considering buying a wissota sharpener

[wetwilly17 6]

I only play beer league hockey and dropins. I play 4-5 times per week and I like my skates sharpened on a somewhat frequent basis (approximately every other week), partly due to bad ice. I have yet to find a lhs that gives good consistent skate sharpenings. There are a couple that might have one good guy who will take his time to do it right, but he wont always be there and i frequently have to settle for a less than desirable sharpening. Every once in awhile, some kid will actually inadvertantly change the profile on my blades and i skate like crap for a game trying to get used to the change.

Do you think it would be worth it for me to purchase a portable wissota for around $800 or am i going overboard? I figure that I spend $110 on sharpenings a year (26 sharpenings x $5 per sharpening). I also spend a considerable amount on gasoline driving to the lhs for sharpenings. I will not sharpen my friends skates, just my own, so i won't make money on it. However, I figure once i'm too old to play that i can always sell the machine.

Also, considering I've never sharpened a skate before, how long will it take me to do a good job? I will be practicing on my old skates.

What do you guys think? Should I splurge or just deal with the crappy sharpenings like everyone else?

[BigDipper 0]

First off, you have to learn how to sharpen yours not only properly, but as to how you like them. Sharpening is not as easy as every one makes it out to be. I see how the purchase may be justified..and to a point I agree with you. If you can expense almost $1000 then go for it. But I wouldn't go broke buying one of them either. Money sometimes is better spent elsewhere. But then again who knows? you might really enjoy it and do on the side as a hobby doing other players skates too

[Chef23 0]

One of the guys I skate with has a Wissota sharpener and he has become pretty good with it. He and his son skate multiple days a week so the payback was about a year or so. He has done my skates once when I was in a jam and I was happy with the job he did.

According to my friend sharpening isn't rocket science but it does take care and attention to what you are doing. Having an old pair of skates around you don't care about too much to practice on definitely helps.

[Spreedizzle 1]

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index...&hl=WISSOTA

[wetwilly17 6]

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index...&hl=WISSOTA

thanks. i saw that thread a while back. my question was more about whether its worth it for a beer league skater and how long it would take for me to become a proficient sharpener.

One of the guys I skate with has a Wissota sharpener and he has become pretty good with it. He and his son skate multiple days a week so the payback was about a year or so. He has done my skates once when I was in a jam and I was happy with the job he did.

According to my friend sharpening isn't rocket science but it does take care and attention to what you are doing. Having an old pair of skates around you don't care about too much to practice on definitely helps.

thats what i was thinking. i figured that as long as i watch the instructional video, practice a few times on my old skates and take my time that i should be able to sharpen nicely the first day. like you said, it isn't rocket science. but so many people say it takes a long time to become a good sharpener???

[Polishprince85 0]

You'll love it my man. When i started playing my dad bought one, and it paid for itself 10x over. Always comes in handy because at the last second you could ding up a skate, by just dropping it when your putting your equipment in your bag. And the price is great. Enjoy my man.

[kukks_99 0]

I only play beer league hockey and dropins. I play 4-5 times per week and I like my skates sharpened on a somewhat frequent basis (approximately every other week), partly due to bad ice. I have yet to find a lhs that gives good consistent skate sharpenings. There are a couple that might have one good guy who will take his time to do it right, but he wont always be there and i frequently have to settle for a less than desirable sharpening. Every once in awhile, some kid will actually inadvertantly change the profile on my blades and i skate like crap for a game trying to get used to the change.

Do you think it would be worth it for me to purchase a portable wissota for around $800 or am i going overboard? I figure that I spend $110 on sharpenings a year (26 sharpenings x $5 per sharpening). I also spend a considerable amount on gasoline driving to the lhs for sharpenings. I will not sharpen my friends skates, just my own, so i won't make money on it. However, I figure once i'm too old to play that i can always sell the machine.

Also, considering I've never sharpened a skate before, how long will it take me to do a good job? I will be practicing on my old skates.

What do you guys think? Should I splurge or just deal with the crappy sharpenings like everyone else?

I picked one up for myself. I live in the Twin Cities and was able to go to the factory get a demo/training and walk out of the store with it. I have 3 boys (2 playing) and a backyard ice rink. It's a great thing to have. My machine will pay for itself a lot quicker than yours, but it sounds like you have the cheese, so I'd say go for it. It also really demystifies skate sharpening and is fun for tinkering.

[jimmy 194]

I say go for it, that's how I started, couldn't get a decent sharpening. One thing to note, ... is some people just are not mechanically inclined and can never learn to sharpen skates well. (some people cannot tighten CCM runners as well) I know one guy who after 1 yr cannot dress a stone properly. If you turn out to be one of them, worse case is you sell the machine and get your money back. Sharpening skates is more than just the mechanics, but if you are careful, you can do a decent job for yourself. Go to thrift store any buy a few pairs of old skates to practice on. Also buy proper measuring tools, level checker, radius gauges, micrometer, etc.

If/when you ever decide to turn it into a business, just make sure you get proper city, state and federal licenses, and pay taxes on your profits. If not, someone will turn you in. The minute you take $5 from your buddy for a sharpening, you are now a business.

[cerps 0]

My parents bought a Wissota 20 years ago and with my dad and us 3 boys skating it is still going strong. We even used to sharpen team mates skates with it. How I don't miss the days of carrying a bag with my skates and 3 or 4 other pairs of skates in it. When we bought it, we skipped the Wissota holder and bought an EZ sharp holder. Living in the Twin Cities, dad went down to the factory and picked out a "seconds" base. it had some minor surface defects when cast, but it was out of the sliding path of the holder. I worked at a hockey rink that had an EZ Sharp and used to go back and forth between the 2 sharpeners and it wasn't a big deal.

[wetwilly17 6]

I say go for it, that's how I started, couldn't get a decent sharpening. One thing to note, ... is some people just are not mechanically inclined and can never learn to sharpen skates well. (some people cannot tighten CCM runners as well) I know one guy who after 1 yr cannot dress a stone properly. If you turn out to be one of them, worse case is you sell the machine and get your money back. Sharpening skates is more than just the mechanics, but if you are careful, you can do a decent job for yourself. Go to thrift store any buy a few pairs of old skates to practice on. Also buy proper measuring tools, level checker, radius gauges, micrometer, etc.

If/when you ever decide to turn it into a business, just make sure you get proper city, state and federal licenses, and pay taxes on your profits. If not, someone will turn you in. The minute you take $5 from your buddy for a sharpening, you are now a business.

thanks for your input. i am a mechanical engineer so i think i should get used to it quickly. that is a good idea to pick up some cheap skates at a thrift store.

[Jordan 13]

Here's one:

Wissota on ebay

[wetwilly17 6]

Here's one:

Wissota on ebay

yeah, i saw that. but the bidding will go up at the last minute and it will probably end pretty close to the full retail price. unless i'm getting a signficant discount, i'd rather buy a new one. thanks anyways.

[fastmiele 59]

I would not be as concerned about the money aspect as much as the space/clean up aspect. I could make the space for it but the thing that worries me is the metal particles/dust and other stuff flying around. I was doing some reading on purchasing one and it recommended some equipment/accessories for properly cleaning the small steel shavings.

I do some home renovations and work with cutting wood and such. The wood/dry wall/dust gets all over the place. Its not good. And I thought to myself what am I go to do with all the steel particles flying around. There is a baby in the house so I gave up. I thought about doing it outside in the front or back, but that's no good either with the stuff going onto the lawn, etc.

If you can control/inclose the area then I would consider it. If not then I say forget it.

[wetwilly17 6]

I would not be as concerned about the money aspect as much as the space/clean up aspect. I could make the space for it but the thing that worries me is the metal particles/dust and other stuff flying around. I was doing some reading on purchasing one and it recommended some equipment/accessories for properly cleaning the small steel shavings.

I do some home renovations and work with cutting wood and such. The wood/dry wall/dust gets all over the place. Its not good. And I thought to myself what am I go to do with all the steel particles flying around. There is a baby in the house so I gave up. I thought about doing it outside in the front or back, but that's no good either with the stuff going onto the lawn, etc.

If you can control/inclose the area then I would consider it. If not then I say forget it.

they sell a dust collector hood for $123. or you could fabricate your own. i think a hood combinded with a shop vac would keep your area pretty clean.

[fastmiele 59]

perhaps its better to have an experienced skate sharpener comment on the aspect of controlling the metal filings/dust/etc.

When I go to specialized hockey shops, the skate sharpening machine and stuff is in a seperate room. I am assuming there is some health reason why the sharpening guy wears a mask when sharpening. I am also afraid there might be microscopic metal filings on your clothes then you go throughout the house with it.

This is just my speculation/guessing, I could be wrong so it would helpful if people with first hand experience to comment.

Good luck.

[DEATHTRON 19]

some people just are not mechanically inclined and can never learn to sharpen skates well. (some people cannot tighten CCM runners as well)

Thats SO true in all my years of sharpening skates and teaching others. Some people get it, some dont. If you do get one, go ahead and get plenty of practice, it takes time to get the rythm right and figure the little things out. Go to your favorite sharpener and get him to explain stuff to you, give him a few $$$ and practice practice practice. It takes longer to be able to do a top quality job than you think.

Zach

[Rustpot 1]

Steel doesn't create microscopic particles when ground. The sparks are the excess steel being thrown away. The guys at my LHS have the sharpener up front and don't wear masks.

You'll get dust, but a magnet with a plastic bag on it will pick it all up really easily, brush what's on the counter into the trash. Steel shouldn't go airborne at all. They probably wear masks to keep the sparks from hitting them.

[wetwilly17 6]

some people just are not mechanically inclined and can never learn to sharpen skates well. (some people cannot tighten CCM runners as well)

Thats SO true in all my years of sharpening skates and teaching others. Some people get it, some dont. If you do get one, go ahead and get plenty of practice, it takes time to get the rythm right and figure the little things out. Go to your favorite sharpener and get him to explain stuff to you, give him a few $$$ and practice practice practice. It takes longer to be able to do a top quality job than you think.

Zach

zach, do you remember me? i sold you two xn10's and we met at tms. anyways, do you still work at a lhs? if so where? i'm always trying to find good sharpeners. thanks.

[tomh7 2]

If you are using the sharpener for personal use, I wouldn't be overly concerned with the amount of dust and debris. I have an EZ-Sharp (since it is what I was familiar with from working in an LHS in college) with a dust hood that I hooked a shop vac to. I have not had any problems with dust and debris.

Guys that work in the LHS sharpen a lot of skates every day. I seriously doubt you will be using your personal sharpener nearly as much.

[forbs02 20]

Steel doesn't create microscopic particles when ground. The sparks are the excess steel being thrown away. The guys at my LHS have the sharpener up front and don't wear masks.

You'll get dust, but a magnet with a plastic bag on it will pick it all up really easily, brush what's on the counter into the trash. Steel shouldn't go airborne at all. They probably wear masks to keep the sparks from hitting them.

All I know is that when I am done sharpening skates on my portable (no vent system) I will blow black out of my nose for the rest of the day and the next morning. The masks are definately not for the sparks, they are harmless. There are dust particles everywhere when sharpening. I hang a wet towel to the left of my blademaster when I sharpen and that thing is black after 2 or 3 pair.

[Rustpot 1]

It's probably from the wheel. I forgot about that powdering on breakdown.

[DEATHTRON 19]

some people just are not mechanically inclined and can never learn to sharpen skates well. (some people cannot tighten CCM runners as well)

Thats SO true in all my years of sharpening skates and teaching others. Some people get it, some dont. If you do get one, go ahead and get plenty of practice, it takes time to get the rythm right and figure the little things out. Go to your favorite sharpener and get him to explain stuff to you, give him a few $$$ and practice practice practice. It takes longer to be able to do a top quality job than you think.

Zach

zach, do you remember me? i sold you two xn10's and we met at tms. anyways, do you still work at a lhs? if so where? i'm always trying to find good sharpeners. thanks.

Sorry...didnt even look at name or location. Ya, I dont work the LHS anymore (was in Farmers Branch at the end of my time). The only guy I know that can do skates justice is Shane in Euless, from what I hear he is good, but Im the only person that has sharpened my skates in the last 4 years. If you do end up getting one, I will give you a few pointers, though I think the Wissota turns the opposite direction, so I wont be able to do much of an example for you.

Zach

[wetwilly17 6]

some people just are not mechanically inclined and can never learn to sharpen skates well. (some people cannot tighten CCM runners as well)

Thats SO true in all my years of sharpening skates and teaching others. Some people get it, some dont. If you do get one, go ahead and get plenty of practice, it takes time to get the rythm right and figure the little things out. Go to your favorite sharpener and get him to explain stuff to you, give him a few $$$ and practice practice practice. It takes longer to be able to do a top quality job than you think.

Zach

zach, do you remember me? i sold you two xn10's and we met at tms. anyways, do you still work at a lhs? if so where? i'm always trying to find good sharpeners. thanks.

Sorry...didnt even look at name or location. Ya, I dont work the LHS anymore (was in Farmers Branch at the end of my time). The only guy I know that can do skates justice is Shane in Euless, from what I hear he is good, but Im the only person that has sharpened my skates in the last 4 years. If you do end up getting one, I will give you a few pointers, though I think the Wissota turns the opposite direction, so I wont be able to do much of an example for you.

Zach

yeah, shane is good but not always available. usually he just works during the day when i'm at work. i'm afraid to leave my $500 skates at the shop too. i did that once, but i was nervous the whole time. man, wish you were still at farmers branch!