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ASK MR. EDGE
November 2003
Mr. Edge is a qualified skate technician with years and years of experience. He can answer your questions on boots, blades and foot problems related to your equipment. Questions will be answered in SKATING magazine and later posted on the web site.
It's that time again! Soon the gobbler will be gracing tables everywhere throughout America, the snow will begin to fall, and the holidays will bring us good cheer. This year we celebrate the third anniversary of Ask Mr. Edge.
I'd like to take a few lines and thank everyone for making Ask Mr. Edge a successful addition to SKATING magazine. I can tell from the e-mails I'm receiving that skaters throughout the world share many of the same problems. It humbles me to think that I've been able to offer some Edge relief (pun intended) to skaters from around the country and the world, too.
As a reminder to all, please be sure to include your return e-mail address so that I'm able to directly respond to your questions. Once in a while I receive a question and there is either no return e-mail address or it is incorrectly typed. Always be sure to check your return e-mail address. Thank you all very much!
With winter on the way, I wanted to remind you not to leave your skates in the trunk of your car for long periods of time. The last thing you want to do is put a pair of ice-cold skates on your feet. This would not be good for your circulation, especially if your feet are already cold. You might also find it difficult to get a good feel for the ice when skating.
Having said that, let's move on to the most important section: your questions!
Q: I was looking at some web sites that sell blades and have a question about some of the terms used in describing the qualities of certain blades. It says that the Phantom Special is a "dove tail" blade type. What does this mean exactly?
Also, could you define the following: "parallel and tapered"? I want to be sure that I understand these terms correctly as well. Greenville, S.C.
A: In reverse order to your question — a parallel-sided blade is nothing more than a blade that is flat on both sides. This means that when the blank for the blade (before the toe picks are cut into it) is cut, it remains smooth on both sides of the blade.
A tapered blade starts out the same way, but during the production process it is run through a series of grinding steps to create the tapering in the blade (the width of the blade being thickest at the front and thinnest at the rear).
The disadvantage to a tapered blade is that it's generally more difficult to sharpen. Some skate clamps are not able to hold it properly in place while sharpening, thus making it harder to achieve level edges along the entire length of the blade.
Now for the dovetail design! When you look at the Phantom Special from the back, you'll notice that the shape of the blade has been tapered and actually looks like a dove's tail, or dovetail.
(Check out the new MK web site at www.riedellskates.com.) The advantage is that there is improved edge bite throughout the entire length of the blade.
Q: I recently bought new blades and they are impossible to dry. After I skate, the condensation stays on them for a long time. No matter how long I dry them off, either with my wipe rag or tissues, they stay wet. They dry an hour later after I'm home and have taken them out of my bag, removed the soft guards, and once again wiped them down. Is there anything I can use or do differently to prevent my blades from staying wet and rusting? Acton, Mass.
A: Unfortunately, during the hot and humid summer months there's not much else to do except make sure you use a terry cloth towel when wiping down your blades. Upon returning home, remove your soft guards until your blades have completely dried. Before putting the soft guards on again, you may want to wipe down your blades with an oilcloth. This will help to prevent rusting.
Well readers, I can't believe I've used up all my space already. Sometimes however, your questions do require longer answers. In next month's issue, I'll try to answer more of your questions.
Till next time, this is Mr. Edge wishing you the best in your skating career!
Mr. Edge and all related elements are property of Arena Sports & Consulting Services, Inc. ©2013. Send your questions to Mr. Edge via mail (Ask Mr. Edge, SKATING magazine, 20 First Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80906); FAX (719) 635-9548 or e-mail them online.
The opinions of Mr. Edge are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Figure Skating or SKATING magazine. Remember, if you have problems with your feet, check with a doctor – the problem may very well be with your boot, but it could be more serious. Check with your local pro shop for more information about boots and blades.
