Quick Answer: How To Sharpen Figure Skates?

Can I sharpen my skates at home?

Speed- and tour skates have a flat glide surface and can reliably be sharpened at home with fairly basic equipment. A long stone, and a fixture to hold the blades perpendicular will work fine.

How should figure skates be sharpened?

Typically, if you are skating 4-6 hours a week, once a month or every 2 months sharpening should be just fine. Run a finger over the blade, but not lengthwise! Run it widthwise and if you can distinctly feel two different edges with a definite bite to them, your blades are fine.

Do figure skates need to be sharpened?

If you want to play hockey or try figure skating, you should know that some hockey and figure skaters need frequent sharpening, sometimes after two or three hours of ice time. So consider sharpening your skates more after you’ve skated in these conditions since dull blades can lead to injuries and falls.

Do you sharpen figure skates the same as hockey skates?

Figure skates are sharpened with very different goals than hockey skates. NEVER have them done by one of those automatic machines you find in some rinks. Figure skates are ground with a “hollow” in the bottom (to give them those “edges” you hear so much about).

How can I sharpen my skates without a machine?

Use your flat file and begin at the toe or heel and move it across the blade in a diagonal motion. The file should always remain perpendicular to the blade when sharpening. Run the flat file across a blade in one direction 15 to 20 times and then repeat in the opposite direction. Do the same for the other skate.

How do I know if my skates are dull?

To see if blades are dull, you can simply feel them with your finger. Run your finger width-wise across the blade, not length-wise as you can cut yourself this way. You should be able to feel two distinct edges.

Can you skate with unsharpened skates?

No one should ever skate on dull or unsharpened blades. Your skating edge will help you turn and maneuver, as well as keep your balance. The second is that people with weak ankles cannot skate. Keep them sharp — but not too sharp: A sharp blade grabs the ice better than a dull one.

Are my figure skates sharp?

Another way to determine if skates need sharpening is to do the fingernail test- turn your thumb upside down and gently run your fingernail width-wise across the blade (if you run it length-wise, you will be sure to cut your nail). If you see that some of your nail shaves off then the blades are likely to be sharp.

How do I keep my skates sharp?

An easy and inexpensive way to maintain sharp skates is with a small honing stone. Hold the stone flat on the side of the blade. Rub up and down the length of the blade five or six times on each side. This will remove any small nicks on the blade and bring back a sharp edge.

How often do you have to sharpen ice skates?

Skates should typically be sharpened after 8-10 hours of use on an indoor rink. This timeframe shrinks when skating outdoors. If you find yourself struggling to skate smoothly or falling down doing a typical skill you’d be comfortable with it is a sign that you may need to get your blades checked.

How many times can ice skates be sharpened?

Generally skates should be sharpened every 20-40 skating hours. This depends on a few different factors such as how many times a week a skater is on the ice, which elements the skater is working on, and the build of the skater.

Can hockey skates be too sharp?

While your skates can never be too sharp, they can certainly be too dull and that can take a whole lot of fun out of the game. For those skaters who do feel their skates are too sharp at times, we recommend reviewing our post on selecting an ROH. You should experiment with a slightly shallower radius.

How do you know when you need new skates?

Hockey skates should firmly cradle your feet and provide support up through the ankles, similar to ski boots. If your skates don’t support your foot and ankle, it’s time for a new pair. Also, check the steel blades on your hockey skates. If they’re pitted, rusted, or worn, they might need sharpening—or replacing.