How sharp should ice skates be?

Question

Someone on Y!A on another answer that that blades should be sharp enough to almost cut your finger.

True or False?

Answer 1

they should be sharp enough so that you can scrap your nail a bit.

Answer 2

Well, you can cut your finger with a sheet of paper (paper cut) so it's possible to cut your finger with an ice skating blade - even if it's not at it's sharpest.  But don't let a cut finger be the test for blade sharpness!!!  

It depends on if you prefer a deep or shallow hollow (between the edges on your blade).  I personally preferred a shallow sharpening  . . . I liked my blades nearly dull - but that was me.  Some prefer a deep hollow . . . you definitely get clean edges, but with the stronger grip on the ice, to me it almost feels like you're sticking to it too well.  I didn't spin well if they were too sharp.  As you keep skating, you'll get a feel for which you prefer.  

Dull blades are pretty obvious.  You can't hold a clean edge . . . if you look at your tracing, you might see smeary marks instead of nice lines.  You do feel like you're slipping a lot .. . in fact you be noticing that your jumps and spins may not be going well lately.  

If the blades are too sharp, that feels obvious too.  It's that "sticking to the ice" feeling . . . and it can be difficult to stop.  You can stand on the ice holding the boards, put your feet together, bend both knees, then push your blades out sideways (you'll feel the resistance!).  A lot of those should take out the "edginess" of the sharpened blades.  Some people like to run their blades on piece of wood (like a rink bench) to dull them a bit - but I never did that.    

Another note on dull blades:  if you do the pushing out thing in the last paragraph with dull blades, you're going to feel less resistance . . . it will almost be too easy or slippery.    

The finger nail test is good as already mentioned.  With experience, you'll also be able to run your fingers over the blade (carefully) to feel any dullness and to visually see if both edges are level and such.  

Here's an article: Skate Sharpening for Figure Skaters

Frequently Asked Questions

(for useful technical reading!)

http://www.chuck-wright.com/Skating/shar...

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Well, you've obviously been skating long enough that you feel that they need to be sharpened. That's a sign. Theres two choices: a stoning or through the machine. It depends on how long you've been skating on them since the last sharpening.

A stoning a a type of sharpening that just puts a slight edge on them. Get a stoning if you feel that your edge is weak and you are slipping. A stoning is not that strong. The guy in the pro shop will tell you if you need something more than just a stoning. Usually you would get a stoning every 2 or 3 weeks.

Putting your skates through the machine is the real deal. You would do this about every two months since it is very strong! If you need to put your skates through the machine you will notice immediately. You will have no edge at all and you will be falling for silly reasons. Don't do this too much or it will ruin your blades.

Skate next time and see what it feels like. A stoning or making them go through the machine. If you get them done and it feels really good, then you know how to do it for the next time and the next time! So good luck. :)

Answer 4

Your skates should be sharp enough so that you still have edges and you're not sliding all over the place, but beware that having them too sharp can prevent you from skating well at all.

Answer 5

When you run your finger along the edge (up and down, not like along the edge horizontally) it should feel like it is sharp and kind of catches your blade. Its hard to describe in words. Everyone gets their blades sharpened more ore less often depending on how often they skate. Ask your coach or teacher, if you have one what it should feel like, or ask the worker in the pro shop if you don't have a coach. If you are a "figure skater" aka you know how to do some sort of spins or jumps (even a two foot spin or waltz jump) you should get them sharpened with someone who is experienced and knows what their doing, not some teenager working in the pro shop or your blades can be permanently messed up.

Answer 6

False. actually, it depends on the skater, some skaters like the blade sharper, others like it duller, i personally pefer it duller, but sharp enough so it doesnt slip.