[cp1222]

The biggest mistake most skate shops make are to give you a different radius of hollow (roh). Unless you are specific about what radius of hollow you want, you may get skates that feel WAY different. Typically, the range of the conventional roh sharpening is 3/16 to 1". Most shops use 1/2 or most commonly, a 5/8. I once tried a 3/16 just for fun, and it was so sharp, I could barely stop. On the other hand, Goalie skates used to be sharpened "flat" at 3/4 to a 1" roh. The theory was that the flatter the roh, the easier it is to slide across the crease. However, with the butterfly technique being most prevalent today, goalies want control and use the 1/2 or 5/8 roh. My son, a goalie that played juniors, likes a 5/8.
The general rule is that a smaller, lighter skater will want a smaller roh to give more maneuverability. The big guys (like me) tend to dig in to the ice and make a small roh impractical. I get my skates done at 5/8ths roh.
If you ask the person sharpening what their standard roh is, and they give you a blank stare, or say "huh?" take your skates and go somewhere else.

Now throw in the new Flat Bottom V, and it gets really confusing. There are 2 companies that offer the flat bottom V (fvb). I have tried them both and I don't see an appreciable difference, although I seem to be able to glide longer. I was told that I woudn't be able to tell unless I went back to the traditional roh.

So that brings us to the other mistake that is commonly made. This happens when the sharpening is done with the skate blade not centered on the wheel. You want equal sides of the hollow, and not one edge "taller" than the other. If this happens, it feels like you don't have 2 edges, only one. If your sharpener does not check the skate to make sure that the edges are perpendicular to the blade, you may get a bum sharpening. I have had my skates sharpened all over, and I like Letterman sports the best.

[cp1222]

As far as radius profile (rocker) of the blade, there can be a huge difference in the way the skate feels too.
Here is a good web page that explains it well.
http://noicingsports..._profiling.html
One last thing. Don't assume that your new skates have a nice rocker from the factory.Starting out as a brand new goalie, I bought new goalie skates. When I started to play, I thought that this was the most awkward skating style ever. Finally after taking my skates for sharpening to the guy at Breck Arena, he showed me that my blades only touched the ice for 1/2 in at the front and back of the blade. They were concave from the factory! I had Westwood sports put a 28 foot radius on them and it was a night and day difference!
Check those blades on your new skates by putting them on a flat surface and see where the blade touches. A simple thing that could have prevented me weeks of frustration.

[mlobitz]

I have mine done every 3-4 games at All-Star Sports in New Hope. It's only a couple blocks from my house and is a "Ma and Pa" outfit; I like to support local businesses. Never had a problem with them yet...

[moejoe7]

Have any of you done the flat bottom V? What do u think?

[Austin]

There have been a few topics / posts on Flat V's:

http://www.jmshockey...p?q=flat+bottom

[chrismcneil]

Anyone know of a place that does the flat bottom V close to the Blaine Super Rink?

[bilbo21]

Dave's in Blaine, it's about 2 blocks from SR in the strip mall behind Gander and Target off 65.

[mlobitz]

I recently tried out the flat bottom v at Lettermen's in Plymouth. I went skating with my 4 year old and could tell that there was a difference, but I haven't used them in a game yet. I'm playing tonight, so I can report back after that... So far my thoughts are that they feel almost un-sharpened until you make a move at which point you can feel them bite pretty hard. I guess it feels like less effort to glide and perhaps as if the glide were longer in each stride. Like I said, this was just at open skate and not in a game, so I haven't really made up my mind yet...

[DMHSavage]

Big_Sev_, on 06 April 2009 - 10:38 AM, said:

Can you elaborate? They're the closest sharpening place to me and I have not had problems the 2 times I've gone there. Is there a better place in South Minneapolis that you would recommend?

-Marc

[DMHSavage]

I just got my skates sharpened at Sports Authority tonight before a league game....BIG MISTAKE! The blades were so dull and had no edge to them. I actually could not stop on them. Luckily someone had a sharpening stone and I was able to get a little edge to them. I usually take them to Westwood in Bloomington. I am never going back to Sports Authority again!!!

Doug.

[mlobitz]

mlobitz, on 15 June 2010 - 01:31 PM, said:

I recently tried out the flat bottom v at Lettermen's in Plymouth. I went skating with my 4 year old and could tell that there was a difference, but I haven't used them in a game yet. I'm playing tonight, so I can report back after that... So far my thoughts are that they feel almost un-sharpened until you make a move at which point you can feel them bite pretty hard. I guess it feels like less effort to glide and perhaps as if the glide were longer in each stride. Like I said, this was just at open skate and not in a game, so I haven't really made up my mind yet...

I have to be honest and say I didn't care for the flat bottom v. I'm contemplating skating on them one more time the way they are just to give it a fair shot, but I just didn't like the way they felt when trying start hard from a stop. I think that they feel pretty good when you're striding though. In fact, I did feel faster on them, but it doesn't matter if I'm a little faster if I start out 4-5 strides behind... Undecided...

[Charbonn]

I know this is an old posting, but just came across it. Just to clarify, the staff at Strauss changes VERY little from season to season. Those full time guys back there know bikes in and out, but first and foremost are our skate sharpening and repair experts. They are not just skate sharpeners, but craftsman. Our full time people average about 22 years with us and the guy with the gray hair has been here longer than that...he is also the only person I will let touch my skates. I have him put on the FBV.

People do make mistakes from time to time, but, we will always do everything we can if a problem does occur. Just talk to us. We have been doing this for over 100 years and take what we do seriously. We want to do the best we can for our customers and the community we all live in.

adamp, on 09 July 2009 - 02:20 PM, said:

What was wrong with the job at Strauss? keep in mind that at this time of year, most of the workers are bike experts. I know the guy you're talking about, and he's done my last 5 skate sharpenings.

The only other place I'd even ever consider taking my skates is a little tiny shop just off of 96 and 61 in White bear. Can't really remember the name, and it's hard to find a time when they are actually open.

Editted: Sorry, the play it again in Roseville is good too. Though, I'm a little partial because it's my cousin, and I rarely get charged.

[griffshark]

Elko, on 09 July 2009 - 07:04 PM, said:

Having read these posts, it is obvious that there are very differing opinions on the quality of sharpenings at various locations. I guess it comes down to a personal preference and comfort level I suppose. Probably why I stick w/the same place in the rare occasion I do get my skates sharpened.

Another question for the skate sharpeners in here. (if there are any)

What possibility is there for a sharpening to screw up a radius/profiling/countouring job? Do skates need to be re-profiled from time to time due to sharpenings?

[griffshark]

Most people sharpening are not going to change the radius, they just follow the edge as it is. I'm kind of perplexed about the post about Al changing the radius of the guys blade, don't know why anyone would go to that trouble without being asked?

[goaltenderb]

I get my goalie skates sharpened by Josh at Play it Again Sports in West St. Paul every time. The price isn't bad, (I buy a punch card, think it's like $4 a sharpen or possibly a bit lower) and I enjoy the custom sharpening he puts on goaltending skates (if you ask for it).

Basically, there isn't as much of an edge on the flat of the blade, (which is great when shuffling) and the toe/heel of the blade have a good edge (so they still grab well when moving laterally)