makes me shape/copy the brand new steel exactly like them. This makes the new steel about 6 sharpenings from needing replacement. I tried to talk him out of it, but he says he doesn't mind spending the money to have his new steel feel exactly like the old. To each his own.

[epstud74 24]

The initial sharpener for these Step blades didn't blend the toe or heel. I'm not having any trouble with that, but when I bought the skates originally (8090s), the sharpener at the LHS insisted on blending away the toe and the heel of the blades (he wouldn't listen to my request to not do that). The initial sharpening for my other blades prior to these skates didn't do that (CCM perforated E-RPL and Tuuk Custom+).

I can get used to anything quickly, so what would be the advantages of doing the blending? Or of leaving the shape alone? My backwards crossover starts seem to have better 'bite' with the unblended toe, for example. I notice fewer banana blade profiles in the Stanley Cup playoffs, too.

People have their toes and heels shaved down a bit so the transition from their old skates which likely had a "banana" rocker will be easier. It's more of a comfort zone thing than a performance thing. In fact the more steel on the heel the better for crossovers, backwards pushes, pivots and power in turns, and the more steel on the toe gives a better stride and more power in the push.

Funny, I have one internet customer who goes thru 6 pairs of steel a year. He sends me his old banana blades and makes me shape/copy the brand new steel exactly like them. This makes the new steel about 6 sharpenings from needing replacement. I tried to talk him out of it, but he says he doesn't mind spending the money to have his new steel feel exactly like the old. To each his own.

I'd be interested in seeing what Paul Coffey did to his skates. Can anyone in the know educate us on this? JR? I heard he had a fairly shallow hollow, but it was pretty fun to watch this guy skate. Just seemed so effortless

[Ngo_35 1]

Coffey had a 1 inch hollow if my mind serves me correctly.

[skatedoctor 0]

Ktang, how are the steel holding up now?

[ktang 34]

My initial hollow was 1", and I had them sharpened for only their 2nd time last weekend (about 5 weeks, playing 2-3 times per week, no reffing). The steel has held up really well in terms of keeping its edge and absorbing shots. It still looks perfectly straight.

Since I have extra height in these blades I'm thinking of getting them profiled! Maybe a backwards lean with a 7' radius for playing defense and reffing. It's really hot in Calgary this summer, and all the ice is slushy, so I'm thinking of going to a 1-1/2" hollow, too.

[skatedoctor 0]

Cheers, for that, im looking to supply them to my customers and my team here in the uk, as im not to keen on the manufactures steel.

So i was just wnating to know if they are any good.

1 1/2 eh?

God they must be nearly flat hollow!

Mind you im the same, i can only stand a 1/2" when officiating, and just under a 3/8" when im playing.

I put everybody on a 3/8" over here as the ice is so crap where we are. Ive tried experimenting with different people on less hollows so there is more glide than bite, but they dont like it, so the end of the day they get what they ask/pay for!

How does the steel take to grinding?

Dean

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Crap in what way?

If it is soft, why put them in a deeper hollow?

[skatedoctor 0]

Well where do i start with the word crap and the ice!

The ice goes between hard and soft all the time, then there is the uneven of the ice, pipes showing through, oftern you ccan even have the sand bed as a surface! the lack of a decent zamboni to keep the ice nice! - Anybody from the UK may know this rink very well! First person to name it will get a pat on the back! :D

Ive tried the different hollows with loads of different age ranges from young to old, skaters to players, hollows from flat to a 5/16" ! (had one guy wanting this each and every week).

And the only thing most of the playes 'like' is the 3/8" for that ice.

However if they play a game on a 'decent' rink, most of the players ask to be dropped down to 1/2" if not less.

I know where you are coming from JR regarding the hollows, but like ive said, they want it and want to pay for it, ill do it. Ive even tried the sneaky trick of saying yeah its a 3/8" but put a 1/2" or less on and they have come back and said they noticed straight away on that ice!

Ive got a netminder who will have nothing else but a 1/2" ive tried to get him down to a flat 1" or 1 1/2" but he doesnt like it, as he wants, 'grip' in the crease and not glide, yet again due to the ice!

[ktang 34]

Cheers, for that, im looking to supply them to my customers and my team here in the uk, as im not to keen on the manufactures steel.

So i was just wnating to know if they are any good.

1 1/2 eh?

God they must be nearly flat hollow!

Mind you im the same, i can only stand a 1/2" when officiating, and just under a 3/8" when im playing.

I put everybody on a 3/8" over here as the ice is so crap where we are. Ive tried experimenting with different people on less hollows so there is more glide than bite, but they dont like it, so the end of the day they get what they ask/pay for!

How does the steel take to grinding?

Dean

I'm playing hockey in about an hour with the guy who sharpened my skates, so I will try my best to remember to ask him if the Step steel grinds differently.

[jimmy 194]

The Step steel does not "grind" differently. It's a good steel, better than stock for some brands. I've been selling it and have had zero problems with breakage, pitting, and it holds and edge as well as other good quality steel.

Not as good quality as say Mission or the RBK goal steel, but very good nevertheless. With the Hotblades and Step, I have no reason to sell Bauer steel anymore, it's so much better. I can see many dealers offering this as an alternative.

As an aside, skatedoctor, I just don't understand the quality of your ice dillema. If it's soft, 3/8's is no good. If it's hard, but rough, uneven, etc, then I could see 3/8's but not on soft ice ever. Unless of course, English skaters like to skate with training wheels. :)

[skatedoctor 0]

Jimmy, has there been any legal issues over the step steel? As they have basicaly copied the existing manufactures design, i know you can tweak it so its not the same, but does the likes of nike bauer know people are doing this?

Regarding the ice, well i cant even explain its that bad!

[icedevil82 0]

I'm not really getting that, soft ice=deeper hollows. Its usually the exact opposite. Does your rink enjoy the nice large lakes of water in the bottom half of each zone? There's a rink I play at that is really bad with that the warmer it gets and the faster the guy tries to get off the ice.