How Often Should I Sharpen My Skates?

This questioon is asked of me almost daily. A standard answer would not be accurate. You see, as a Maximum Edge sharpener, I am committed to being exact, thourough and consistent so if I were to give you an answer such as "every 4 hours" it would be inaccurate and against the exact standard that Maximum Edge stands for.

Instead, I would love to teach you how to inspect your blades and be able to determine when it is time.

Many of you haveseen me run the blade across my neck after I am done sharpening your skates. Even though it may appear that I need shaving, I am simply demonstrating to you the "clean" blade surface that I have placed on your blade. I do not believe too many sharpeners are willing to do that. I am confident that my sharpening is free of burrs or rolled edges which is what slows you down and what would "cut" my skin if I did not guarantee that clean edge.

When the boot leaves my shop it is impeccably clean yet very sharp. So, I am not asking that you take the skate across your neck but rather you can run your finger lightly across the edge. It should run across smoothly. Also, visually inspect the blade. The dirt will actually create horizontal grooves across the blade. Sometimes you will see me inspecting your blade iwth a magnifying glass and then I can tell you who's ice you have been on! I just love doing that since it always shocks people. It really is not a guess or even my pshycic abilities but rather "science". I am aware by the wear and tear on the skate and being familiar of the condition of each of the Georgia rinks ice.

Feel free to stop by any time and I can run through a few ways to checking on your skates. Obviously, you will also be able to feel how the skate maneuvers on the ice.

For some skaters, they need their skates sharpened twice a week and for others, once a month. Many variables play into this fact including:
- Aggressiveness on the ice
- Condition of the ice
- Skater's size
- Maintenance and care of the skates.

I will be writing a much more throughj post in the next few days regarding the differences between being "sharp" and what a hollow is.

Do you want $100 in free skate sharpening? Click HERE.