The smoothness of a plastic hockey blade is essential for creating authentic hockey-like movements. However, the curvature of a plastic blade tends to decline after just a few hours of use, which can significantly reduce the overall performance of the blade. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to restore the elasticity of a plastic hockey blade by heating it up before every use.
In this article, you’ll learn the steps to curve a plastic hockey blade yourself, as well as the benefits of doing so. You’ll also discover why every NHL team uses a different method to curve their blades.
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The Difference In Elasticity Between Steel And Plastic
When compared to steel, the elasticity (i.e., the ability to return to its original shape after being deformed) of plastic is significantly lower. This means the pitch of a plastic hockey blade (the distance between the two ends when measured along the length of the blade) will always be slightly distorted, even when new.
Further, this defect will continue to worsen over time, which could potentially lead to structural failure. This is why it’s essential to invest in a good pair of ice skates that are designed for comfort and performance rather than just looking trendy.
Why Are Some Blades Curved And Others Are Flat?
Every hockey team has specific requirements when it comes to the shape of their skates and blades. For instance, the Colorado Avalanche have a very specific need for a flat skate with a sharpened nose for maneuvering in tight spaces or around other players. This is why they mainly use metal blades, as the roughness of the surface significantly improves the overall quality of the ice-skating experience for the team.
On the other hand, some teams such as the Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres employ a different strategy and curve the edges of their skates to create a better “hockey feel.” The reason behind this is to increase the control and power exerted over the ice when in motion.
In any case, the style of a skater or the team they play for doesn’t determine which direction to curve a plastic blade, but rather the performance needs of the player or the team they are representing. This is one of the reasons why every NHL team has a slightly different method for curving their sticks.
How Do You Curve A Plastic Blade?
To curve a plastic blade, you’ll need specialized equipment as well as a bit of ingenuity. First, you’ll need to invest in a pair of adjustable jaw pliers that can grip even the smallest components such as razor blades and paper clips. Next, you’ll need to insert one of the blades between the jaws of the plier, and close the plier’s gripper.
Having the right tools is essential, but the real key to curving a plastic blade is knowing how to use them. A trick that has served professional hockey players for many years is to “finger curve” the blade by repeatedly striking the palm of your hand with the butt end of the blade while simultaneously turning the blade in the opposite direction. This process will gradually reduce the pitch of the blade, giving you a custom curved shape that will perform better than any pre-curved plastic blade you might have.
As an alternative method, you can also use an adjustable wrench to loosen the wheel bearings on the underside of your skate, and then curve the blades using a hammer and some grit paper. Make sure to wear safety goggles when using a hammer, and use care not to injure your knuckles.
The Benefits Of Curving A Plastic Blade
Aside from the aesthetic appeal of a curved plastic blade, the primary benefit of curving a plastic blade is the increase in performance you’ll experience. This can be attributed to several factors.
First, the curved surface significantly improves the glide of a blade on ice. Second, the roughness of a metal blade (as compared to a plastic one) significantly increases the friction between the blade and the ice surface, enabling you to go faster and farther while playing, which is essential for an agile hockey player. Third, the tip of a metal blade is more easily sharpened, which means you can maintain a better balance of edge versus bulk (i.e., the amount of blade you have relative to your height) as compared to a non-curved plastic blade. Finally, metal blades are more durable than their plastic counterparts, which means you can use them for longer without fear of breaking off a significant portion of the blade.
As you can see from the list of benefits, the advantages of a curved plastic blade are numerous, which is precisely why every NHL team uses a different approach to curve their sticks.
NHL Teams Use Varying Methods To Curve Their Blades
Even within the world of professional hockey, the methods used to curve blades vary significantly from team to team. In fact, most NHL teams use multiple methods to attain the desired shape of their blade. This is because the pitch of a plastic blade can only be adjusted to a limited extent, and keeping a constant shape within the limitations of plastic becomes progressively more challenging as the blade ages.
For example, the Detroit Red Wings use a combination of ice tools and a laser to create the desired shape of their blades. The laser is used to “engrave” the shape of the blade onto the surface of the ice, and the ice tools are then used to refine and enhance the engraved shape. This combination of tools allows the Red Wings to make precise adjustments to the pitch and shape of their blade as they need, regardless of whether they are right- or left-handed.
On the other hand, the New York Rangers use a special compound that is mixed into molten plastic before being shaped over a mold. This compound is a catalyst that speeds up the process by which the plastic hardens, which allows the Rangers to quickly and easily curve the blades on their skates.
The Materials And Methods Used To Make Each Team’s Blades Are Varying
The blades made by each NHL team are also produced using significantly different materials and in varying methods. Some of the materials used to make NHL blades include carbon fiber, kevlar, and plastic, with epoxy being a common adhesive. The methods used to make blades also vary from team to team, but most NHL teams will use some form of computer numerical control (CNC) machinery to cut and roll their blades to shape.
Further, many teams will use different materials for the shafts and blade components of their skates, with plastic being the most common material for both.
For example, the Pittsburgh Penguins use a kevlar shaft but an epoxy-based blade, while the New Jersey Devils use a plastic shaft but a carbon fiber blade. This is significant, because the materials used to manufacture the blades of a hockey skate will affect the skate’s overall performance.
How Do You Keep Your Plastic Blade In Its Customized Shape?
After you’ve invested in a pair of plastic blades, the next step is to learn how to keep them in their customized shape. This is easier said than done, but you can significantly improve the glide and durability of your plastic blade by regularly and forcefully striking it on a hard surface, preferably using a hockey puck.
Your first instinct might be to grab a hard cushion or a frozen waffle maker and repeatedly slam each blade against it, but that’s not how you should be doing it. Instead, you need to use a special treatment known as “matting,” which is performed after the blade is installed in your skates. This treatment involves spraying a thin layer of oil (i.e., linseed oil) onto the surface of the blade, and then wiping it clean using a cloth.
The oil, which is non-conductive, will significantly improve the durability of your plastic blade by shielding it from electrical charges that cause sparks when in contact with metal objects (such as wheels). Therefore, by regularly wiping your plastic blades with oil, you’ll significantly reduce the chance of experiencing any kind of mechanical failure within the pair.
The Effect Of Weather And Use On Your Plastic Blade
The elements will also have an effect on the performance of your sports equipment, which in this case is the plastic blade. Like any other surface, the weather will have an effect on the stiffness of your plastic blades, with hot temperatures drastically reducing their lifespan. Wind chill is also a factor, as it can negatively impact the overall feel and control of a hockey game due to the refraction and reflection of light caused by the wind (this is why you always want to wear a helmet and shield when playing in the wind).