Ice Skate Sharpening Tools

Speed skates, hockey skates and figure skates all must be sharpened occasionally to provide the best performance. Keeping the skate blade honed correctly extends the life of the skate. While some skaters take their skates to professionals for sharpening, others prefer to buy their own sharpening tools and do the work themselves. Having the proper tools makes the job easier.

  1. Sharpening Jig

    • A sharpening jig will help you get the proper angle each time you sharpen the blades.

      A jig is a type of vise or clamp made to hold the skate blade during sharpening. It's important that the sharpening jig hold the blade in the same position each time it's used, which allows you to sharpen at the same angle. Avoid sharpening jigs that require removing the blades from the skates.

    Whetstone

    • Also known as sharpening stones, whetstones come in gauges from very coarse to very fine. Coarse stones are used for shaping and removing nicks. Fine stones are used for honing and polishing. A stone of 11 to 12 inches is more expensive than a smaller, lighter model, but the bigger working area allows easier sharpening of the blades. Diamond stones are available, but they are much more expensive than standard sharpening stones and seem to wear out faster. A well-maintained whetstone can last a lifetime.

    Razor Blade

    • A blade works to remove the burr that sharpening leaves on the skate blade.

      Sharpening a skate blade leaves a small lip along the edge called a burr. A tool with a razor blade works to remove the burr. A box-cutting knife or carpenter's knife with a disposable blade works well. Some people prefer to use a Burrmaster. It's a specially made tool consisting of a small flat handle fitted with a small carbide blade that slides along the skate blade to remove the burr.

    Buhrstone

    • A buhrstone is another way of removing the burr from the skate blade. A buhrstone is a very fine-grit polishing stone that can smooth out the burr. Use a buhrstone with caution, or it can damage the sharpened edge of the skate blade.

    Honing Oil

    • Buy honing oil in a sporting goods store.

      Honing oil, sometimes called sharpening oil, lubricates the sharpening stone before you use it and prevents grit from damaging it. Pure baby oil, cooking oil and motor oil may work as honing oil. The exception is the diamond sharpening stone; use only water to lubricate it.