The following is a step by step description of the process
that I go through for the sharpening of a pair of skates.
-
Inspect the Blade
Check the blade
for nicks and stripped edges. Also check for defective rivets or
cracked blade holders.
-
Hone the Edges of the Blade
Remove
minor pieces of debris caused by nicks and stripped edges. Wipe
clean.
-
Measure the Blade Thickness
If
not previously done, measure the thickness of the blade and mark the
size on the bottom of the skate holder. This is done for each
skate as the thickness may vary, not only from one pair to another, but
from each skate in the pair.
-
Adjust the Skate Holder Height
Adjust the height of the skate holder based upon the thickness of the skate blade.
Height adjustment is required to assure that the center of the blade is aligned
to the center of the curvature of the grinding wheel.
-
Mount the Skate in the Holder
The skate is clamped into the holder with the heel to the left (For a machine which has a clockwise rotating wheel).
This allows for the imperfections in the blade finish to be pointing to the
rear.
-
Dress the Grinding Wheel
Dress the wheel for the desired radius of hollow or other form
dressing such as the flat bottom dressing types.
This should be done in accordance with the customer's request.
Choices may be discussed if the skater is unsure.
-
Sharpen the Skate
Clean uniform passes are made from heel to toe, following the existing contour of the blade.
The number of passes required may depend upon the condition of the
blade. More passes are needed if the blade requires repair of badly nicked
or stripped edges. If the blade edges are very uneven,
additional passes will be necessary to get them level.
Apply a light coat of blade dressing directly to the blade prior to the final
pass. The dressing allows for a slow final pass, which gives the
blade a
smoother finish and will further reduce the friction
between the blade and the ice.
-
Hone the Edges of the Blade
Wipe the blade to remove
any excess blade dressing. Remove
the burrs caused by the rollover of the steel in the sharpening process. Wipe
clean.
-
Inspect the Blade
Check the edges
of the blade
for any remaining burrs along the edge; visually check the blade
finish for smoothness, and check the edges for sharpness.
-
Check for Level Edges on the Blade
Using an edge check level gage,
verify that the edges are level.
