Blade Maintenance & Sharpening

Sharp edges are the foundation of everything you do on the ice. Understanding how sharpening works and how to maintain your blades between sessions will improve your skating and extend the life of your equipment. This guide covers everything from radius of hollow to daily blade care.

How Figure Skating Sharpening Works

Figure skating sharpening is fundamentally different from hockey sharpening. A spinning grinding wheel is passed along the bottom of the blade to create a concave channel — called the hollow — between two distinct edges. These two edges (inside and outside) are what allow figure skaters to grip, carve, and hold deep edges on the ice. The radius of the grinding wheel determines how deep the hollow is, and this measurement is called the radius of hollow (ROH).

Hockey blades are wider, shorter, and require different equipment geometry. A sharpener experienced with hockey blades but unfamiliar with figure skating can easily damage your edges, change your rocker profile, or produce an uneven grind. Always seek a sharpener who works specifically with figure skating blades.

Radius of Hollow (ROH) Explained

The radius of hollow refers to the radius of the circle that would match the concave curve ground into the bottom of your blade. A smaller number means a deeper hollow with sharper edges. A larger number means a shallower hollow with smoother glide. Think of it this way: a 3/8" hollow is cut by a smaller grinding wheel that digs deeper, while a 3/4" hollow uses a larger wheel that barely curves into the blade.

Deeper hollows give more grip but create more friction with the ice, which slows your glide. Shallower hollows reduce friction for faster, smoother skating but provide less bite on edges. Your ideal ROH depends on your weight, skating discipline, skill level, and personal preference.

Why Even Edges Matter

During sharpening, both edges must be ground to exactly the same height. If one edge is higher than the other, the blade will lean to one side, making it nearly impossible to hold clean edges, center spins, or land jumps consistently. Uneven edges are one of the most common sharpening problems and one of the hardest to detect without checking.

Symptoms of uneven edges include: favoring one edge direction, unexplained falls, difficulty centering spins, and a general feeling that something is "off" even though the blades look sharp.

How to Check Your Edges

Step 1: The fingernail test.
Run your fingernail perpendicular across the bottom of the blade, from one edge to the other. Both edges should catch your fingernail equally. If one side feels sharper or catches more than the other, the edges are uneven.

Step 2: Visual inspection.
Hold the blade at eye level with the bottom facing you. Look for light reflecting evenly along both edges. A dull or flat spot will appear as a shiny, smooth area instead of a crisp edge line.

Step 3: The light test.
Place a straightedge or coin flat across the bottom of the blade. If it rocks to one side, one edge is higher. It should sit level across both edges.

Signs Your Blades Need Sharpening

• Slipping on edges — the blade slides sideways, especially on outside edges and back crossovers.
• Spins that won't center — spins travel or wobble when they used to be stable.
• Difficulty gripping on stops — snowplow and hockey stops feel slippery instead of biting the ice.
• Visible nicks or flat spots — your fingernail slides over smooth patches instead of catching a crisp edge.
• A general "off" feeling — experienced skaters often sense dull blades before they can pinpoint the cause.

Sharpening Frequency

Ice hardness matters too. Harder ice (colder rinks) dulls blades faster than soft ice. If you skate at multiple rinks, you may notice your edges wear unevenly.

Cross-Grinding and Finishing

Cross-grinding (flat grinding) is a preparatory step done before sharpening. The sharpener passes the blade across a flat grinding wheel perpendicular to its length. This removes any existing hollow, nicks, and uneven wear, creating a perfectly flat, level surface. From this clean baseline, the sharpener can then cut a precise, even hollow. Cross-grinding is not needed every time — it is typically done on new blades, after significant damage, or when correcting a previous bad sharpening.

Finishing is the final step after sharpening. The sharpener uses a fine-grit stone or honing tool to remove the tiny burrs left by the grinding wheel. These microscopic metal fragments, if left on, create a rough, grabby feel that some skaters mistake for "sharp." Proper finishing produces edges that are sharp and clean but smooth — they grip the ice without catching or chattering.

Common Sharpening Mistakes

• Uneven edges. The most frequent problem. One edge is higher or sharper than the other, making it impossible to skate balanced edges.
• Too much material removed. An aggressive or careless pass takes off more steel than necessary, shortening blade life. A good sharpener removes only what is needed.
• Altered rocker profile. Applying uneven pressure along the blade length can flatten or distort the rocker curve, dramatically changing how the blade performs.
• No finishing. Skipping the deburring step leaves rough edges that feel grabby and inconsistent.
• Wrong radius of hollow. Using the wrong wheel or the wrong setting produces a hollow that does not match what the skater needs.

Blade Care Between Sharpenings

What you do between sharpenings has a huge impact on how long your edges last. Follow these habits after every session:

Step 1: Put on hard guards immediately off the ice.
Never walk on rubber mats, concrete, or tile without blade guards. Even a few steps can nick your edges. EDEA E-Guards feature a vertebrae design that protects the hollow and drains water.

Step 2: Wipe blades completely dry.
Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe both sides of the blade, the bottom edge, and under the sole plate. Moisture left anywhere on the blade leads to rust, which pits the steel and dulls your edges.

Step 3: Switch to soft covers for storage.
Remove hard guards and put on EDEA Soft Blade Covers before putting skates in your bag. Soft covers absorb residual moisture. Hard guards trap it.

For more on choosing the right blade for your level, see our How to Choose Figure Skating Blades guide. Browse our full selection of blade guards and covers to keep your edges protected.