Ice skating blades?

Question

I have used my figure skates twice now for three hours each. When will they need sharpning and how much longer can I use them for? Please help I don't know about sharpning!

Answer 1

sharpening doesnt have to be a specific time!

i only sharpen my blades when i feel myself slipping on the ice in places i wouldnt slip (before jumps, during crossovers)

when you do feel slippage, then once you take your skates off, look at the blades. most of the time you can tell but even if you cant i would still sharpen them.

when i mean slippage, i dont mean one time because you were a little too far over the heel, i mean edge slippage that happens when you do something good. it will probably happen more than once.

Answer 2

It's pretty much your personal preference, but a good rule to go by is to get them sharpened approximately every 20 hours on the ice.  I'm sure a lot of us go much longer than that without one though!  :)  All guilty parties, raise their hand!  haha  A good way to gauge the condition of your blades is the old fingernail test.  Scrape your nail across the edges and if the edge doesn't scrape anything off, they're probably dull.  Be sure to check more towards the rocker area of the blade where you spend a majority of the time on the blade.  :)

Answer 3

At the rate you're skating at, I would get your blades sharpened once everyone 6-8 weeks. Just go to your rink's pro-shop and ask for a blade sharpening.

Answer 4

You can use them for about 18 more hours haha. Your blades don't need to sharopened in a specific time. Just make sure when they are dull get them sharpened

Answer 5

You should get them sharpened every 2 or 3 months. I usually do it every 4 months, or when I feel like it, or a couple weeks before competition.

Answer 6

Take your thumb nail and very gently scrape it against the blade, if little slivers of the nail comes off (sounds gross but it's nothing really) they don't need sharpening.

Answer 7

6 hours is wayyy too short. I don't use figure skates but I only have to sharpen once a month. The way to tell is when the blade stops getting a good grip on the ice.