Cooling Sticks?

[S.Gagne12 1]

Hi there,

i just heard from my LHS dealer that the OPS have to be on a cool place cause if you put them in warm place they can break at your next ice time.

Do anybody know more about that?

Thanks

greetings from germany

[Hazard14 0]

welcome to MSH,

no i havent heard about this before today, but it seems as though its not necessary. your stick can break at anytime on the ice, regardless of the temerature its stored in

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

That's been kicked around before. So, does storing your sticks in heat cause them to be brittle? Or is it just a uncomfirmed theory / wives tail? Not sure that anyone can say for sure. Sure, someone will claim they left it in their car for days in the heat and that's why it broke, but who's to say it wouldn't have broken anyway?

But... why risk it? Just store it somewhere room-temp type thing and should be fine.

OR... perhaps a local scientist can throw out some science behind the chemical bond in the graphite composite becoming brittle, dry, unstable, etc due to keeping in "norma" heat? (not saying excessive - such as over 110 degrees for instance)

[chippa13 1844]

Prolonged or extreme heat will compromise the durability of a stick. Mine are kept in a cool basement and I find I have far fewer durability issues than most others around this board.

[Ngo_35 1]

I can only see the affect if you go from one extreme to another in terms of temperature.

So in the case of being stored in the hot car then hitting the ice yeah it could have some merit BUT, usually the car ride to the rink settles the temperature down anyways.

I keep my sticks in my garage in good old toronto weather and the rink is about 2 min away from my house. Fortunately none of my sticks have ever been broken on the ice. Even with my massive slap shot which could get me arrested!

[Chadd 916]

If you leave a composite stick in your car on a hot, sunny day then go straight out on the ice with it, you may have a problem.

[Dare to Dream 1980 0]

Yea I can see where Chadd is coming from with that, but I don't see a BIG problem where you store it. I keep mine in either the garage and it can get up to probably 90F in there and I've had no problem with sticks. I have teammates that take it there basement and stuff but I don't see a problem just keeping it in your garage since I've had no problems with my sticks.

[Bmplam 1]

Mine stay in the garage. I live in the south and play year round. It gets hot in that garage and I've had no problems.

[Powerfibers 8]

Like graphite fishing rods, I would not keep them in the trunk a long time. The resins will be affected by the high temperatures. I would say somewhere not too enclosed or in direct sunlight is fine.

[Edge 0]

Living in AZ, I've seen some problems with gear and people leaving them in the hot car.

There have been a couple holders crack because of going on the ice right after taking them from a car thats been in 115 degree heat, but I have yet to see a stick snap because of it.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

I can only say, that when I bought an Easton composite bat, it said that leaving it in warm temperatures for a long time may make the bat brittle. I would guess if it applies to a composite bat, it would apply to a composite stick.

[mack 44]

I put them in the wine cellar and the wood blades in the humidor.

[S.Gagne12 1]

Hi there,

im happy about so much answers and i´m really proud to be a member of this big community.

Thanks to all of you.

Have a nice Day

[tomh7 2]

Just a little information regarding the thermal effects on different materials. First, when it comes to composites, the manufacturing process involves heat and pressure. The fibers are coated with a polymer resin and heat and pressure are applied to the lay-up the cure and bond the resin to the fibers. The heat in a hot car can in some cases reach this same manufacturing temperature and affect the resin-fiber bond.

As for the plastic holders cracking when going on the ice, that can be attributed to thermal shock. Basically, materials expand and contract with temperature. When you step onto the ice with hot holders, the area of the holder that comes into contact with the cold ice (i.e. snow) will rapidly cool the holder in that area ausing a crack (ex. spray a hot light bulb with cold water and watch it explode).

[stickler012 0]

ex. spray a hot light bulb with cold water and watch it explode.

Hehe, I guess my room will go dark for a day or two. :P

[Jarick 5]

I keep them in my air-conditioned house. They seem pretty happy.

In a black car on a sunny day, it can get close to 120 degrees. If you go from there RIGHT onto the ice, something might happen, but I can't see a huge benefit to keeping your sticks stored at 60 over 80 degrees.

[TBLfan 25]

If you take all your food out of your fridge, it makes a great stick rack.

[Super Star 0]

Just ask your local food joint if you can keep your sticks in their meat locker

[EBondo 237]

If you leave a composite stick in your car on a hot, sunny day then go straight out on the ice with it, you may have a problem.

I experienced that the hard way today...snapped my favorite stick ever [One90 P106] on a One-Timer today. Looks like I'll be picking up an XXX-Lite blade now..