Skating, as a basis, is present in many sports. Well-sharpened blades allow you to quickly move on the ice surface. Over time, the skate stops holding a sharp edge, and riding comfort decreases.
You can restore the shape of the blade in specialized services. Well, for those who are used to doing everything themselves, skate sharpening machines will come to the rescue.
Sharpening feature
The majority of people who rent skates from time to time believe that the skate skid has a smooth sliding surface. But it's not. The inside of the blade is shaped like a groove. For different sports, its depth is different. The deepest for speed skating is 4.5 mm, and the shallowest for figure skating is 2 mm. This shallow groove allows the figure skate to be stable and at the same time perform various maneuvers.
Modern hockey skates use more than just a U-shaped blade profile. There are two more varieties:
- FBV. Has the shape of a trapezoid. Gives skates good maneuverability and stability. Often used by US hockey associations. Recently appeared in Russia. A significant disadvantage is the rapid loss of cutting properties of the edge.
- Channel-Z. It is a square profile inside a round chute, the radius of which depends on the weight of the athlete. The improvement in speed properties is achieved by reducing the contact area of the blade with ice and reducing the friction force.
Precisely because the surface of the blade has a complex shape, conventional sharpening machines become unsuitable for sharpening such skates.
Hand sharpening at home
In case of infrequent skating, you can make your own machine for sharpening skates.
To do this, you will need a round file or a thin file and a wooden block 10-15 cm long. A groove 2-2.5 cm deep is cut in the wood, into the inside of which a file is inserted. The width of the cut should ensure a clear fixation of the tool inside. That is, during operation, it should not move along its axis.
After installing the file, you can start sharpening. To do this, the cutting edge of the skate is inserted into the groove of the bar. Slightly pressing on the device, you need to move it along the blade. Thus, by removing a layer of metal, the file will form the desired profile.
After sharpening, burrs remain that need to be removed with a flat file.
EquipmentProsharp
The choice of skate sharpener will be determined by factors such as frequency of use, power, and versatility. If you plan to use it for individual purposes, then an inexpensive low-power machine is suitable. If the fixture is needed for business, then the main criteria will be reliability, serviceability and universal use, that is, the ability to define a profile of any shape.
For professional use, Prosharp skate sharpening machines are well suited. These devices are compact in size and light in weight up to 15 kg. But at the same time, they can perform 5 sharpening options that will satisfy both hockey players and figure skating fans.
The blade is securely fixed in the bed and automatically centered. The built-in vacuum cleaner removes particles of abrasive and steel that occur during operation. Several different templates free the operator from the need to carefully monitor the accuracy and correctness of sharpening.
Included with the equipment are diamond pencils, which are used to restore the profile of the grinding wheel. As additional consumables, Prosharp offers large deburring stones, blade straightening tools, and a device for controlling the height of the ridge ribs.
Skate sharpening machine Smm
When there is a choice between an inexpensive price and a high-quality sharpener, the scales tilt in favor of lightweight professional devices. One of these isSkate sharpening machine Ssm 2, which embodies one of the most popular work schemes.
An electric motor with an abrasive wheel on the shaft is installed in a vertical position on a small frame. A holder for a skid is fixed on the body. It is a movable clamp in which the blade of the skate is in the same plane as the abrasive wheel. There is also a mount for the vacuum cleaner hose.
In order for the abrasive disc not to change its shape, on the opposite side there is a clamp for a diamond pencil, which corrects the shape of the circle in the process. The weight of this skate sharpening machine is 1.3 kg, the power is 250W.
Main sharpening mistakes
Modern devices have greatly simplified the process of sharpening. However, if you do not use the adjustments of the skate sharpening machine correctly, this can lead to the following defects:
- The inner and outer sides of the blade are different in height, which leads to loss of balance when riding. A similar flaw occurs when the position of the blade relative to the abrasive wheel is not observed.
- Different groove depths along the blade. This happens if you press the skate unevenly during the sharpening process. In addition, the edge may overheat, causing it to lose its sharpness quickly.
- Incorrect profile radius. As mentioned earlier, the depth of the groove is selected according to the weight of the hockey player. A profile that is too deep will result in loss of maneuverability, while a shallow profile will result in reduced speed.
Conclusion
Summarizing, not every blade profile can be repaired at home. In addition, professionals recommend sharpening more often, but removing less metal, which will allow the skates to last longer.
