How to Sharpen Ice Hockey Skates
Ice hockey skates require periodic sharpening to provide optimal performance and safety on the ice. Well-sharpened skates allow you to accelerate effortlessly and stop and change direction with ease. Sharpen your skates when you notice a difference in their performance, and seek professional help if you do not know how to sharpen ice hockey skates yourself.
- Locate a professional shop that will sharpen hockey skates. Question them on the methods they use and how often they get orders to sharpen skates. A busy shop indicates they spend many hours sharpening skates.
- Realize that while you can purchase an automatic sharpener and do the job yourself, these tools can spoil your skates if not handled properly. When properly done, sharpening occurs while moving the sharpener from the rocker’s front to the rocker’s rear. With automatic sharpeners, the contours become smaller and therefore ruined in the process.
- Choose a shop that employs professional technicians. If the shop manages custom fitting of skates, and they also rebuild boots, they will have the skills needed to sharpen hockey skates.
- Purchase a hand sharpening kit for the brand of skates you have. Two stones will come in the kit. The first grinds the initial groove while the second removes the outside burrs.
- Follow the instructions of the manufacturer regarding the depth and shape of the cut to make. Recommendations advise to cut a groove length-wise into the blade.
- Use a flat grinding stone placed parallel to the blade to remove the burrs from the outside edges of the blade. Avoid reducing the sharpness of the blade.
- Sharpen your ice hockey skates after using them for five hours. Avoid over-sharpening your skates.