Cross-grinding is a method of sharpening skates using a grinding wheel that runs perpendicular to the blade. It's a standard step in the sharpening process, and is often used to prepare new skates or remove imperfections

How it works

• The cross-grinding wheel removes rust, nicks, and other imperfections
• It levels out the blade so it's ready for the finishing wheel
• The cross-grinding wheel is coarser than the finishing wheel, so it removes more steel 

Why it's important

• Cross-grinding provides a clean, even surface for the finishing wheel to work on
• It's especially important for goalie skates, which are constantly being pushed off and banged into posts

How it affects blade life

• Cross-grinding removes more steel from the blade than the finishing wheel, which can shorten the blade's lifespan
• Sometimes we perform a light cross-grind to remove just the edges, instead of the entire hollow

*skate blades must be brought to the shop, we do not mail blades