I went from 11/16" to 100/50, it feels a bit sharper, more bite, and a bit more even. It's not night and day by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't catch edges as often.

Even though this site is trying to sell you something, I thought the description of the sharpening methods and explaining less to more bite was pretty good. I had no idea...

http://www.blackstonesport.com/technology.cfm

Straight off Blackstone Sports website, who owns the patent:
http://www.blackstonesport.com/fbv_where.cfm#Minnesota

I tried this last night getting the level of sharpening recommended. Great for speed and glidiing but couldn't turn for anything and stopping was out of the questions as there was way too much bite. If anyone tries it, don't do it before a game! My bad. Very similiar to a figure skater grind with the 'old' method - extremely sharp but not for a d1 defenseman. Best of luck if you try it.

Eric,

Just a couple of questions: Where did you have this done and have you ever had any "Radiusing" done on your skates?

First question relates to my "First and Last" sharpening done at Strauss. It was visible to the naked eye. There was definitely a bevel to the bottom side of the blade and your description of not being able to turn (or in my case, every attempt to even stop launched me onto the ice, into the boards or opposing/friendly players) sounds very similar.

My second question relates the the ability to turn a tight corner. Even after I had my first FBV cut on my skates, I was still expecting more. Turned out my issue was much more than just the type of cut, I had too much blade on the ice to make a tight corner. I positioned my skates, blade down on a flat surface, in a well lit area. I could visibly see how much area of the blade was on the surface at any point in time. If I recall correctly, it averaged about 4 inches. I checked the next skate and while the average was roughly the same, they didn't match.

I did the research on radiusing and decided to spend the $25 and have it done. I chose the 9' radius which seemed to be standard or "factory" for most high end skates right out of the box. After I got my skates back, I performed the same surface test on my skates. The surface area now seemed to be only 2 inches and both skates matched perfectly.

So I took them out on the ice and crossed my fingers. I was pleasantly surprised !! Corners came much faster and tighter and my skates didn't seem to "fight me". The FBV cut (100/50) didn't seem to have enough edge for me (5'9" - 180lbs) so I went and had the 100/75 done on them.

It's been about 6 weeks now and about 12 sessions on the ice. Blades are still nice and sharp and the skates still working great. I have received a few comments from people who have noticed the difference in my skating, tight turns especially. That's got to say something for the research, effort and money I threw at these things. Sometimes, you're only as good as your equipment will allow you to be.

The most valuable lesson I learned from this was: 1.) Not all people who sharpen skates know what they're doing. I've watched in horror as some folks like to start in the middle of the blade to take out a rough edge before they start from "end to end" and I'm glad they're not my skates. 2.) Never just leave your skates on the counter and walk away. Watch them as they sharpen your skates and speak up if they don't seem to know what they're doing.

My advice: Perform the surface test as I did and see if your skates match. Note the amount of blade surface touching at any one time. Take your skates to a "good" shop that offers radiusing and ask them to check yours. They should be able to tell you exactly what radius you have on your skates and if they are identical. Once they determine what the radius is, check their chart and see if that matches your skating ability, style. If not .... spend the $25 and have them done. I believe there is such a thing as a "Defenseman's Radius" but I don't recall exactly which one it is.

Good Luck !!

BTW - I had my skate work done at Dave's in Fridley and even though it's a bit of a drive for me from Oakdale, I'll still keep going back.

Paul

Hi Paul - thanks for the great update! I had them done at Dave's and called them up, explaining my issue and they had me come back in. I had the 100/50 done which has a very familiar feel to a 3/8 radius - very sharp. I brought in my other skates to have them compare what I had and am used to and we switched me to the 90/75. I went during lunch today and skated on Stillwater's south rink which is usually pretty bad during lunch and I felt like I was on perfect ice. Great speed and fantastic turns and transitions. The stopping is a bit sharper but not as hard on the knees as the 5/8 that I normally have done with a a 'regular' sharpening. Found I could skate as much as normal with less work involved and even more control. Short story - never try again something new right before a game, find the right "cut" for my skating style and now I LOVE FBV! I will definitely stick to this. Even after my skate I couldn't feel the normal nicks that show up in a skate there (at Stillwater) after a sharpening. For everyones information - a 3/8 is pretty standard for hockey players to have done, a 5/8 is much flatter and better for defensemen (and the knees) who do a lot of forward to backward skating (D2, D1, lower C2). My advice - know what you have now and you like so as to make the right choice.

Thanks, Eric

One other question for goalies - I see on some other sites that some goalies are trying this - I would assume with the 90/50 - anyone tried it? If so, how did it feel for side to side and butterfly recovery?

Thx! Eric

Here is a link to a fairly current discussion about various sharpeners, including the new FBV technology, perhaps a bit technical: http://www.epinions.com/msg/sec_~forums ... p_~5#posts.

For those of you with Wissotas apparently this technology is now available as an add on. I have not tried the FBV sharpening on my own skates yet, but am curious about it and willing to give it a try, especially since my blades will need replacing soon anyway- I wonder how much blade is lost changing from standard to flat bottom and vice versa, how long the sharpening lasts, is there any more to mess up than in a standard skate sharpening, what is the down side other than a bit more cost and fewer shops offering it and a bit of trial and error on which grind and then getting used to it? Perhaps the price will come down if it becomes more accepted. I wonder how common this FBV sharpening is in upper levels of skating/hockey? I thought T-blades sounded like a great idea when they came out, but never tried them either, and now they seem to be mostly history, as are many other seemingly great inventions- but perhaps that's for another thread.

I also agree with Eric that it's not a great idea to try out something new on game day! And as a hockey parent have had that lump in my throat when the kid steps out on the ice in newly sharpened skates wondering if it was a decent and consistent sharpening job or a terrible one. Personally I've had occasional poor sharpenings even at the so called recommended shops, a new grind technology likely won't fix that issue. KJ