Personal Skate Sharpener

[Spreedizzle 1]

Searched....and couldn't find anything that honestly pointed me in a good direction.

I am looking to pick up a personal skate sharpener. Everyone of course is aware of Blademaster, and other high end machines, but I am looking for one for myself and to handle a few teammates. Aside from Wissota, are there any other consumer based skate sharpening companies available? The Wissota goes for about $800 new, and that is within my budget. Is this a quality machine for personal use? If not, is there another manufacturer that I should be looking at instead? Thanks for all of the help.

[forbs02 20]

I prefer EZ Sharp to wissota. I think they are both in the same general price range...

I learned on an EZ Sharp and currently use a blademaster, which is my favorite. I recently helped a friend learn to use a Wissota sharpener and I really didn't like the set up. The wheel spins in the opposite direction from every other sharpener I've used and I wasn't a fan of the clamp. With the wissota skate clamp you tighten the top screw down with every skate instead of just pulling up on a lever like on all the clamp brands. The wissota still put a good edge on a skate, but I just didn't think the process was as user friendly as it could have been.

[Chadd 916]

With a little practice you can do a good job on a Wissota, I had one for a couple years before I opened a shop. I'll be picking up one of the Blackstone portables after January 1. They're a bit more expensive but great machines.

[Spreedizzle 1]

That being said.....do you know of a decent place for potentially picking up a used Wissota, EZ sharp, or other portable/consumer based sharpener?

[Wolverine 0]

........

[nieminen24 0]

I also prefer the EZ Sharp to Wissota. I just got a new price list from EZ Sharp. $1325 is their lowest priced portable machine. They have a good deal on a stater kit for a new machine that includes 3 different grinding wheels and two diamond tools for $130.

[Spreedizzle 1]

I also prefer the EZ Sharp to Wissota. I just got a new price list from EZ Sharp. $1325 is their lowest priced portable machine. They have a good deal on a stater kit for a new machine that includes 3 different grinding wheels and two diamond tools for $130.

That is a bit steeper than I was looking for. Does anyone know of a site, or avenue for searching out a used sharpener?

[Monty22 833]

An ad in the "Buy" section here couldn't hurt...

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

I like Glenn and all, but if I were dropping $1300 on a EZ-Sharp I'll spring $300 more for something WAY better.

[wickedwrister 0]

I like Glenn and all, but if I were dropping $1300 on a EZ-Sharp I'll spring $300 more for something WAY better.

I can second that. And did.

[Spreedizzle 1]

For personal use though....is it worth DOUBLE the price for myself to pick up something other than a $750 Wissota unit?

[jimmy 194]

For personal use the Wissota is just fine. Speed is not an issue if you are not a busy shop. The machine, once set up for your skates is easy to use. Now if you will be doing teammates, it may need adjustments for each pair.

Speaking of teammates, if you will be charging them anything, you will no longer be "personal", so be sure you get the proper state, federal and city business licences and report income on your taxes.

[jeffw 1]

Speaking of teammates, if you will be charging them anything, you will no longer be "personal", so be sure you get the proper state, federal and city business licences and report income on your taxes.

[notquitedeadyet 13]

Definately go for the Wissota. Had one for a couple of years & would still have it if I hadn't come accross a single head Blademaster at a price that I couldn't pass up. The opposite rotation thing was only a minor annoyance while I was using both machines (kept the Wissota for travel for a while), & unless you have dexterity problems, the thumbscrew thing is a complete non-issue. The only thing that I wasn't real fond of; it was kind of clunky for changing the grinding wheel radius. I sharpen for my son's team & changing hollows for different skates is a much smoother operation on the Blademaster.

[Ivan 1]

Anyone has experience/opinion with SSM-2 portable? How do you compare it to Blademaster and Blackstone portables?