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The Pro Shop / Re: what can we use to test blades that need to be sharpened?
« Last post by tstop4me on April 07, 2024, 12:24:52 PM »I've also tried several proxy methods. To test for a sharp edge, I've used the fingernail test. Even more sensitive for me is the fingertip test. If I run my fingertip across (not along) a really sharp edge, I can feel it and also see traces of shaved skin fragments left behind. This works only if my fingers are thoroughly dry.
I also have a HDI (Hollow Depth Indicator) gauge, in which I swapped out the stock dial indicator for a higher-resolution digital indicator. I thought maybe if I tracked the decrease in depth of hollow as the edges wore down, I would get a proxy for when sharpening was due.
None of these methods were successful. Mainly because I touch up my edges with burnishing rods. So I can maintain a sharp edge, but the edge angles vary and the degree of bite varies.
So ultimately I know it's time for a sharpening, even after repeated rounds of burnishing, by actual performance (starting to slip). For me, primarily reduced control on back cross-overs and entrances to one-foot spins are the early indicators. I do keep a log of hours of skating after a fresh sharpening. But it's only a rough guide, because it depends on what moves I'm concentrating on: different portions of edges get worn down more quickly than others; and different portions of edges are more critical than others.
I also have a HDI (Hollow Depth Indicator) gauge, in which I swapped out the stock dial indicator for a higher-resolution digital indicator. I thought maybe if I tracked the decrease in depth of hollow as the edges wore down, I would get a proxy for when sharpening was due.
None of these methods were successful. Mainly because I touch up my edges with burnishing rods. So I can maintain a sharp edge, but the edge angles vary and the degree of bite varies.
So ultimately I know it's time for a sharpening, even after repeated rounds of burnishing, by actual performance (starting to slip). For me, primarily reduced control on back cross-overs and entrances to one-foot spins are the early indicators. I do keep a log of hours of skating after a fresh sharpening. But it's only a rough guide, because it depends on what moves I'm concentrating on: different portions of edges get worn down more quickly than others; and different portions of edges are more critical than others.