How sharp should my skates be?

[bmess6 2]

Okay so im a relatively new skater, but im fine as long as im going in a straight line. My problem is using my outside edge when stopping and in tight turns. Does anyone have any recommendations for the hollow i should go with?

[CTB 32]

I'd stay with a standard hollow unless you're skating on exceptionally hard ice. You'll learn what adjustments to make as you get more comfortable with the basics of skating.

[beerleaguecaptain 1004]

I'd stay with a standard hollow unless you're skating on exceptionally hard ice. You'll learn what adjustments to make as you get more comfortable with the basics of skating.

And what would you call a "standard hollow?"

Hollow is really a matter of preference but anyone on the board would really tell you that you are better off learning to skate on a shallower hollow. This will give you more glide and more lateral mobility. The deeper you go, the more friction on the ice.. so, try 5/8 to start, then 1/2 if you struggle too much.... If you are still having trouble feeling your edges go to 3/8.

[Tyler Roy 86]

5/8th is the standard in my store.

[Chadd 916]

Hollow and sharpness are very different things. Even a shallow hollow has razor sharp edges,.

[laserrobottime 149]

5/8th is the standard in my store.

Do you have soft ice around you? Stores around here (Madison, WI) use 3/8" standard and that, to me, is insane.

[LoneStar77 25]

The place I get my skates sharpened has 7/16" as a standard, I have yet to try anything different. When my sharpening card runs out, I may give FBV a try since they are offering it now.

[kazin 1]

I don't want to hijack your thread but I have a common question (that wasn't answered in the Blackstone FBV thread):

What's the closest [FBV] I can get to a 3/8" traditional hollow? Is it 100/75? If so, what is that equivalent to in terms of traditional? Thanks in advance.

[Chadd 916]

I don't want to hijack your thread but I have a common question (that wasn't answered in the Blackstone FBV thread):

What's the closest [FBV] I can get to a 3/8" traditional hollow? Is it 100/75? If so, what is that equivalent to in terms of traditional? Thanks in advance.

100/75 is considered equivalent to 3/8 in terms of "bite" or "grab"

http://www.blackstonesport.com/FBV_Comparison_Chart.pdf

[kazin 1]

100/75 is considered equivalent to 3/8 in terms of "bite" or "grab"

http://www.blackstonesport.com/FBV_Comparison_Chart.pdf

I've seen that chart at Sport Cheks in Vancouver (where I live) and thought they were equivalent. However, when I brought my skates (after SC royally effed them up - took off an edge) to my LHS (a Source for Sports), they said that the closest FBV could get was the X6 (for their stone, which is about the same as a 100/75), which was equivalent to about a 7/16"...I'm all confused now.

[Stryker 37]

X6 Is a Blademaster version of FBV, which they (BM) actually calls BFD. Not entirely the same thing, Blademaster considers the X6 to have equivalent bite of a 3/8-1/2 inch ROH.

Basically they have a different machine which uses a different system to create a relatively similar (although less precise in comparison) sharpen.

[kazin 1]

X6 Is a Blademaster version of FBV, which they (BM) actually calls BFD. Not entirely the same thing, Blademaster considers the X6 to have equivalent bite of a 3/8-1/2 inch ROH.

Basically they have a different machine which uses a different system to create a relatively similar (although less precise in comparison) sharpen.

So pretty much the same as the 100/75 (if done correctly)?

[Chadd 916]

So pretty much the same as the 100/75 (if done correctly)?

No

They will both have roughly the same bite when cornering as a 3/8" ROH sharpening but the FBV will have better glide when skating in a straight line.

[wrangler 157]

So pretty much the same as the 100/75 (if done correctly)?

FBV and BFD have different geometry, which you should be able to see on the Blackstone and Blademaster web sites. If your LHS told you that X6 is FBV, they lied.

[kazin 1]

No

They will both have roughly the same bite when cornering as a 3/8" ROH sharpening but the FBV will have better glide when skating in a straight line.

FBV and BFD have different geometry, which you should be able to see on the Blackstone and Blademaster web sites. If your LHS told you that X6 is FBV, they lied.

Sorry, I mean equivalent/most similar, not exactly the same.

[Chadd 916]

FBV and BFD have different geometry, which you should be able to see on the Blackstone and Blademaster web sites. If your LHS told you that X6 is FBV, they lied.

That happens a lot.

[wrangler 157]

That was my recollection, and why I mentioned it.