Jump to content
Slate Blackcurrant Watermelon Strawberry Orange Banana Apple Emerald Chocolate Marble
Slate Blackcurrant Watermelon Strawberry Orange Banana Apple Emerald Chocolate Marble
tamtamg

Sparx Skate Sharpener - At home sharpener

Recommended Posts

  On 10/21/2018 at 1:16 AM, OzziesDad said:

We have a rink here in MA that has 8 full sized ice surfaces, and 2 mini rinks, that have had 4 Sparx machines running essentially non stop for 2 years with little to no problems.

I'd LOVE to know what those places are doing with their machines. 

Read more  

I hear the same story from other places as well but all of these stores were VERY negative on Sparx machines saying there were unreliable and broke often. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/21/2018 at 1:16 AM, OzziesDad said:

We have a rink here in MA that has 8 full sized ice surfaces, and 2 mini rinks, that have had 4 Sparx machines running essentially non stop for 2 years with little to no problems.

I'd LOVE to know what those places are doing with their machines. 

Read more  

They sell Sparx machines. So if I  buy one there can I use it in my  dressing room?

Edited by oldtrainerguy28

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/21/2018 at 10:01 PM, oldtrainerguy28 said:

They sell Sparx machines. So if I  buy one there can I use it in my  dressing room?

Read more  

They probably aren’t concerned with the $30-50 loss in revenue after selling you a $1000 machine... But I’ll ask next time I am there.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/21/2018 at 11:37 PM, oldtrainerguy28 said:

Not what I have heard... never was impressed with that shops work always went up the road. 

Read more  

Could be why they went with multiple automated machines...

FWIW, up the street isn’t much better. I’d say, below average at best. These are my local options. Hence why I now have my own machine.

I was there (up the street) yesterday. Store was pretty busy, yet only a single pair of skates in the sharpening window. Safe to say I’m not the only one displeased with the services at that location.

Edited by stick9
  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/21/2018 at 11:37 PM, oldtrainerguy28 said:

Not what I have heard... never was impressed with that shops work always went up the road. 

Read more  

I've never once heard of an issue with anyone bringing a Sparx or Prosharp on site. I've definitely witnessed it multiple times as well, as I've officiated nunerous tourneys of all age levels at the facility. 

That being said, count me in as someone who purchased a Sparx solely because you seemingly never know what you are going to get from a manual sharpening at any rink, Pure, or the Hockey Monkey, from about exits 13 to 30 off rt. 495. Kind of sad that is the current state of the area nowadays. 

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/22/2018 at 3:37 AM, OzziesDad said:

That being said, count me in as someone who purchased a Sparx solely because you seemingly never know what you are going to get from a manual sharpening at any rink, Pure, or the Hockey Monkey, from about exits 13 to 30 off rt. 495. Kind of sad that is the current state of the area nowadays. 

Read more  

And it’s not like the area is a hockey black hole. From my house in central MA there are 7 rinks within a 30 minute radius, 3 of those are multi sheet facilities. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/22/2018 at 12:07 PM, stick9 said:

And it’s not like the area is a hockey black hole. From my house in central MA there are 7 rinks within a 30 minute radius, 3 of those are multi sheet facilities. 

Read more  

I would venture to guess we are probably neighbors then. 

As you stated, its crazy with how much hockey there is in this area, and even going only 15-25 minutes further into the city and/or south shore, which only multiplies the number of rinks, that there isn't really anyone that stands out that I would truly want to do my skates nowadays. Enter Sparx. 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, yet to skate on them, but ran my skates through 4 passes and edges were perfect.  Prechecked my daughter skates before putting them in and off 2 lines(whatever that means, other than off a chunk, sharpened at local shop Thursday).  Took 8 passes and perfect.  As far as I’m concerned, money well spent already.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/22/2018 at 12:07 PM, stick9 said:

And it’s not like the area is a hockey black hole. From my house in central MA there are 7 rinks within a 30 minute radius, 3 of those are multi sheet facilities. 

Read more  

 My wife and I drive from Boston 45 minutes up to No Icing once a month,  because they are the only place that does a reliable FBV.  That plus a fancy espresso from Benson’s, it’s not a bad trip. 

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Howdy,

  On 10/30/2018 at 11:17 AM, six501 said:

Anyone use the 5/8 fire ring and can provide a review of some sort? 

Read more  

I use it.  I've also used 9/16 ROH, 1/2" Fire, and 5/8" ROH.  I've mostly been working up that list, towards shallower hollows.

I would say that in general the idea that the 5/8" Fire has a bit more glide as compared to the regular 5/8" is probably true, but its not a crazy big difference.  I've done some profile changes over the same time period and its not like I was doing them back to back so I wouldn't feel right making definitive statements. 

When I went from 5/8 ROH to 5/8" fire it was on the same profile.  My overall impression is that its a relatively minor change as compared to a 5/8" ROH, but did indeed free up the skate a bit more.

YMMV.  This stuff seems so 'personal preference' to me.

Mark

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/30/2018 at 11:17 AM, six501 said:

Anyone use the 5/8 fire ring and can provide a review of some sort? 

Read more  

I've played on it a bit, maybe 3 months or so. It plays like 3/4 ROH, which I actually prefer to the Fire. 

If you are currently playing on a 5/8 ROH and want to try a Fire, go with a 1/2 to start. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/30/2018 at 11:17 AM, six501 said:

Anyone use the 5/8 fire ring and can provide a review of some sort? 

Read more  

I've been using it for the last year. I was using 3/4 FBV. After a short (1 skate) adjustment period I like it more than FBV. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This.....THIS is why Sparx discontinuing their consumer cross-grinding ring is such complete and utter horseshit.  

Apologies for the crappy phone pic, but this is my kid's friend's Step Blacksteel blade.  This gouge in the blade, which would take maybe 4-5 passes to get rid of with a cross grind would take probably 20-25 passes to grind completely out with a 'regular' grinding ring. 

sjzNjuH.jpg?1

At $60/pop (plus shipping) for a grinding ring, it would honestly cost me less to take the skate up to my local big box retailer and have them grind it out than it would to grind it myself....which COMPLETELY defeats the purpose of having a skate sharpener at home....

Seriously, Sparx guys, I KNOW you monitor this forum. It is patently ridiculous that this is happening.  Bring back the damned cross-grinding ring.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Howdy,

If that were my blade, I'm pretty sure that little nick would stay right there and I'd never notice it wasn't completely gone after a normal sharpening.

Mark

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/31/2018 at 8:55 PM, marka said:

Howdy,

If that were my blade, I'm pretty sure that little nick would stay right there and I'd never notice it wasn't completely gone after a normal sharpening.

Mark

Read more  

I don't disagree.  But, that's kinda my point.  It'd take a bunch of passes to get rid of this little nick/gouge...and this is one that really doesn't matter that much.  

If you have a bunch of nicks like that...or a bigger nick...then, what do you do?

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 10/31/2018 at 8:49 PM, Santos L Halper said:

This.....THIS is why Sparx discontinuing their consumer cross-grinding ring is such complete and utter horseshit.  

Apologies for the crappy phone pic, but this is my kid's friend's Step Blacksteel blade.  This gouge in the blade, which would take maybe 4-5 passes to get rid of with a cross grind would take probably 20-25 passes to grind completely out with a 'regular' grinding ring. 

sjzNjuH.jpg?1

At $60/pop (plus shipping) for a grinding ring, it would honestly cost me less to take the skate up to my local big box retailer and have them grind it out than it would to grind it myself....which COMPLETELY defeats the purpose of having a skate sharpener at home....

Seriously, Sparx guys, I KNOW you monitor this forum. It is patently ridiculous that this is happening.  Bring back the damned cross-grinding ring.

 

Read more  

I use a very shallow hollow wheel for nicks like that on my runners. That being said, I, TOO want to see the return of the cross-grind ring!

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

When you guys can come up with a way for the home unit to be able to safely accommodate cross-grinding, I'm sure Sparx will be happy to implement it. They didn't just discontinue it for the hell of it. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
  On 11/5/2018 at 6:25 PM, IPv6Freely said:

When you guys can come up with a way for the home unit to be able to safely accommodate cross-grinding, I'm sure Sparx will be happy to implement it. They didn't just discontinue it for the hell of it. 

Read more  

Perhaps you can summarize for us.

The only thing that I recall seeing is some vague notion that it clogged up the air filter 'too quickly'...whatever that means.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...