Z-channel sharpening

[customradius]

Anyone ever use this? Evidently you get better glide and more bite when you get on your edges. I am assuming it is similar to a FBV.

Click to read more...

 

[noobman]

Anyone ever use this? Evidently you get better glide and more bite when you get on your edges. I am assuming it is similar to a FBV.

http://noicingsports.com/z_channel_skate_sharpening.html

For those that don't know what it is.

It sounds like an interesting concept, but looking at what they do to the blade is downright scary. I tried out an FBV sharpening earlier in the summer, and now I'm stuck forever paying extra for skate sharpening. I love it.

 

[ponder]

Another link:

http://www.prosharp.ca/editor_upload/111_Page 5 Prosharp News.jpg

FBV makes sense to me, but this just seems weird, the skates are basically just flat at the bottom, shouldn't the grip/bite be terrible?

 

[dpixel8]

I have talked to 2 VERY good sharpeners that I know (older guys who take their time and do a fantastic job) and they do it. They're against it though. Unless you get thicker blades (that cost 2x as much), you're not going to get that good of quality and consistency of a sharpening using the new technique. I've heard from both of them and they don't even know each other. YMMV, but I wont risk it and I am not paying 2x as much for steel.