CommodoreColt 19 Report post Posted January 14, 2014 I just moved to a new town and had my first sharpening at the local rink. Picked up my skates this morning to skate a stick & puck and see this:The obvious things here are the burned steel on both heels and both toes as well as the uneven edges. But what left this pattern? Running my finger across it, I can feel that texture you see there. It's bumpy, unsettling, and makes me a little sick to my stomach. The glide, needless to say, was comical.This is the only sharpener in the area. What caused this and what can I discuss with the sharpener so that I don't have to skate on hack jobs for my entire stay in this town?This was just the first sharpening I've had here. I'll talk to the skate guy if it looks like this again next time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
forbs02 20 Report post Posted January 14, 2014 Its bumpy because the wheel was poorly dressed. A well dressed wheel will have a buzz sound when the skate is passed along it, not a grinding sound. Ask him to put on a clean dress on the wheel next time, and to slow down on the light final pass. Be warned, your sharpener may take offense to criticism, even if you are trying to be helpful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CommodoreColt 19 Report post Posted January 15, 2014 Be warned, your sharpener may take offense to criticism, even if you are trying to be helpful.Exactly. He's going to be working on my skates for the next 6-8 months so there's no need to cut him down. I don't plan telling him how to sharpen, I just want to know how to guide my questioning when I speak to him.Thanks for pointing out the wheel dressing and final pass. If he answers with something similar when I ask him about the texture I'll know that we can work it out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigdmac 12 Report post Posted January 15, 2014 Looks like he didn't even do a final pass at all Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted January 15, 2014 There's always a final pass, this appears to be lacking a finishing pass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigdmac 12 Report post Posted January 15, 2014 Sorry that's what I meant; poor choice of words on my part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Souldriver 64 Report post Posted January 15, 2014 what do the other guys in that town use are they all using that guy? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CommodoreColt 19 Report post Posted January 15, 2014 what do the other guys in that town use are they all using that guy?I do have to assume so. Unless they send their steel out by mail or something. Maybe few of the dads or beer leaguers have their own machines in the garage, I don't know. If I had a garage or shed I certainly would be saving up for a Wissota living here.An old friend of mine grew up playing net here. Before I moved I asked him where I should get my skates done. He replied "the rink does a good enough job". Probably not an MSH'er, am I right?I honestly doubt that you can make this guy do it better. Do yourself a favor and sharpen by mail.I send mine to No-Icing Sports <http://noicingsports.com/index.html> and I couldn't be happier.It's an option if the sharpenings are consistently terrible. If I wasn't only playing shinny once or twice a week it would be a necessity. I'm curious though, what's the shipping like for say... an average in-season month? How many sets of steel do you rotate? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davetronz 109 Report post Posted January 15, 2014 The guy could be using an old, worn diamond for dressing too. That could cause the poor dressing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MThockeydad 469 Report post Posted January 15, 2014 Definitely need a lighter, slower finishing pass. A quick swipe of wax on the blade before that pass also lets the wheel run smoother on the blade without chatter. It could be a good learning opportunity for whatever rink employee does the sharpening--and improve the quality for everyone using their services. The pattern is VERY regular, so at least it tells me the sharpener is using a very consistent speed on that last pass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salibandy 21 Report post Posted January 20, 2014 Anyone can tell me what went wrong here? This is a fresh sharpening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtrainerguy28 478 Report post Posted January 20, 2014 Um yah...they weren't done! And not really kidding. No idea how you can do that sharpening. As for the OP thats all speed on that one. back and forth way to fast no final pass at all! Looks like the rink next to my shop! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salibandy 21 Report post Posted January 20, 2014 otg28, really? They were definitely sharpened though; they were deeper and the edges are not blunt anymore. It just feels very ragged, the edge. Like a saw, almost. I thought perhaps the wheel had some problems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtrainerguy28 478 Report post Posted January 20, 2014 otg28, really? They were definitely sharpened though; they were deeper and the edges are not blunt anymore. It just feels very ragged, the edge. Like a saw, almost. I thought perhaps the wheel had some problems.Well it is kinda hard to see witht hat size pic. But yah it kinda looks like that. or maybe he was being thoughtful and using a stone on and angle and slipped? It is really hard to tell to be perfectly honest! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salibandy 21 Report post Posted January 20, 2014 Here's a (hopefully) bigger pic. Any thoughts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted January 20, 2014 I've seen similar things when there was damage to a blade before sharpening, but usually over a much smaller area. My preference is to sharpen until I get through the damaged steel but with deeper dings, that can take a while. My guess is that your sharpener simply makes the same number of passes on every skate and doesn't check the final product. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salibandy 21 Report post Posted January 20, 2014 Funny thing is, there wasn't any damage like you see before the sharpening; in fact, the blade was just blunt and shallow. All I know is, even with a 1/2 inch, there isn't any real glide to it. Sigh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JR Boucicaut 3804 Report post Posted January 20, 2014 He removed the edge after honing the skate because he honed right over it, if the skate didn't have that pre-sharpening.He'd have to redo it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chanxebyshev 8 Report post Posted February 26, 2014 Here's a (hopefully) bigger pic. Any thoughts?Also could be that he did a cross grind and didn't take enough off by sharpening to give you an edge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
