Just a though: if Blademaster's variant on the Pro-Filer (which they don't seem to call Pro-Filer) has no extensions, just a gap, does that make it harder to align, because the gap isn't as high as the gap+extension? But does it also mean that the tool could sharpen some current generation Matrix and Paramount blades that Pro-Filer might have trouble with?

Even if the material of the chassis is soft enough that the chassis itself does not scratch polished chrome (or stainless) surfaces, scratches will be inevitable (in the absence of tape or other protective coating on the polished surfaces).  As you perform the hand grinding, particles of abrasive or steel will come loose and fall in between the chassis and polished surfaces and cause scratches.

Not if the tool is UNDER the blade. E.g., if you hold the tool with a vice, as I think Bill_S once suggested, or maybe in your hand, though holding it underneath with my hand makes it a little harder to center it.

As I've said before, I have no trained tool skills, but have to learn from my mistakes. So I have indeed made some scratches. I had to learn to lubricate the sides of the blade, by wetting them - which helps.

The problem is, I like to see what I am doing (so I only bump into the toe pick), so I do tend to hold the tool ABOVE the blade. So I have have some minor scratches.

Just call the scratches an "extended chrome relief" feature. 

Great idea! Claim the scratches help orient and redirect the blade, or something else vaguely plausible.

The sanding drum that Kaitsu made looks a bit challenging to make - you might need a pretty high accuracy 3D printer. There are commercially available sanding drums, and sanding sleeves that fit them. I wonder if any of them could do the job.

The tech I go to is an authorized Aura retailer.  According to him, the company was bought up by John Wilson (the blade manufacturer) and is being reorganized.  They originally sold custom boots only, but for now stock boots only. 

LiveBarn has video cameras and microphones at ice rinks, pools, basketball courts, playing fields, etc. - mostly in the U.S. and Canada. AFAICT from promotional videos, the resolution is 4K. I don't know if you can identify faces.

People who subscribe can watch games and practice sessions. The cameras are on all or most of the time, except during sports blackouts by leagues like NHL. (You can see some NHL practice sessions.) To some extent you can even watch video on demand. LiveBarn installs the video cameras for free, and pays the facilities a portion of subscriber fees.

In most of the U.S., videos are legal in public facilities, and help deter crime. Not sure about microphones. But these could also be used by stalkers, thieves, as well as people seeking to learn sports opponents' skills, weaknesses, strategies, skating programs, etc. I don't know whether skaters & coaches wishing to black out their private practice can negotiate for that.

Does any of this bother you folks?

Today I was struggling a bit with my 3D printer, but I managed still to make my own honing cylinder. Basically I can choose any grit. Same idea could basically used also in original Profiler if someone wants to have new honing cylinder and they cannot be found from the markets anymore....or if you want some special coarseness.

Hi Query,

I hope you can get back on the ice often and have fun while you're there!

It's not so much a style thing, progressives are progressives and crossovers are crossovers.  If the coaches are teaching crossovers, then either they are emphasizing them for the efficiency in gaining speed for freeskating, or else they never did dance and/or learned progressives.

If you know progressives and want to do dance, that is a positive for finding a partner!

There's always figures you know :-)  They are kind of zen-like and a completely different and cool experience on the ice IMHO.


M