I am looking to purchase a skate sharpening machine..I have friends that have both the Wissota and the EZ Sharp Superpro. Is the EZ Sharp worth the extra money...nearly double the price of the Wissota???? I know the EZ Sharp is more portable but is it better????

Perhaps you have not heard about the Black Stone Sports X01 and X02 portables. They are new and in addition to putting traditional circular arc grooves on the bottom of your skate blades, they can also put the new flat-bottom-V (FBV) profiles on your skate blades. This profile is faster and generates less fatigue during skating while retaining all of the ability to corner and stop that is expected for performance skating. If you haven't heard of this profile yet you will as its superior performance is slowly staring to sweep the hockey world.
I would suggest that anyone who is considering buying a new skate sharpening machine should consider the Black Stone Spinner technology simply so that they are not left out of the future of the FBV technology.

The Wissota is the most basic of machines. It certainly will work for most garage sharpeners, but it isn't as high quality as the EZ-Sharp. The value is going to be a factor of what you're using it for and your personal finances more than anything in my opinion, but the EZ-Sharp is definintely a better sharpener.

Further, as the Blackstone engineer mentioned, his company now makes a portable sharpener. I don't know a lot about their portable machines, but I can vouch for the overall quality of Blackstone sharpeners as typically being among the highest for commercial grade sharpeners. I chose a Blackstone for my shop and find it superior to the Blademasters, Fleming Grays and every other sharpener I've used in the past.

sale-v3wg4-1058178698@craigslist.org

He is in Maine a little to far to Alberta Canada

I'll stick with my Fleming B3

A link to the listing would have been much more helpful than the contact info.

In Reference to Post: 172986 Feb 18 '08, 12:53 pm (Updated: Feb 18 '08, 12:54 pm)

Can these figures be confirmed by anyone else? No offense intended...really need other sources to confirm the cost vs profit of the FBV vs B or BM, Win etc., sharpening BEFORE making a purchase decision.

If the number of sharpenings per sharpening stone using FBV increases 3 or more times over the traditional sharpenings of 200 or so per stone AND IF the sharpening result is experienced as "better" and with high performance results by Figure and Hockey skaters-then switching to FBV is a "no brainer".

But we have seen much hype on other hockey items ie; "Game Ready" hockey skates, no break-in required etc., with 1 or more NHL players endorsing the product. Which as some of us know, never worked as well as was hoped, same experience with "Never Sharpen Runners" etc. There are other examples too numerous to list.

Hopefully someone on this list has their own numbers they'd like to share?

Thanks

Maine Man,
I haven't got hard numbers, but I do have some thoughts on the flat bottom V sharpening. As a theory, it's a great idea. Essentially, this is the hollow that t'blade was putting on their runners. You could get the best of both worlds, offering as much edge control as the skater wants without a major sacrifice in glide.

However, here's my perspective on the sharpener. First, any operator errors are going to be more glaring. If the sharpening isn't perfectly centered it's going to be obvious just to look at, let alone skate on. Further, you'd have to use a standard sharpening holder rather than a tilting holder (which I much prefer for sharpening speed and precision).

The main issue that I'm asking myself though is whether the customer is going to give a crap. It isn't like anyone I sharpen for has ever asked about flat bottom V sharpenings. Unless you sharpen for some uber-elite crowd, the average customer only notices two types of sharpenings, good or bad. If my customer don't differentiate between good and great, why confuse them with yet another sharpening option?

I hope that helps and if you do find some hard dollar and cents figures, I'd love to see them.

Best,
Scott

Scott

Thanks for the reply. If the consumable (s) result is 600-700 sharpenings per sharpening wheel with FBV and only 1 diamond or spinner as they call it, in use during that time, it is a highly compelling financial argument to make the switch for that reason.

I was asked about the FBV by a Figure Skate Instructor from Cape Cod ("?uber-elite")who said some person had been at their Arena trying to create interest in the process. As you know, competitive figure skaters depend on a "good edge" and thus her interest in looking for a competitive advantage.

Hopefully someone here has hard data to support the claims, guess we'll have to wait and see.

Thanks again.

It does have some interesting points. I run a one man shop, so speed of sharpening is extremely important to me. So on top of the cost issues, I'd need to know that it's still as quick to dress both standard and FBV.

I do know it's going to take a little longer to sharpen the FBV than my current process takes, so I think I'd have to charge extra for it . . . of course like you said, the hype my just go the way of t'blades and heated runners. We will just have to wait and see.

Scott,

I've been having my Blackstone Turbo professional portable for over a year now. Can't be happier. Dressing the grinding wheel takes no time. I don't use a cross-grinder. IMO it'd help to speed up the process with new skates (like with any other sharpener). You also save on materials if you use a cross-grinder.


I am very happy with the FBV. As well as those who I do the FBV sharpening for (I am selective here - beginners won't get to appreciate it). Yet, the FBV DOES work (I play hockey myself. Tried to go back to traditional hollow to compare. BIG difference. The pros I sharpen for say same thing. I checked out some online info and the stores do charge premium for the FBV sharpening. Lot's of customers don't mind to pay extra for the FBV benefits. My feel is that the FBV hype is not going to go away at all.
You skate faster, get less fatigue and no compromise to agility.

Also, to the best of my knowledge, about ten NHL teams are using the FBV, some minor pro leagues, as well as Boston University. Oh, yes, Team Canada, and Team USA too.

Blackstone came up with two options to retrofit traditional machines for regular or FBV spinner(check their site out).

PS: Once again, thank you for all advice you gave me in the past. You've been a great help!

Thanks for the post. I've definitely been interested in hearing more about the FBV hollows. I can certainly appreciate the improved glide ration of a FBV hollow as I briefly skated on t'blades (which feature an FBV). While I'm still not entirely convinced that my customers would appreciate it, I'm certainly more interested in checking into it at this point, especially now that I know I can retrofit my machine.

Certainly a cross grinder is helpful for new skates and those that have been sharpened very poorly in the past. There are definitely times when I wish I had one, but even sharpening 30+ pair of skates a day, I'm not sure I would ever break even on the cost without offering contouring of skates. Even then, I'm in a pretty small space and would rather not give up any of my retail display for it. Maybe I will get a stand alone someday just for contouring and put it in the warehouse though.

Can anyone tell me anything about the Wissota model S8B skate sharpener? My husband acquired one recently. I know it is old, but do not know how old. It is still in working condition and am wondering if it is worth it to but a new wheel for it and use it.

Found this on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiW5r06Juq0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYR60xfyNTc

Also, looks like Blademaster is trying to offer something similar now:

http://blademaster.ca/BFD100.pdf

I am intrigued by your comment on the t'blade. Every thing that I could find out about the t'blade profiles indicates that they are radiused hollows not FBV shapes. Perhaps you could provide me with further information on the shapes that they use for their # 9-11-13-15-18-21 profiles. Thank you.

When I was skating on t'blades I noticed right away that they were flat bottomed V. It was probably the only thing they really had going for them in any part of the country where you can gets skates sharpened well. Pick up a pair and look at them, it's pretty obvious, but unfortunately, I don't have any specs to offer you.

Maybe the info here will clarify that

http://www.t-blade.com/en/products/systems

I personally respectfully disagree with Puckmugger. Sorry Scott:) The FBV is totally different concept and IMHO gives quite better results.

You're certainly entitled to disagree with me, but in order to defend my position, I just rummaged through the garage in search for my old freebie skates with the t'blades. I'm looking at the 13 "radius" and it's definitely not a radius. there are three distinct flat edges on the blade rather than a single contour. |\__/| is the best illustration I can offer here. If that isn't a flat bottom V, I don't know what is.

Wow!!!!

Lots of talk about skate sharpening. Watch for a new sharpener to come out on the market this fall before Christmas.

The price and features will knock you off your feet!!!!

I'm interested, but it would be easier to look for if I knew what brand it was going to be.

don't knock Sharptasic until you try it.

works great....i have been using one for years.