If you've ever skated with a pair of rented skates and noticed your feet continuously sliding out from under you, you were probably wearing skates with dull blades. Many novice skaters are surprised to find that much of the difficulty in ice skating can be attributed to skates in need of sharpening. If your blades are dull, the edges can't grip the ice, which leaves you unable to perform even basic stroking and stopping. Whether you're trying to freshen up your own blades or learning to sharpen in a pro shop for other skaters, take the time to learn the principles and techniques required for successful sharpening.
Step 1
Place one of the middle wheels on your radius tool into the U-shaped groove in the bottom of the blade. Swap this wheel out for others on the tool until you find one that fits perfectly inside the groove. The deeper this groove, the smaller the radius and the sharper the skates will feel.
In general, hockey skates require a 1/2-inch radius while figure skaters use 1/2 to 1 inch. You radius tool shows you the exact radius of the skates in their current condition, or you can simply ask the customer about his desired radius. See the Skate New York link in the References section for a chart matching radius to the weight of the skater if needed.
Step 2
Put on your safety glasses to protect your eyes. Place your dust mask over your face to avoid breathing metal dust while you work. Never turn on a sharpening machine without eye protection in place due to the risk of serious injury or blindness from debris.
Step 3
Examine the stone grinding wheel on your machine. You'll see a small metal rod, or stylus, touching the wheel. The stylus has a diamond tip, which helps shape the stone. Turn the thumbturn on the stylus to move it closer or farther from the stone based on your required radius. A series of measurements or marks on the stylus will indicate where it should be positioned for any given radius.
Step 4
Push the stylus over to one side of the stone using the attached control knob or wheel. Turn the machine on, and very carefully turn the stylus control knob so that the tip of the stylus runs across the edge of the grinding wheel. You'll hear a grinding noise as the stylus molds the edges of the wheel. Stop turning the stylus once you no longer hear this noise. This process is called "dressing" the wheel.
Step 5
Place the skate blade into the machine so it is centered under the grinding wheel. Some machines feature clamps, while others use built-in tracks or guides to hold the skate while you work. Much of the centering process is visual. Until you gain more experience, try lowering the arm of the machine so the grinding wheel touches the blade very lightly for just a moment. The wheel leaves behind a mark on the blade that can help you determine whether it's centered. Do not start sharpening until the blade is centered, as you'll create uneven edges that can ruin the blades.
Step 6
Lower the arm of the machine so the wheel runs from the very front of the blade to the very back, taking care not to touch the toe-pick. Use a light, steady touch. Keep the first pass short and quick, then repeat once more from front to back. Advanced skaters may require additional passes of the stone to sharpen the blade as desired.
Step 7
Keep the skate clamped in the machine and place a straight edge or coin on the bottom of the blade to check if it's even. If not, recenter below the grinding wheel and start again.
Step 8
Remove the skates from the machine and run a honing stone or sanding block along the edges to remove any burrs or splintered metal.
Tips and Warnings
- This article is based on the assumption that you're using a standard manual sharpening machine with a vertical grinding wheel. If the wheel on your machine is positioned horizontally, simply adjust the instructions to fit the design of your machine. Automatic sharpening machines require instructions from the manufacturer but are generally easy to operate with the push of a few buttons.
- Don't try to sharpen skates that you've just finished skating on. When the blades are cold, the metal is more vulnerable to damage during sharpening. Always sharpen before you skate.
Things You'll Need
- Radius tool
- Safety glasses
- Dust mask
- Sharpening machine
- Honing stone
- Rag
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