How to Shave Ice Hockey Skates

Shaving ice hockey blades is the best way to keep them sharp. Sharp blades give the player the best traction on the ice. Always shave a blade with a grinding wheel and not with a knife sharpener. The shave of the blade must be precise and so it may take time to get it perfect.

Things You'll Need

  • Grinding wheel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the amount of curve on the inside of the blade. There is a hollow part in the center of the blade. The depth of the hollow part of the blade depends on the weight of the skater. This requires some math. The depth of the hollow needs to equal to the radius of the grinding wheel. To get the hollow part in inches start at 55 pounds and find your weight or the closest to your weight in increments of 30 pounds. Start at 1/4 inch and add 1/8 inch for every 30 pounds. For instance, if you weighed 85 pounds the hollow would be 3/8 of an inch. This rule works for all players except for the goalie. The goalie must add 3/8 of an inch to the total of the hollow.

    • 2

      Find the measurement of the rocker. The rocker is the flat side of the blade. The angle of the rocker needs to be at a 45-degree angle from the top of the blade. The length of the rocker depends on the height of the skater. To determine the length of the rocker, determine the player's height. Start at 4 foot 11 inches and find your height or closest to it in increments of 4 inches. A 4 foot 11 person has a rocker that is 8 inches long. The length of the rocker goes up 1 inch for every 4 inches of height.

    • 3

      Hold the skate in your hand by the boot. Move the skate along the grinding wheel to get the appropriate measurements for the rocker and the hollow.

    • 4

      Gently rub the edge of the blade across the grinder to sharpen the blade. Do not over grind. Practice on your skates before you use a newly shaved blade in a game to make sure your calculations are correct and your blade is sharp enough.