Bent Steel

[twister18 1]

While checking over my skates a couple weeks ago, I noticed the steel on my right holder had a little bit of a bow to it. Not much, but If i put a level on the steel you could see there there a gap about as deep as 2-3 sheet of paper right in the middle of the length of the runner. Since thee wasn't too much steel left, I ordered some new step steel and installed that. Problem is, i noticed almost immediately that there was a similar gap in exactly the same spot, again, not to deep of a bend, but enough to see daylight through, and about 2 inches long.

2 Questions- How much of of a bend in the steel could you deal with before it is noticable while skating? I seem to have a tougher time stopping when theat foot leads, and am wondering if that could be why?

the other one- Is it possible that my holder is actually bending the steel? They are the stock LS2's on my 8090's (that I did buy used) Is there anything short of pulling the holder that i can do to try and remedy the problem?

would love to put pics up, but it's proving to be a royal pain in the butt to get a decent pic of the bend. I usually use one of 2 sharpeners, both of whom have a good reputation, but neither even said anything to em about the steel being bent, and I wont be able to get to either one for a couple weeks :(

[chippa13 1844]

Bent steel can cause problems with getting good edges from a sharpening. That is what it probably giving you problems trying to stop. The ideal fix would be to get the holder fixed or replaced as it sounds like that is what is causing the bend in the steel.

[sebseb 0]

Hi, just my 2 cents, I don't think the holder, made of plastic, can bend the blade, made of steel. Now, I had the same impression about the steel on my skates and I asked a pro if it's bent and he said there is nothing wrong with the blade. What I think it happens is that the eye plays tricks on you since you use just one when you look closely at the blade. Big possibility I'm talking BS.

[JR Boucicaut 3815]

You serious?

[Tailboard Jockey 25]

Hi, just my 2 cents, I don't think the holder, made of plastic, can bend the blade, made of steel. Now, I had the same impression about the steel on my skates and I asked a pro if it's bent and he said there is nothing wrong with the blade. What I think it happens is that the eye plays tricks on you since you use just one when you look closely at the blade. Big possibility I'm talking BS.

Yes, it can. I had the same problem with the LS holders on my 8090's. I bought new LS-2 steel, and the holders bent them also. My LHS had to remove the rivets from one side and re-drill the holes, and put another new pair of blades in.

All you have to do to prove it is to take the steel out of the holder and put it on a table. It will be obvious.

[JR Boucicaut 3815]

What is holding the skate to the plastic holder?

Steel rivets.

If the mount is not true, it will bend the holder, which in turn, will bend the blade.

[jarret_g 5]

What is holding the skate to the plastic holder?

Steel rivets.

If the mount is not true, it will bend the holder, which in turn, will bend the blade.

My first pair of vapor XXX's were like this. The guy at the store kept putting the skates on his blademaster to straighten them, i'd get home, look at the skates and see they were bent. I told him the holders were misaligned and he was like "there's no way bauer would send a skate to us with misaligned holders". I contacted bauer myself, shipped the new pair out on a monday, got a new pair on friday.

[twister18 1]

yeah, the more i look at it now, the more i see that it a gradual curve throughout the entire length of the steel, holders must be off....kinda suprised neither of sharpeners noticed it before, but then again, it is a pretty subtle bend, at least to my eyes....doubt i'd be able to send these bad boys bad to Bauer, though, lol :lol:

[JR Boucicaut 3815]

In a perfect world, all the skate tech would have to do is pull out the rivets (depends on what tower is true) and the thing will bounce back true. Drill new holes and you'll be fine.

[monoclub 5]

I've had this before, usually just releasing the rivets, i.e. removing the holder will see it spring back and them re rivet - usually don't need to re drill. The factories use a penumatic riveter and I suspect they sometimes drive that first rivet in without the holder being fully aligned and so pull it in line resulting in the bend. The small amount of play in the holes is usually enough to remount without the holder twisting.

As for how much is too much? if it bothers you, either on the ice or in your mind, then it's too much!