Caring for Wood Sticks

[Fourth Line Grind 0]

I'm just wondering if anyone has any good tips to make a wood stick last. I've started using them this year and I am very satisfied with my shot and puck handling, however I've broken 4 since November (I know they are inexpensive its just a pain to go and buy a new one all the time) and am wondering how to keep it fresh. Two broke from just game wear like getting stepped on or slashed, and the other two the blade snapped off at the joint to the shaft. Right now I'm rockin the Sherwood 9950 and it performs awesome, I want to keep it around heh

Thanks in advance.

[CTK30 0]

How big are you?

I've never broken one, just the blades start to crack or get soft

[Jarick 5]

Take the tape off immediately after every skate. Tape absorbs moisture which ruins blades.

Otherwise, keep them in the house. If they are stored in a very humid or dry climate, they might get a little weak.

[Fourth Line Grind 0]

I'm about 5'9 and 150 lbs

Yeah that actually makes sense Jarick, I'll start doing that. It doesn't help that i left them overnight in my car when it was like -20 fahrenheit right after I played.

Thanks for tips

[CTK30 0]

I'm about 5'9 and 150 lbs

Yeah that actually makes sense Jarick, I'll start doing that. It doesn't help that i left them overnight in my car when it was like -20 fahrenheit right after I played.

Thanks for tips

I've never broken one and I'm 6'3 195

I live In FL though so they never get extremely cold or anything, what thats whats doing it

[Jarick 5]

I'm 5'8 170. I've only broken one woodie at the shaft on a slapper, but I've probably worn out or broken at least a half dozen, maybe more blades. Wood blades weaken and break down a lot quicker than composite, which is a big reason I don't use them.

I'd say if you can get a wood stick to last you 3-4 months of skating at least once a week, that's pretty good.

On a side note, that's a really stiff stick to use for only being 5'9 150 pounds.

[CTK30 0]

I'm 5'8 170. I've only broken one woodie at the shaft on a slapper, but I've probably worn out or broken at least a half dozen, maybe more blades. Wood blades weaken and break down a lot quicker than composite, which is a big reason I don't use them.

I'd say if you can get a wood stick to last you 3-4 months of skating at least once a week, that's pretty good.

On a side note, that's a really stiff stick to use for only being 5'9 150 pounds.

Probably 125 flex after cut cuts it down

[Fourth Line Grind 0]

Yea it is fairly stiff, and I'm usually the first guy to poke fun at my teammates using ridiculously stiff sticks but I have a great shot with it so im not gonna change anything yet hehe

Edit: I didn't cut it down at all so its not quite that bad

[interpathway 9]

Use wax on your tape to keep the moisture from the ice from getting into your wood blade. This (along with tape changing) will help keep the blade rigid. And tape the entire length, heel to toe.

[Fourth Line Grind 0]

Use wax on your tape to keep the moisture from the ice from getting into your wood blade. This (along with tape changing) will help keep the blade rigid. And tape the entire length, heel to toe.

Cool thanks. Should i cover the toe?

[lampliter87 8]

Certainly won't hurt if you are trying to keep the blade dry.

[interpathway 9]

And it will also keep choppy ice from being abrasive on your blade and its waterproof covering. The more blade covered the better.

[kovalchuk71 212]

I would melt the wax into the tape as well. Use a hair dryer, lightly go over the wax then rub the wax into the tape using your fingers. You do not need much heat.

[d10 0]

I don't get why people say composite sticks don't last, I've found that my wood sticks break much quicker than any of my composites

[Drewhunz 3]

it's also surprising how much longer sticks last when you buy them with your own money. Outside of pros, nobody goes through sticks like brats who have all their sticks bought for them.

+1 for melting the wax into the blade.

[Fourth Line Grind 0]

it's also surprising how much longer sticks last when you buy them with your own money.

haha so true

[interpathway 9]

I don't get why people say composite sticks don't last, I've found that my wood sticks break much quicker than any of my composites

The problem is that with composite, one small problem escalates into total failure so quickly. Damage to composites is catastrophic, unlike wood which can last a bit longer if only cracked a bit.

[Chadd 916]

Take the tape off immediately after every skate. Tape absorbs moisture which ruins blades.

Otherwise, keep them in the house. If they are stored in a very humid or dry climate, they might get a little weak.

Use wax on your tape to keep the moisture from the ice from getting into your wood blade. This (along with tape changing) will help keep the blade rigid. And tape the entire length, heel to toe.

I've always been a big believer in taking the tape off wood blades right after every skate. The other thing I stumbled across is coating the blade with something to waterproof it. I found some cheap spray-on truck bedliner at a local surplus store and tried it. There is little to no impact on feel and a significant increase in blade durability.

[#44wannabe 4]

Dont get easton classics. Great sticks but i went through 22 of them in one season and that all came apart where the blade attaches to the shaft.

[mwerth 5]

I used to go with the 9950 back in my woodie days, then for a while I used the Marleau-style Ultra-Lite with 950 wood blades. The shafts were never a problem on the 9950, but with both the 9950 and 950 blades the fiberglass on my backhand would always splinter from slapshots. As a remedy, I used small pieces of this...

http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/Sta...p;ci_sku=456927

The fiberglass threads in this tape definitely prolonged the blades by reinforcing the cracks, although it did lessen the quality of the feel. Maybe it'll be different for you though, and it's definitely a quick, cheap fix.

[Hooah4 12]

Take the tape off immediately after every skate. Tape absorbs moisture which ruins blades.

Otherwise, keep them in the house. If they are stored in a very humid or dry climate, they might get a little weak.

Use wax on your tape to keep the moisture from the ice from getting into your wood blade. This (along with tape changing) will help keep the blade rigid. And tape the entire length, heel to toe.

I've always been a big believer in taking the tape off wood blades right after every skate. The other thing I stumbled across is coating the blade with something to waterproof it. I found some cheap spray-on truck bedliner at a local surplus store and tried it. There is little to no impact on feel and a significant increase in blade durability.

Is there a name to this product? Surplus store/home depot?

[Jarick 5]

Duplicolor makes one. Most any hardware store sells truck bed liner in a can. Never though to try it on a blade though.

Montreal still makes my favorite wood sticks, ABS reinforced blades for durability and very light weight.

[Chadd 916]

I picked it up at harbor freight but haven't seen it there since. I've seen some at ollies and big lots as well, both are surplus stores in this area. The name brand stuff tends to be a bit expensive and not really cost effective for this particular purpose in most cases.

[woodstick 0]

I like to buy $2 Epoxy/Epoxy Hardener at the local hardware store and apply it to the edges of the stick blade. Just mix the Epoxy and Hardener (wear gloves) and lightly apply it to the stick. I like that fact that it is clear (don't like black blades) and protects the existing fiberglas/wood with little weight added. The epoxy will peel-off occassionally - just re-apply a little more.

[troy 12]

Take the tape off immediately after every skate. Tape absorbs moisture which ruins blades.

Otherwise, keep them in the house. If they are stored in a very humid or dry climate, they might get a little weak.

Use wax on your tape to keep the moisture from the ice from getting into your wood blade. This (along with tape changing) will help keep the blade rigid. And tape the entire length, heel to toe.

I've always been a big believer in taking the tape off wood blades right after every skate. The other thing I stumbled across is coating the blade with something to waterproof it. I found some cheap spray-on truck bedliner at a local surplus store and tried it. There is little to no impact on feel and a significant increase in blade durability.

Bringing back an older topic, how do you think that would work as a protectant for the toe of composite blades?