Ice Skates – Taking Care of Your Blades

Figure skating blades are obviously a very important part of a skater’s life. They can make the difference between a good landing and a bad one. Taking care of your blades to ensure they last a long time is an important, but all too often missed step.

Ice skate blades are made from steel which can vary in carbon content. The better quality blades like Wilson Gold Seal will have a higher grade of steel than lower quality blades like a Wilson Excel. The better grade of steel will keep a sharp edge longer. There are also ice skate blades that are made of stainless steel. They can keep a sharp edge double or triple the amount of time as a regular carbon content blade.

Rust, dirt and debris can ruin even the best quality blade. That is why it is so important to make sure to maintenance your ice skates every time you use them. Wearing plastic hard guards on your skate blades to walk around when you are off the ice will protect them from dirt and debris than can cause nicks and scratches. Make sure you wipe off your skates with a dry cloth when you are finished skating. This will take the excess moisture away and prevent the steel from rusting. Store your ice skates with soft guards or soakers. They will absorb all the condensation that forms as your skates adjust from a cold to a warm climate. If you live in a very humid climate it’s not a bad idea to put a small amount of petroleum jelly along the edge of your figure skate blade to keep out the moisture.