| How often do I need to sharpen my skates? |
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| Monday, 29 May 2006 16:53 | |
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If you're skating only a few times a week, every six weeks to two months is probably frequent enough. You should get in the habit inspecting them each time you dry off the blades, and when there are dulled or there are a lot of nicks, get them sharpened. The usual test for sharpness is dragging a fingernail lightly over the edge - if it planes off a little sliver, they're sharp, if it just slides, then they're dull. It is not unusual for blades to wear unevenly. For example, the inside edges may wear more quickly than the outside edges or the fronts more quickly than the tails. Of course, the real test is in the skating, and you'll gradually learn the clues that point to a dull blade. You instructor can also help, and if the skate sharpener is competent, he or she will do the minimum necessary to your skates, perhaps just a quick pass with a hand stone to knock off a nick. Remember that every time you get your blades sharpened you shorten the life of the blades and there's a bit of a re-adjustment for you to get used to the new feel. It's almost always "better", but you get used to when the blade will slide and when it will grab over the period as it gets dull, and you may be caught off guard by the new behavior.
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