Proper Use of Skate Re-Edgers

Re-edgers are a common tool in ice skating, particularly among hockey players and recreational skaters. When used correctly and sparingly, they can improve on-ice feel between professional sharpenings. When overused or misunderstood, they can shorten blade life and negatively affect skating performance.

This page explains what re-edgers actually do, how to use them properly, and—just as importantly—what they should not be used for.

What Is a Re-Edger?

A re-edger is a handheld tool designed to remove burrs and surface damage from the edges of a skate blade. Most re-edgers use either carbide inserts, ceramic stones, or hardened steel to lightly abrade the blade edges.

They are not a substitute for a full sharpening and are not capable of restoring a correctly profiled hollow or blade geometry.

Think of a re-edger as maintenance, not sharpening.

What Re-Edgers Actually Do to the Blade

This is the most important point to understand.

A re-edger:

• Cleans up burrs and nicks caused by skating, stops, or contact with debris
• Restores a crisp edge feel by removing rolled or mushroomed metal
• Improves initial bite compared to a damaged edge

However, this comes at a cost.

A re-edger:

• Reduces edge angle over time
• Rounds the edges toward vertical
• Gradually flattens the effective hollow

In simple terms:
You get a cleaner, sharper-feeling edge, but you lose the precise edge geometry created by a professional sharpening.

This is why skates that are frequently re-edged often feel “sharp but skiddy” or lack consistent grip in turns.

When a Re-Edger Is Appropriate

Re-edgers are best used:

• Between game periods, games or sessions when a full sharpening isn’t practical
• After light edge damage (minor nicks or roughness)
• When one edge feels noticeably worse than the other
• To extend the usability of a sharpening for a short period

When a Re-Edger Should Not Be Used

Avoid using a re-edger:

• As a replacement for sharpening
• On every session or every few skates
• To “fix” dull skates repeatedly

If your skates no longer hold an edge in turns or stops, a re-edger will not solve the underlying problem—and may make it worse.

Proper Technique for Using a Re-Edger

If you choose to use a re-edger, technique matters.

General guidelines:

• Secure the skate so it cannot move
• Use light pressure only—let the tool do the work
• Make smooth, controlled passes from heel to toe
• Limit to one or two passes per edge
• Treat both edges evenly unless correcting a specific issue

Do not:

• Press hard
• Make repeated passes “until it feels sharp”
• Rock or tilt the tool
• Use the tool at an angle

Aggressive or repeated use accelerates edge angle loss and blade wear.

Long-Term Effects on Blade Life

Frequent re-edging:

• Removes steel unevenly
• Alters blade geometry in ways that cannot be corrected without regrinding
• Shortens the usable life of the blade

Because re-edgers remove material from the edges only, they change the blade in a different way than a sharpening machine, which re-establishes symmetry and hollow across the full width.

Summary

Re-edgers can be useful tools when used with restraint and understanding. They provide a cleaner, sharper-feeling edge by removing damage, but they do so at the expense of edge angle and blade geometry.

Used occasionally and carefully, they can extend a sharpening. Used frequently or aggressively, they degrade performance and shorten blade life.

If in doubt, a proper sharpening is always the better solution.