Traditionally, blades are made from steel that varies in carbon content and now, some are being produced in stainless steel. In carbon steel, the higher the carbon content the higher the price, the higher dependability and performance and a longer blade retention. Stainless steel blades have a stainless steel runner, giving skaters increased strength and a long-lasting edge. However, these blades are more difficult to sharpen and you will need a knowledgeable blade sharpener to get the hollow to the depth you want.
Parts of the Blade –
Runner – the actual portion of the blade that rests on the ice surface.
Stanchion – the part that attaches the runner to both the toe plate and the heel plate. The two stanchions provide blade height and distance from the runner and plates.
Toe plate – attaches one stanchion to the toe area of the boot.
Heel plate – attaches the other stanchion to the heel area of the boot.
Picks:
Rake, pick or teeth – the front of the blade.
Drag, Master or Drop pick – the extreme bottom pick
King or Primary pick – the top pick of the rake and generally the largest.
Once all above have been combined the blade is chromed to within about 1/4″ of the bottom of the runner to produce a more pleasing look.
What to Look for When Buying Used Blades
Look for – the distance from the bottom of the runner to the chromed area of the blade; the NSZ from the bottom of the runner to the toe pick, the straightness of the blade when laid on its side on a flat surface (edge of kitchen counter e.g.) and the evenness of the rocker radius.
Non-Skateable zone – the NSZ is the area beginning directly after the bottom pick and runs to the point the sharpening begins. It does engage the ice in jumps and toe work and helps maintain the blade profile.
Spin Rocker – begins at the ball of the foot, just behind the NSZ and is the location for spinning.
Heel Rocker – located on the runner under the heel stanchion where the end of the runner begins to curve upward.
Rocker Radius – the curve of the blade from the bttom pick to the heel and is formed in the manufacturing of the particular blade chosen. Simplified: if one draws a circle with a 7′ radius or 8′ radius, the majority of the blades produced will, when placed with the bottom of the blade against the circle curve, follow the curve of the circle. In general, the smaller the radius, the more ‘rock’ and the large the radius, the flatter is the blade. When blades are purchased this may be the first concern because of the effects different rockers have on skaters.
Edges – Skaters use different sides of each blade to achieve different skills. These are called edges and have a slight hollow between each. When standing in the skates, the edges next to each other are the inside edges and the ones on the outside of each are the outside edges.
Hollow – This is the changeable portion of the blade and is done by a skate sharpener, It’s the depth between the edges and is defined by the needs of the skater. The shallower hollow (e.g. one inch) requires more control and correct body positioning to prevent skidding. The deeper hollow has a stronger hold on the ice when landing jumps and faster spins when spins are centered.