Skate blade warped?

[SpringfieldSkins]

Ok, short story. I hadn't had my skates sharpened in about a year. I play in two leagues approximately twice a week. Before my last game I decided it was time to get my blades cut. I normally get a flat bottom V cut and the rink I was at started offering it. It was convenient so I had them cut. I was looking at my fresh cut before putting my skates on...

I noticed that the right skate blade was slightly bowed inwards. Looks like ( if you can picture it. Not as exaggerated as the perentheses would seem but it looked bowed ever so slightly. I think nothing of it.

I get out on the ice and I can't say I've ever felt more unstable on my right foot (my dominant foot) in my life. I tried a hockey stop on my dominant side and almost fell over. I got used to it but still was uneasy going into corners which of course led to less aggressive play.

I've never felt so unstable after getting my skates cut. Perhaps it's the aggressiveness of the cut (95/1 if I remember correctly) but I felt more comfortable stopping on my left foot than my right which is unusual.

Has anyone had a skate blade become warped and do you think this could be what's happening here? I'm a great skater in general who likes a very aggressive cut. The blades are about 3 years old and I've had them sharpened probably a dozen times.

Any thoughts?

 

[AIREAYE]

It happens. Your pro shop could easily straighten it for you, or offer replacements if it's severe enough.

 

[SpringfieldSkins]

It happens. Your pro shop could easily straighten it for you, or offer replacements if it's severe enough.

Huh. I didn't figure they could straighten a warped blade.

Perhaps I could put it in a press and straighten in myself. I'm a pretty handy guy.

 

[SkateThroughIt]

I've never heard of a warped blade. I would think if it was warped upward...think of a less severe ^...they could fix it. You say it's warped inward, I probably needs to be replaced, and wouldn't surprise me if you need a new holder too.

 

[AIREAYE]

Huh. I didn't figure they could straighten a warped blade.

Perhaps I could put it in a press and straighten in myself. I'm a pretty handy guy.

I would ask the shop first.

And warped steel is more common than most people think.

 

[LarryO]

Huh. I didn't figure they could straighten a warped blade.

Perhaps I could put it in a press and straighten in myself. I'm a pretty handy guy.

Since your a handy guy, switch the blades from one skate to the other and check if the warp stays on the same skate. If it does, then it's the holder that's warped. On the other hand, if the warp follows the blade, then the blade itself is warped. Often it's the holder that's warped. Maybe it's been warped for a while but you never noticed it until this fresh cut made it apparent.

 

[SpringfieldSkins]

Since your a handy guy, switch the blades from one skate to the other and check if the warp stays on the same skate. If it does, then it's the holder that's warped. On the other hand, if the warp follows the blade, then the blade itself is warped. Often it's the holder that's warped. Maybe it's been warped for a while but you never noticed it until this fresh cut made it apparent.

Thanks for the advice. Makes perfect sense.

I think it may be the fresh grind that clued me into it in the first place. I just went and looked at my blades again and can't really say for sure that it looks warped any more on the right than on the left.

I may just try playing on it until I'm happy and then not get it cut so aggressively next time. I've lost about 25 lbs since my last blade cutting. Perhaps I was used to a "shallower" cut and this one was just too harsh for my liking.

 

[mistrhanky]

I have definitely had this problem. I do not have high end skates(hopefully fixing that soon) and I have enormous John Holmes size feet. So, I had problems with my blades warping just as you described. A pro shop should be able to fix that pretty quickly and easily and it does make a huge difference. You could even question the evenness and quality of the cut you were getting with the blade warped.

 

[forbs02]

As mentioned before, blades bend all the time. Take it to a shop and get it straightened. If it continues to bend you will probably need your holders realigned.