SKATE SHARPENING 101 -  HOW TO SET UP

The topic today is the good and proper set-up of the skates in the jig.

This post is meant for members of our local speed skating club to help with new members learning to sharpen speed skates.  We are going to go through the basics.  Our skating club has 5 jigs available for members to borrow and use to sharpen rental skates as well as members own skates.  I really like the simplicity and ease of use with the Pennington Titan Jig.

I am going to pass on to you what I have learned about sharpening over the years with emphasis on things that make sharpening easier.  The goal of sharpening  is to create a nice sharp edge on the blade that can be seen as a 90 degree right angle.

To achieve this goal, we must set up the blades in the jig the same every time and we would want to use the same jig each time we sharpen.  The first time that you sharpen a pair of blade in a jig, you will need to achieve a flattening effect of the paired blades from end to end of the blade.  This may take some extra time. The next time you sharpen the same pair, setting up the jig properly will help you gain a sharp edge more quickly.    **Remember, Speed Skates are 'flat ground' and always need to be hand sharpened in a jig.  You can not have them sharpened like hockey skates which are 'hollow ground'. Also, the speed skates are precision rockered which we will talk about in the next lesson**

Equipment:  What is in the club sharpening kit.

Our club has 4 jigs and individual skaters and families are assigned a certain jig to borrow.  We have a sign-out sheet where the person writes their name and phone number and the date that they take out the jig. They are to use the jig and bring it back promptly for others to use.  If another member needs the jig, they can phone the person with the jig and arrange to pick the jig up.

Large Jig Bag: What is in the Bag






Jig End Unit with Toe piece

Center Jig Bar

Jig End Unit (heel end)

Inside the Large jig bag is a second smaller bag.  Please see below for the contents the bag. 

Small Jig Bag: nestled in Large Bag

Sharpening and Burr Stone

Oil or Solvent


Also, we keep a tooth brush in the jig kit to clean the stone.

How To Put the Jig Together Properly (and consistently):

1. Take the above piece in your hand. In Australia, where this jig is made, they put the heel end of the blade against the end piece to keep the blades even with each other (lengthwise).  I prefer and generally in Canada, we put the toe end of the blade against the length leveller.  As you look at the plastic piece above, you can see they there is two bolts that holds it to the jig, which are tightened.  Make sure these have not come loose before you start.  The cylindrical silver pieces are adjustable if your skate blade doesn't fit into the jig properly.  Please put them back the way you found them after use if you need to adjust them.
2. Take the metal square shape rod and insert it into the end piece.  To make sure you set the jig up the same every time, use the screw on the bar as a reference and insert it with the screw in the same position each time.

  

3.  Immediately tighten (not firmly; not necessary) the black bottom fastener to the secure the bar.

4.  Next, slide on the other end piece to the bar.  You want to make sure you do this the same way each time so make note of which side of the plate has a flat surface and which side has a lattice work.  I usually keep the flat surface to the outside at each end of the jig to help me remember.

    

At this point, do not fasten the rear piece to the bar yet; it is easier if you wait until after you have slide both of the blades into the jig blade holders.

5.  To insert the blades, with the back plate not yet tightened to the bar, it is easy to slide the toe end of the skate blade into the above opening in the fastener and then insert the heel end of the blade.  Repeat for the other boot/blade.  Make sure the boots/blades are on the correct side (arches facing each other).

6.  Adjust the heel end of the jig as far back on the blade as possible.  This keeps the boot from coming in contact with the jig and also accommodates for the bend that is in most blades.  Now tighten the jig to the bar at the heel end.  This will square the jig to the bar and make the whole jig "square" for sharpening.

**squaring the Jig **

7.  Next, you can now fasten the blades within the jig (if you accidently begin this phase before the bottom fasteners are tightened, the jig will not be square and you will wonder why the sharpening session is taking so long).  

Begin at the toe end; Move one of the blades up to the plastic length leveller.  Make sure you don't push too hard as the plastic piece is flexible and you may end up with the blades not even with each other.

Tighten the toe end first, keep the blade in contact with the plastic leveller.

Now tighten the heel end.

Repeat this process with the other blade.  Good Job.  You successfully set up your jig and blades with the best possible repeatable set-up.  Your goal from now on is to set up the jig the same every time.  

On my next blog entry, we will go over proper sharpening technique and how sharpening is achieved.  Remember the goal is to have a nice 'square' 90 degree edge.  This is achieved greatly with a nice 'square' jig set-up.

Next time; HOW TO GET BURR AND...

HOW TO GET 'RID' OF IT

Thanks, let me know if this is helpful.