Chipping at end of composite blade? | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League
Toggle sidebar

Chipping at end of composite blade?

Fremitus Borealis

Fremitus Borealis

Flügelstürmer
Feb 4, 2007
9,262
13
The Slot
So I've noticed over the last few weeks that my Graf sticks are all getting little pieces chipped off the very end of the blade when I play. I guess I assume some level of this is normal, but I'm just surprised it has happened so quickly (I play only once or twice per week, and I've had two of these sticks for less than a month).

Is this something to be concerned about? Should I start wrapping my tape all the way to the end of the blade? It only happens on the part at the very end that's exposed. I know these are essentially "tools" that get regular wear and tear, I'm just worried these are "wearing" exceptionally fast.
 
Fremitus Borealis said:
So I've noticed over the last few weeks that my Graf sticks are all getting little pieces chipped off the very end of the blade when I play. I guess I assume some level of this is normal, but I'm just surprised it has happened so quickly (I play only once or twice per week, and I've had two of these sticks for less than a month).

Is this something to be concerned about? Should I start wrapping my tape all the way to the end of the blade? It only happens on the part at the very end that's exposed. I know these are essentially "tools" that get regular wear and tear, I'm just worried these are "wearing" exceptionally fast.
Click to expand...

This happened to my Ai9 that I had for 3 years, eventually hollowed out the end if he blade. It also happened to a CCM superfast I had for a month. If you're a centre is assume that plays into it, I know it was part of what happened to mine.

Pro Hockey Life just warrantied it for me. They also recommended taping he end of the blade to help avoid it.

So yes, I'd say it isn't completely out of the norm.
 
Leo is absolutely right. See if you're still covered by warranty first, but you MUST tape all the way to the end of the toe!!!

I always put one or two layers of electrical tape running from heel to around the toe as an extra layer of protection before regular taping with cloth tape.
 
Interesting. Well I got these sticks on that crazy 2 for 1 blowout HockeyMonkey was doing in December, so I sort of doubt they're covered by anything. (On a related note, they're supposedly identical, but one is obviously a slightly older model than the other...)

As for taping all the way to the end... I understand the logic, but I can't say I've ever noticed anyone doing it that way, if I'm translating what you say properly. Are you saying covering pretty much every millimeter of the blade with tape?
 
Fremitus Borealis said:
Interesting. Well I got these sticks on that crazy 2 for 1 blowout HockeyMonkey was doing in December, so I sort of doubt they're covered by anything. (On a related note, they're supposedly identical, but one is obviously a slightly older model than the other...)

As for taping all the way to the end... I understand the logic, but I can't say I've ever noticed anyone doing it that way, if I'm translating what you say properly. Are you saying covering pretty much every millimeter of the blade with tape?
Click to expand...

Any stick purchased at a licensed dealer except for pro return will have a warranty.

And yes, all the way. I find it hard to believe you've never seen anyone do it, it's what you're supposed to do...
 
AIREAYE said:
Any stick purchased at a licensed dealer except for pro return will have a warranty.

And yes, all the way. I find it hard to believe you've never seen anyone do it, it's what you're supposed to do...
Click to expand...

Seriously, I've never seen it. Most people I play with either tape just the "sweet spot", or else they tape it like I do, which is to say taping 99% of the blade but leaving like a centimeter at the very tip where it rounds off.
 
I went through three Superfasts in a month to the toe being torn to pieces, even with using electrical tape layers and cloth tape. Heck, I even melted a layer of electrical tape to my 3rd one and then taped normally. Barely made a difference. PHL wouldn't assist me and CCM said that the only way I would cause that to happen is by going out of my way. You kidding me? I want to purposely break my 299.99 hockey sticks...

Anyways, I highly prefer RBZ Stage 2 as the blade is significantly stronger IMO but I can't find them anymore. Anyone know where I can get them in Ottawa region?
 
AIREAYE said:
Leo is absolutely right. See if you're still covered by warranty first, but you MUST tape all the way to the end of the toe!!!

I always put one or two layers of electrical tape running from heel to around the toe as an extra layer of protection before regular taping with cloth tape.
Click to expand...

That's really odd and definitely would effect the puck coming off the stick or accepting passes. Wouldn't recommend anyone doing this.
 
Wow really? I mean, common sense in protecting the toe no? Blade toes aren't specifically reinforced in hockey blades, I hope you realize. It's standard practice, but maybe not in certain areas. I have no idea why.

To clarify on the electrical tape, it's a tape along the rim, not horizontally along the main surface of the blade.
 
AIREAYE said:
Wow really? I mean, common sense in protecting the toe no? Blade toes aren't specifically reinforced in hockey blades, I hope you realize. It's standard practice, but maybe not in certain areas. I have no idea why.

To clarify on the electrical tape, it's a tape along the rim, not horizontally along the main surface of the blade.
Click to expand...

Ah ok, that makes more sense! I've seen people do this.
 
AIREAYE said:
Wow really? I mean, common sense in protecting the toe no? Blade toes aren't specifically reinforced in hockey blades, I hope you realize. It's standard practice, but maybe not in certain areas. I have no idea why.

To clarify on the electrical tape, it's a tape along the rim, not horizontally along the main surface of the blade.
Click to expand...

I'm curious why electrical tape over just normal hockey tape for the wrapping around the rim. Is it because it will be more elastic?
 
No clue on why the electrical tape. Both my Warrior sticks did this, so I started putting a strip of normal hockey tape along the bottom and up around the edge of the toe. Cuts down on the wear a lot as long as I keep up on it. My current stick was getting really bad on the toe, I put some gorilla glue on the end just to close the gaps and that seems to be holding up well too. I haven't had any issues with feel changing or anything.
 
I used to just tape up the middle of my sticks and the toes would disintegrate before the rest of the stick wore out. Now I tape all the way through the toe and that isn't much of a problem.

Right now my problem is I hate my current stick (Easton Mako II) but the damn thing won't break. I have two Warrior Coverts ready to go, but I'm too cheap to switch away from the Easton before it breaks.
 
beakerboy said:
I'm curious why electrical tape over just normal hockey tape for the wrapping around the rim. Is it because it will be more elastic?
Click to expand...

I don't have a particular reason for it, I think stretchiness and ease of peeling off may be it. You can use whatever tape you want, but maybe not masking tape haha.
 
I use clear tape for that, and use a lighter to burn off any folds in the tape to smooth it (and to melt it a bit and make it stick to the blade more securely), then cloth tape all the way over the toe and wax.
 
img_4051.jpg


Just do this
 
i've started to tape the toe. before i thought it was ******* but i do it now cause i'm poor. for some reason it's the pricier sticks (top line models) that chip at the toe.. :S
 
I haven’t played in about 12 years and I’m just getting back into playing. Back when I was playing two piece sticks were where it was at, what happened to those? It seems like a waste to spend a ton of money and then have to throw it away because the blade broke.
 
dami0101 said:
I haven’t played in about 12 years and I’m just getting back into playing. Back when I was playing two piece sticks were where it was at, what happened to those? It seems like a waste to spend a ton of money and then have to throw it away because the blade broke.
Click to expand...

Welcome back. I was in the same boat. Owned an Ultra Lite before getting back to hockey a few years ago. All I can say is holy cr*p sticks have gotten better. The higher end one piece sticks, if you really lean into 'em, there's just no comparison with the old two pieces in my opinion. The blades are also more durable then the old wood two pieces, and honestly, most of the time it's the shaft that goes before the blade (at least for me).

Toe taping --- that was so weird to me at first, but it really does extend the life of the toe so that it's much less of an issue, I don't notice any impact on feel for the puck.
 
I was the same way, too. My last stick (which I still have) before starting up again was/is a two-piece Easton Octane, which lots of people hated by I always really liked.

Thing is, you don't *need* to spend hundreds of dollars on sticks. I mean, some people do, but I honestly don't understand it. You like whatcha like, I guess... and I don't like the thought of spending $200 on one stick that could randomly break :D

But yeah, check out sites like Hockey Monkey. They tend to run deals fairly regularly (I got the two I use most often on a BOGO offer which averaged them out to $30 each!), so as long as you have a decent notion of what you're looking for, you should be good.

I must also say that if you don't know what you're looking for, the stick help sticky on this board is a wealth of knowledge that will go a long way (especially the first couple posts).
 
Fremitus Borealis said:
Yeah, I went ahead and gave it a shot. It was a pain to tape over the end, trim the excess, and then make sure there are no flaps of tape interfering with anything, but if it works, it works.
Click to expand...

A pain? I mean it cant take more than 30 seconds on the extra couple wraps and the trim. Well worth it to save a lot of money
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom