Sharpening cold blades

[aal 3]

There was a guy at a local rink that wouldn't sharpen skates right after you got off the ice. He said the blades would be too brittle due to their cold temperature, and that you needed to wait an hour or so before they should be sharpened. I think some pros get their skates sharpened between periods, so I'm not so sure this guy was right. Is there any problem with sharpening cold blades?

[roller to ice 0]

his reasoning sounds like it makes sense. If he screw up your blade he basically has to get you new ones. While in the pros they get a huge amount free and im sure the pros have the best skate sharpeners around

[themooseisloose 0]

I assume that most pros sharpen their own skates. I could be wrong though.

[Chadd 916]

I assume that most pros sharpen their own skates. I could be wrong though.

You are

[DarkStar50 679]

There was a guy at a local rink that wouldn't sharpen skates right after you got off the ice. He said the blades would be too brittle due to their cold temperature, and that you needed to wait an hour or so before they should be sharpened. I think some pros get their skates sharpened between periods, so I'm not so sure this guy was right. Is there any problem with sharpening cold blades?

The guy at the local rink is two things: lazy and full of sh*t.

[sebseb 0]

DarkStar has a point here, wait an hour, for what? There isn't that much steel to cool down, if you want to wait, wait 5 min with the skates in a heated room and they will be at room temperature.

[Ngo_35 1]

haha how cold do you think your blades can possibly get while skating? If anything, did you give your skates to the guy soaking wet with snow on it? If so give it a wipe first and make it dry so he has no excuse.

[jimmy 194]

Blades can be sharpened right away, the temp of the steel does not matter. I'm assuming he didn't want to deal with dripping water from snow buildup. As long as the runner is dry, no problems.

[Law Goalie 147]

That or he's afraid of getting skates with the dreaded Wet Funk that rises up from beneath never-removed insoles after being awakened by the sweat of its master.

[forbs02 20]

I think the sharpener's concern might be valid if the skates have been sitting outside in the car in sub-zero temperatures and if he's a hack that heats the blades up quick.

I sharpen skates that have come right off the ice all the time. I've never had breakage issues.

[DEATHTRON 19]

When I worked at the LHS's around here, they made us wait if they came off the ice for the same reason as originally posted....it was so stupid. So believe me, might not be that guys fault.

Zach

[kovalchuk71 212]

I just wave the heat gun over the blades at a low setting for a few seconds until they are room temp.

[phoenixgold 0]

have to agree that the guy is full of it or just lazy.. they are stainless steel... the only thing that can wreck them is sharpening...the heat can warp them pretty quick. if anything the cold would help

[krwwc6 0]

have to agree that the guy is full of it or just lazy.. they are stainless steel... the only thing that can wreck them is sharpening...the heat can warp them pretty quick. if anything the cold would help

I think what the guy was originally going for was the sudden change in temperature. A huge change from cold to very hot very quick could cause lots of damage. I don't think it is a major problem with the steel on skates, but thats probably what the sharpener is thinking.

[phoenixgold 0]

i work with stainless steel everyday.. it would have to be frozen solid to hurt it even then i don't think it would. they are 1/4" thick

[noodle3872 40]

From 1988 to 1994 I sharpened skates everyday and I've never heard of this type of thing. I didn't like it when guys would bring in their skates right after they got off the ice because of the smell. I liked it even less if the guy skates barefoot!

[phoenixgold 0]

lol good call.. i skate barefoot and they hate is..as well as my wife.. I am looking all over the net for an old skate sharpening machine. I want to be able to do it my self

[noodle3872 40]

One kid that skated barefoot put baby powder in his skates to keep the stink down. Talk about adding to a problem!!!

[phoenixgold 0]

that would work but you would slip..and smell like a girl..lol i like the smell lol

[noodle3872 40]

I can picture the skates....besides the smell of sweaty feet and baby powder, the skates never were taken care of, as in take insoles out and allow the skate to dry so they were covered with black/green slimy mildew! The old Clarino linings weren't designed to take that kind of abuse!

[phoenixgold 0]

i just bought vapor xxii's and had nike quest's for about 5 years and never wore socks they were so bad...they started turning orange..lol and man did they smell. but ya i always take them apart and let them dry.. who can you not when they cost so much

[powerball 0]

i just bought vapor xxii's and had nike quest's for about 5 years and never wore socks they were so bad...they started turning orange..lol and man did they smell. but ya i always take them apart and let them dry.. who can you not when they cost so much

I think we need pictures, or a thread detailing "skate abuse".