Can you sharpen goalie skates on Sparx?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 21, 2026
Yes, the Sparx Sharpener will sharpen goalie skates by using the included Goalie Skate Risers.
What do NHL goalies get their skates sharpened at?
Our recommendation: 3/8″ or 1/2″ for the experienced goalie, 1″ for the inexperienced goalie. Figure skaters generally like a better “glide” along the top of the ice, so we typically see a 1″ cut to maximize a smooth glide.
Can a Sparx machine sharpen figure skates?
Can you sharpen figure skates? Yes. We offer a figure skate adapter for $99.99. With the figure skate adapter in place, Sparx can sharpen most traditional, flat-sided blades.
Do NHL teams use Sparx?
Twenty-five NHL teams, including the Boston Bruins, now used the Sparx system. INC Magazine has taken notice of this success, naming Sparx number 56 on its list of the fastest growing private companies in the country. Layton developed his idea with a nod towards the Keurig coffee maker.
How do you sharpen hockey goalie skates?
How to sharpen goalie skates
- Get a skate sharpener (we use the Sparx, full review here)
- Determine your hollow (1″ equals more glide, 3/8″ equals less)
- Sharpen the skates to your desired edge.
- Use a honing stone to remove burrs / etc.
How do I know if my goalie skates need sharpening?
Checking Your Skates
The butterfly goalie who is constantly hitting the ice, digging in his edges and standing up again will need to make sure that his skate blade is sharp. A stand-up goalie won't need his skates sharpened as often.
How often should I sharpen my goalie skates?
It is also important to have your blades sharpened regularly—about every 6-8 hours of practice or game time is ideal.
How long do Sparx grinding rings last?
A Grinding Ring (Radius Ring or FIRE Ring) will last for 320 cycles. If you're freshening up your blades after every skate, you'll get 50-60 sharpenings (or even more!) per ring and if you're sharpening your skates after every 5-6 hours of ice time, you'll get about 40 sharpenings.
What comes with a Sparx Sharpener?
Get the revolutionary Sparx Sharpener and the most frequently purchased sharpener accessories in one cost-savings bundle. The Essentials Bundle includes the Sparx Sharpener, Grinding Ring Starter Pack, Sparx Edge Checker, Sparx Blade Holder, Sparx Deburring Block Set and Sparx Soft Travel Case.
How do you sharpen figure skates?
Tighten the blade brackets until the skates are securely in place and parallel to each other. Sit with the sharpening jig between your legs. Use a flat file to file the blade from toe to heel in a diagonal motion. Be sure the file is always perpendicular to the blade.
How many passes on a Sparx?
You will need about 10 passes on the Sparx Sharpener and Sparx SharpenerPro.
What do most NHL players sharpen their skates?
You can get your skates sharpened anywhere from 1/8th of an inch to one inch. 1/8th would be the sharpest, and one inch would be the least sharp. The majority of pros use something with a shallower hollow, but preference does widely vary.
What is the Sparx fire ring?
SPARX FIRE RINGS
Our FIRE Ring hollows provide exactly what you are looking for – the best of both worlds. Available in four different cuts (3/8”, ½”, 5/8”, ¾”) the FIRE ring is a re-imagined and optimized flat bottom hollow that provides improved glide while still maintain desired bite.
Is 5/8 a good skate sharpening?
5/8 (Shallow) grind is what most figure skaters skate on. This gives you a good flowing edge and has little friction on the ice.
When did Sparx sharpener start?
November 13th (the Sparx Sharpener arrived!)
How often should you sharpen hockey skates?
The rule of thumb is to sharpen ice skates after every 15-20 hours of use. This is typical for athletes who play hockey or figure skate multiple times on a weekly basis.
When should I replace my Sparx grinding wheel?
If you are freshening up your blades after every skate, 1-2 cycles will usually be enough. If you're sharpening your skates after every 5-6 hours of ice time, you'll typically want to run 4 cycles. If you're changing your radius or have new steel, you will need about 10 cycles.
Do NHL players use flat bottom V?
One of the first NHL teams to be using the flat bottom v skate sharpening method was the St. Louis blues, now over 20 NHL teams are using this method, quite a bold statement for a technique that just took off at the beginning of the year!
How can I sharpen my skates at home?
Now, there's at least three methods to sharpen ice skates at home:
- Use a Sharpening Machine. You can invest in a sharpening machine and save yourself trips to the proshop. ...
- Use a File to Sharpen Your Ice Skates. Now, you can use a file to sharpen your blades at home. ...
- Use a Hockey Skate Blade Sharpening Stone.
Do brand new skates need to be sharpened?
New skates are not sharpened, so you will need to get them sharpened by a trained sharpener, and then re-sharpened every 15-20 hours of ice time – to keep them in tip top condition by removing knicks and deformaties in the metal edge.
Do skates go dull over time?
Blades do wear down by sharpening. And they have a limited lifetime. My daughters sharpener (yes we have a special guy) is pretty conservative with grinding and very consistent so newly sharpened blades don't take much time to get used to. My skaters like a freshly sharpened blade because of this.
What happens when your skates are dull?
If you have dull blades, your ice skates will not be able to form a powerful grip with the ice. Therefore, you could keep falling over while skating at the rink. If you have nicks in your blades, this could require you to sharpen your ice skates as well.