Caring for Wood Sticks

[sickwilly 37]

One more for using Montreal woodies/blades... if you can find them. Last better than anything I've ever used, period.

I've used various epoxies and JB Weld (I think those are the right letters) on composite sticks... seems to help... never tried it on woodies, though.

[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.

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

It's a waterproofing seal but it won't do much for adding strength. I would try some tool dip for that as it should help absorb some of the energy on impacts.

[layziebone_ 0]

I was wondering how effective the truck bedliner is in repelling moisture. Since wood blades have a fiberglass? wrap, can water still seep through to the wood itself? I just want a clear answer to whether or not the truck bedliner will help my blades last longer.

[GSH13 0]

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.

Didn't think it was worth calling it quits after the first 10?

I second the coating on the blade. Reapply every so often and the blades will last a lot longer.

[layziebone_ 0]

does the coating peel off when you remove the tape?

[Chadd 916]

I was wondering how effective the truck bedliner is in repelling moisture. Since wood blades have a fiberglass? wrap, can water still seep through to the wood itself? I just want a clear answer to whether or not the truck bedliner will help my blades last longer.

One of the guys on my team went from replacing blades every couple weeks to using two blades for a six month season. It won't make a wood blade last forever but it will prolong the blade life.

[sm326 0]

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.

i warped one of those in an hour of usage and the other one i broke in half flexing in my house. the z-carbons arent very durable either. i went through three of them in a game (two in half and one the blade split where it was fused to the shaft). i also bought three more before that which broke where the blade was fused to the shaft. did all of this at 17 within 2 months.

[Chadd 916]

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.

i warped one of those in an hour of usage and the other one i broke in half flexing in my house. the z-carbons arent very durable either. i went through three of them in a game (two in half and one the blade split where it was fused to the shaft). i also bought three more before that which broke where the blade was fused to the shaft. did all of this at 17 within 2 months.

I went through the original z-carbon woodies very quickly as well. I was on the ice three or four times a week and was using two or more sticks over that time period.

[sm326 0]

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.

i warped one of those in an hour of usage and the other one i broke in half flexing in my house. the z-carbons arent very durable either. i went through three of them in a game (two in half and one the blade split where it was fused to the shaft). i also bought three more before that which broke where the blade was fused to the shaft. did all of this at 17 within 2 months.

I went through the original z-carbon woodies very quickly as well. I was on the ice three or four times a week and was using two or more sticks over that time period.

try putting minimal pressure on a brand new one and watching it just collapse 10 mins into the game. it might have been from an old batch so it dried up and lost durability.

[Jarick 5]

I'm a pretty small guy and I trashed an Easton Classic after warmups in one game. I think that was the last wood stick I tried to use.

[start_today 778]

Chadd, how does that spray-on bed liner affect the feel? Do you notice it at all?

[Chadd 916]

Chadd, how does that spray-on bed liner affect the feel? Do you notice it at all?

I've only used it a couple times myself and not for a while. I was almost out of my custom blades at the time and have been using TPS composite blades for a while now. Unfortunately, I'm now almost out of my P31 blades as well. I only used a thin layer and it didn't cause any problems for me.

[layziebone_ 0]

Chadd can I ask you who you got your custom blades from? And how's the quality?

[Chadd 916]

Chadd can I ask you who you got your custom blades from? And how's the quality?

That batch was from Christian and they were fantastic. I have no idea how the blades from the latest incarnation of christian will be.

[layziebone_ 0]

I remember reading a post here saying they had so much fiber wrap on them that it messed with the feel. Can't remember who it was though.

[fastmiele 59]

I was wondering how effective the truck bedliner is in repelling moisture. Since wood blades have a fiberglass? wrap, can water still seep through to the wood itself? I just want a clear answer to whether or not the truck bedliner will help my blades last longer.

I don't believe the fibreglass laminate is 100 percent water repellent. I also think little knicks will allow moisture to seep in.

My biggest problem is playing outdoor hockey, the ice is rougher (zamboni only cleans the ice 1-2 times a day) so the hockey tape is worn through very quickly. Some of the laminate/wood gets worn off too so even when I re-tape it, water/moisture gets in and the blade goes downhill quite quickly.

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.

Didn't think it was worth calling it quits after the first 10?

I second the coating on the blade. Reapply every so often and the blades will last a lot longer.

maybe he gets them from the team for free ? if so I would keep using and breaking them.

my friend spent a bit of coin on Sherwood 5030's, and said they were the best stick he used. Well, as long as you don't break the bank go for it I say.

[Hooah4 12]

I was wondering how effective the truck bedliner is in repelling moisture. Since wood blades have a fiberglass? wrap, can water still seep through to the wood itself? I just want a clear answer to whether or not the truck bedliner will help my blades last longer.

One of the guys on my team went from replacing blades every couple weeks to using two blades for a six month season. It won't make a wood blade last forever but it will prolong the blade life.

Quick question. In your experience does the bedliner need to reapplied? I applied 2 thin coats to my blades.

I just found some of this stuff @ Autozone for $8.99 a can. Btw, thanks for the tip on this stuff. I hope it works.

[Hooah4 12]

Just a bump on this topic. I went from using the bedliner (good but it comes off when you remove tape) to using a spray polyurethane. So far so good. The trick is to let it cure long enough.