SKATEMATE

SKATEMATE IS THE PROFESSIONAL
SKATE SHARPENER FOR THE ULTIMATE IN
HAND-HELD SKATE SHARPENING !

About SkateMate® 

Q. How is SkateMate better than competitive devices?

A. Unlike the other competitive hand-held sharpeners on the market, SkateMate is immediately adjustable to fit all skate blade widths and ROH (Radius Of Hollow). SkateMate has a flexible abrasive cylinder, whereas the competition all use ‘stone-age’ whetstones. The high-tech ceramic abrasive that SkateMate has on its cylinders was invented only relatively recently—about 15 years ago. The abrasive grains of this material are ceramically bonded to the backing (U.S. patent). Whetstones are hardly new, they were invented about 200,000 years ago. Whetstones also quickly take on wear grooves, which soon makes them useless for honing skate-blade edges. [NOTE: No competitive device provides a step-less-adjustable fit to the width of the blade. Such sharpeners will therefore wobble to some degree—more or less—and wobble will cause the edges to become dull instead of sharp.]

Q. What are the deburring strips used for—and how?

A. When a steel edge is honed from one side only, the other side tends to take on a micro-overhang, just like snow hanging on a mountain cliff. This is technically called a “burr”. By sliding the deburring strips up and down the sides of the blades, this micro-burr is removed for an ultimate edge. The use of deburring is not ABSOLUTELY necessary, merely better. [NOTE: Since these tough abrasive strips are drawn up and down the blades near the edges, the surfaces there will be ‘honed away’ very slightly. This will give chrome-plated blades a somewhat scratchy appearance near the edge. If you do not wish to mark up your expensive shiny blades in this way, it is recommended that you do not use the deburring strips, which are now standard issue on every SkateMate.]

Q. Can I still use SkateMate if I have the smaller 3/8-inch hollow?

A. SkateMate was invented about 20 years ago, when the most common ROH was 1/2 inch—or greater. Nowadays, a growing number of skaters have begun to use a 3/8-inch ROH, or even less (such as 5/16th). SkateMate will even hone these edges, although the exact shape of the ROH will change over time, of course. Skaters with 3/8-inch (5/16th) ROH can thus still use SkateMate to sharpen their skates, but they will have to have them reground on a shaped wheel more often than skaters with traditional 1/2 inch. 

Q. How long will the cylinder last? 

A. Although the cylinder has the toughest and longest-lasting abrasive available on the market (a high-speed industrial grade invented only about 15 years ago), it will eventually wear out. How soon it will wear out depends on how often you sharpen your skates. For the average skater, who may go out on the ice only five or six times a season, the cylinder will last for years. 

Q. What are the Glide strips used for?

A. The Glide strips provide a smooth sliding action up and down your blade. Without them, there may be a tendency for the aluminum surfaces of the gap to ‘stick’ on steel blades. This does not happen with chrome-plated blades, but shiny chrome-plated blades will show slide marks from the aluminum. Such slide marks tend not to occur if the glide strips are in place. [NOTE: SkateMate will work even without the strips, but not nearly as smoothly—unless you apply a lubricant.]