How to Sharpen Ice Skates

Ice skates do require some maintenance in order to provide optimal safety and performance on the ice. Sharpen your ice skates when they begin to feel dull or when you sense a difference in your performance on ice. You can learn how to sharpen your own skates or seek professional assistance. If you are a serious skater, either method will do. Novice skaters will find that spending time and money on blade sharpening will pay off in more rapid progress in acquiring skating skills. Read on to learn more.

Things You'll Need

• Magnifier
• Rock or stone
• Sharpening machine

Instructions

Sharpen Ice Skates on Your Own

1. Purchase a sharpening machine. This machine is the same as the one used by professional sharpeners. If you are mechanically inclined, it will be easy to learn to use the machine. Contact Sid Broadbent in Littleton, Colorado, about an "Incredible Edger" and classes to learn how to use it.

2. Take the classes.

3. Make sure you select the right attachments for your blade type. Hockey blades and figure skating blades have totally different sharpening requirements.

4. Understand the dynamics of the blade radius, rocker profile, toe picks, byte and NSZ. (No Skate Zone) The NSZ is critical to your skating safety and performance.

5. Make a trial run. You should pay attention to any differences in the feel of the blade, especially if your blades feel uneven. You may need to go back and make some adjustments.

Sharpen Ice Skates Using Professional Assistance

1. Get a referral from friends, coaches or your local rink. You want to hire an experienced sharpener with a solid reputation. They are scarce in some areas, so be prepared to mail your ice skates in for work.

2. Find someone you like and stick with them. Each skate sharpening machine has small, but significant characteristics that alter the way your blades feel on ice. For a consistent practice, stay with the same company or person.

3. Request that your sharpener keep your records on file. Tell them you intend to be an ongoing client and they will likely store records of your previous sharpening amounts and any specific requests you make.

4. Bring new skates in for sharpening. Even though new skates are said to be sharpened at the time of purchase, this usually involves a low-quality factory sharpening job.

Tips & Warnings

• A good sharpening will last for approximately 40 hours of use, by a recreational skater. A competitive skater may need more frequent sharpenings.

• Ask professionals to show you how they sharpen their ice skates before trying it on your own. Most of them will refer you to a professional skate sharpener.

• Sharpening blades can be dangerous and you can ruin your ice skates if you don't know exactly what you are doing.

• Skate sharpening equipment is expensive. Be prepared to spend thousands.

• Always use appropriate respiratory protection when sharpening skates. The metal that comes off the blade goes into the air.

• Don't try to use hand held devices to sharpen your blades. Blade sharpening is a job for precision machinery. You can easily ruin your blades or jeopardize you safety on the ice.

• Monitor the ratio of your NSZ. It is critical to your performance and safety.