Step Steel fitment problems

[Durbo20vT 4]

My LS2.1 runners are nearing the end of it's life so i decided to give the Step Steel a shot for the same price. I had the intention of throwing on a new set of black LS2 holders in296 on to my One95's which are Size 10ee, so I placed an order for a set of Step Steel in a 296 for a LS2. Once they arrived, they looked pretty beefy and couldn't wait to try them out. Well putting them into the black 296 holders, the steel didnt want to fit nor did it fill out the holder.

as you can see, they both are size 296 but do not fit in properly and wont allow to seat. Now for shit's n giggles, I tried to throw them onto my existing White LS2 holders which are a 288. They fit a lot better than in the black 296 holders, but the front will not seat in fully when bolted in.

Did I get a bad batch, or is there a sizing difference between step and Bauer I was unaware of?

[jimmy 194]

If the Steps are the same size, they will fit. Just give them a tap with a piece of wood or bang on a carpet. They'll go in. The Bauer steel in your skate could just be a bit narrower, once you get the Steps in, they go in very easy after that. You didn't get a bad batch, STEP doesn't make bad batches. It's just your holders haven't had that thickness steel in them and they just need a little coaxing.

[kenneth 5]

If the Steps are the same size, they will fit. Just give them a tap with a piece of wood or bang on a carpet. They'll go in. The Bauer steel in your skate could just be a bit narrower, once you get the Steps in, they go in very easy after that. You didn't get a bad batch, STEP doesn't make bad batches. It's just your holders haven't had that thickness steel in them and they just need a little coaxing.

+1 when i had mine install dude had to use a rubber mallet to help it in.

[mwerth 5]

I also used a rubber mallet. Worked like a charm.

[Leb_CRX 0]

+1 when i had mine install dude had to use a rubber mallet to help it in.

same

[Durbo20vT 4]

but these are "296" steel fitting into 288 holders (white holder in pic is 288, black is 296)... i originally intended on switching to a 296 holder/steel combo. if they will fit with some banging into my 288 holders i'll use them...

[goaliemanshark 6]

So you are asking why 296 size steel won't fit into a 288 size holder?

Seriously?

Put the same size holder and steel together and use a rubber mallet to get it into place.

[ktang 34]

From your pics, it looks like you got mislabeled steel. And it looks like it is way too short for the 296, and just a bit too long for the 288. Where did you get your steel? and could you get a replacement set?

Could you take pics with your old 2.1 steel next to your new Step steel?

Also, you may want the Step ST-Speed XL (shaped more like 2.1 steel).

[vaporboy12 0]

If you take the step steel and use one in and run it down the channel the blade goes into to get some of the plastic away. The step is a bit wider from the ones I have installed. Also heat gun and a rubber mallet. Step is very good on quality control. I have installed atleast 25 pairs and never had a problem. Just need to give them a bit of tlc to fit

[natbat 0]

Do you guy's mind me asking what step steel is?

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

http://stepskates.com/

[SouthpawTRK 1]

They are a Canadian company that produces skate blades for both hockey and figure skating. You can check them out at the following:

http://stepskates.com

[Durbo20vT 4]

So you are asking why 296 size steel won't fit into a 288 size holder?

Seriously?

Put the same size holder and steel together and use a rubber mallet to get it into place.

read the whole post before making a jackass comment.

i bought step steel in a 296, to fit into a 296 holder... steel is too short in that holder (see black holder). i then went to my existing 288 holder (white holder) and the same steel fits a lot better in there but the toe wont sit in fully.

it could be that they were mislabeled. i am going to try and mallet them in starting from the front and take it from there. will take pics from ls2.1 and these steel. if not i will exchange for step xl steel.

wondering if anyone experienced issues like this before?

[Durbo20vT 4]

here are some quick pics. i aligned the front anchors up between the step and ls2.1 and the rear hole is a tad off with the step 296 a hair longer than the 288 ls2.1 steel.

now i found a set of old 296 ls2 power steel (black steel below) and these "holes/anchors" are longer than the step steel 296. seems like these step steel fit in between a 288 and 296 LS2...?

also, tried fitting them in the 288 holder with a mallet... still same problem with the toe. now i'm going to try and exchange them with a step steel xl hoping they will fit better.

[natbat 0]

http://stepskates.com/

Thanks, Does anybody here like the step steel better then the stock steel?

Does this steel need to be profiled? I always like a company that focuses all there time and energy on one product. I apologize about all questions, this is intriguing to me.

[ktang 34]

It looks like it wasn't even mislabeled, just some bad quality control, because your new set matches neither the 296 nor the 288. I wouldn't pound with the mallet; it could crack the holders.

LS2 Power is a different length and shape, and would match with Step Steel's ST-Power.

With everything being so wrong with your new set, I think you should be entitled to another set of properly-shaped steel.

I like Step Steel more than Bauer LS2 steel because it's taller (for more sharpenings) and it holds my edges for longer (16+ hours on one and a quarter inch hollow on Step Steel, vs about 10+ hours on Bauer LS2 steel) for the same price. I haven't seen the quality control problems that the original poster has been experiencing, though.

[ktang 34]

Driving this morning, and it hit me:

Maybe these are 288 ST-Power blades, mis-labelled as 296 ST-Speed.

LS2 Power blades are longer than Lightspeed 2.0 or Lightspeed 2.1 blades (to accomodate the slightly longer clear LS2 Power holders).

If the person labeling the blades compared yours to a 288 ST-Speed template (equivalent to the Lightspeed 2.0 / 2.1) and saw that the blades were slightly longer, s/he may have mistakenly believed that the blades were 296 ST-Speed (instead of 288 ST-Power).

That would also be why these blades almost fit into your Light Speed 288 holders, but not quite.

[jsykes 35]

Your very first photos do not look that wrong for a blade being put into a holder. The front just needs to be tapped in a little bit and it will drive itself to the rear as you tighten them down due to the way the front mount is on the LS style steel. It also will NOT fill out the holder completely, that is how its designed, LS2 steel will not fill it completely either. This is to allow 2.1 steel to fit the same holders and not have two different holders for the two different kinds of steel.

Do you have a photo of the new steel sitting on top of bauer 296 steel? Comparing it to 288 or to 296 power steel doesnt do anything as its like comparing apples to oranges as the old black power steel does not fit into LS holders.

You can tell the mounting points are totally off of your 288 steel, as it should be and it looks to be about the proper amount off for 296 compared to 288.

From your first photos, it does not look like its that off. Give it a few taps at the toe to get it to seat into the holder a bit better and as you tighten down the rear nut it will continue to pull the back into place and slide the entire steel rearward in the holder. I think you're too concerned with it not filling the holder and it wont, that is OK.

Its Obviously way to large to fit the 288 holder.

[Durbo20vT 4]

even with a mallet, this steel wont fit the 296 holder. it has to be something with mislabeling or qc. a lhs confirmed that these wont fit in the 296 holder.

im going to just exchange them for ST speed xl in 288 and put them on the white holders. hopefully those will work with my 288 LS2...

[jimmy 194]

I have yet to see a Step steel of the correct model not fit into the correct size holder. Something isn't right. If you have LS power steel (that goes in a clear blue holder) a Step LS2 or 2.1 runner will not fit in those holders. You have to use the older STEP Power runner.

[dumbpolak9 1]

we have this problem at the monkey all the time. its a matter of just playing around with it. pushing it and banging it in. it will eventually go in. bang from the toe then work your way to the heel

[Durbo20vT 4]

I have yet to see a Step steel of the correct model not fit into the correct size holder. Something isn't right. If you have LS power steel (that goes in a clear blue holder) a Step LS2 or 2.1 runner will not fit in those holders. You have to use the older STEP Power runner.

the ls power steel was something lying around in a 296. I currently have a LS2.1 runner/LS2 white holder in 288. my black LS2 holders are a 296 and my LHS confirmed the steel will not fit into these holders...

[jimmy 194]

the ls power steel was something lying around in a 296. I currently have a LS2.1 runner/LS2 white holder in 288. my black LS2 holders are a 296 and my LHS confirmed the steel will not fit into these holders...

What size is stamped on the STEP steel? They should say ST SPEED 296.

[ktang 34]

the ls power steel was something lying around in a 296. I currently have a LS2.1 runner/LS2 white holder in 288. my black LS2 holders are a 296 and my LHS confirmed the steel will not fit into these holders...

What size is stamped on the STEP steel? They should say ST SPEED 296.

From the manufacturing side of things: items get mislabeled quite frequently, and once in a while Quality Control doesn't catch it. The 3rd pic in the original post has "296 L" stamped on the barb, and the 4th pic has "ST-SPEED" stamped on the side of the runner.

In the 1st pic of the 14th post, where this questionable steel is aligned with a 288mm LS2.1 runner, the new steel is about 2 to 3 mm longer, from barb to bolt holder. So it looks like the questionable steel is probably 288mm ST-POWER mislabeled as 296mm ST-SPEED.

Durbo20vT's has informed us (twice) that his LHS has confirmed that the questionable steel will not fit into his new 296mm LS2 holders.

I have a question for Durbo20vT: why did you want to go with the 296mm holders? I'm thinking about transplanting 272mm holders from my old 8090s to my newer 2nd-hand One95s (both pairs of One95s have 263mm holders, one with LS2 steel and one with LS2.1 steel). What went into your decision to go with the 288mm ST-SPEED XL? and will you eventually put in the 296mm holders, or return them?

[jimmy 194]

If the steel is mislabeled, then it's a no brainer, STEP will certainly replace it. They have great customer service. I will say of the thousands of step runners I have sold over the years, I have never seen a mislabeled one, but I suppose it could happen.