Tuuk Vs Cobra... Why TUUK wins

[thenizzle 0]

I recently got graf 705s (ive had grafs for 6 years now) and i was tourqed with the new skates' cobras. They used to be tolerable on my old skates. Now they are just terrible. The screws were crappy, had to go to old skates' screws to fix the loose blades, and now the sharpness of each blade isnt the same... even after multiple sharpenings! My right skate feels like it has no edge even after being sharpened. So, what little faith i have had in the cobra holder is now gone. That said, i want to switch to either the TUUK Lightspeed or Custom+. However, the one roadblock in the way is my dad. He says there is no difference in performance between the two, and that the blade holding system on the cobras is as good as the tuuks. Can som1 plz make some arguments for the TUUKs and against the cobras that might sway my father? or are Cobras really ok? Last, if i get TUUKS should i get the Lightspeed or Custom+? Thanks.

[QandA 0]

Don't know if this helps any; http://www.modsquadhockey.com/index.php?showtopic=4065

[thenizzle 0]

i dont really have any qualms with the pitch of the cobra, or how to set up the tuuks. im mostly just asking why one would be "better" than the other. but thanks anyway QnA

[Chadd 916]

The steel on the cobra is softer and requires sharpening more often. Other than that and the constantly loose steel it's mostly a preference thing.

[thenizzle 0]

ok. because ive seen a bunch of ppl with grafs with tuuks and when i ask them about it they are just like "tuuks are better... cobras suck". thats real helpful...

[Jbone 0]

Why does TUUK win?

[Veltri 0]

your saying your right skate never feels sharpened, even after it just got done. thats not the steals fault, its a shitty sharpening.

[joshy207 15]

Cobra steel is softer and needs more frequent sharpening. Also, I don't think it feels as sharp as a Tuuk or any other steel blade. Cobra steel "pits" very easily--pits are those holes that seem to pop up out of nowhere, anywhere on the surface of the blade but most frequently along the edges. Sufficient care--drying off and airing out the blades--will help prevent pitting, but it can still happen. Cobra steel pits more than any other, with the possible exception of Prolite steel. Cobra screws are difficult to keep tight, they come loose quite often and rust very easily. They freeze up a lot too, to the point where you can't tighten or loosen the screw. And trying to fix or remove a frozen-up screw is next to impossible, either the screw turns in the blade and the round part of the screw no longer fits in the blade hole properly, or the screw breaks off in the holder, or it overtightens and messes up the inside of the holder. Again, proper care can help prevent this, but to make sure your screws aren't rusting up tight, you'd basically have to loosen and re-tighten them after every use.

On a positive note, I really haven't seen too many broken/cracked Cobra holders, far less than I see from Tuuk, Prolite, or Easton. The design seems pretty strong, with the splits in the front and back parts of the holder.

IMO, the actual holder itself (plastic part) isn't bad, but the screw system and the steel leave much to be desired.

[Chadd 916]

I agree, never seen a broken Cobra but I have seen ones that bent over time.

[joshy207 15]

Yeah, they do soften up over time, but not really much different than a Tuuk or Prolite.

[Chadd 916]

Prolite may be the worst current holder, we used to replace 3-4 a week. Most of the bent Tuuks I saw were from shoddy builds, not wear and tear.

[joshy207 15]

Prolite may be the worst current holder, we used to replace 3-4 a week. Most of the bent Tuuks I saw were from shoddy builds, not wear and tear.

I've seen plenty of Prolites buckle inward at the heel. Not a strong holder at all.

[Chadd 916]

I've broken 8-10 myself. Not on my skates though, just those guys that get in the way when I actually keep my shots low.

[GekigangarIII 0]

My problem with the Cobras was not just pitting, but that I actually lost *chunks* of steel on my edges on a regular basis... It just wasn't worth the trouble of having to have them sharpened (and cross-grinded) every few days...

[lee92 2]

i'm pretty aggressive on my gear and skates, so i'm usually getting my skates done after 1 or 2 practices, and usually after each game, and thats with the ccm, mission, ferland, and bauer skates i've used.

and as for the blades loosening up, me n my pops just put locktight on the bolt and shes stayed tight like a tiger with no problems. i still give them the odd twist with the screwdriver now n then to make sure.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I prefer the look of the Tuuk.

My cobra blade had broken last year. I've seen a lot of lightspeed broke but never seen a broken custom +

Lee92 I hope your father sharpen your skates. If not how does it cost per year?(approx.)

[lee92 2]

well, if we go down to the rink thats just down the road from us, the guy there knows us pretty well and does them for free or my dad will give him some deer meat or sumthin from hunting, and he's amazing at sharpening them too. but if i go up to my home rink its like $3 a sharpening

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I'm like you, I love to sharpen the skates after 1 or 2(max.) ice time. My father sharpen my skates. That's why I can sharpen so often my skates.

[lee92 2]

yeah, i go through at least two sets of blades a year because i get mine sharpened so much. i can't have any knicks in the blade or it throws off my whole groove

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Joshy is dead-on with the Cobra.

The steel is too soft (it flakes off in strands while sharpening), doesn't hold an edge, and it pits.

Cobra is by far the strongest holder on the market - the interior of the holder is solid, not hollow.

If they would've made their screw system internal, and better steel, it'd be a hell of a holder.

[Harrage12 0]

tru, the cobra is built the strongest. I think the tuuk is better performance wise

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

If anyone is interested my dad can make the Cobra steels at work, but with better steel, he did this for my last 502's and it worked perfectly, no pitting or edge breaking. I personally have never skated on the Cobra steel but is it possible that some of the skate sharpeners who are sharpening these skates are over heating them and burning the carbon out thus making them weaker. I know National sports did this to my skates (I go elsewhere now) and some other local sharpeners do this too.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

There's less stainless steel and more carbon in the blade - that is why the steel is poor.

[Tom351 0]

How does other steel stack up? I have heard good/bad about all of them, but what brand seems to hold edges the longest?

[Chadd 916]

How does other steel stack up? I have heard good/bad about all of them, but what brand seems to hold edges the longest?

Mission has the hardest steel I've used and holds an edge longer for me. Older Tuuks were great but the new steel doesn't seem quite as good.