Blade Mounting?

[Tinkerbellx2]

Hi everyone! I used to skate but quit about 10 years ago after an unrelated hip injury that required surgery. I just never really got back to it afterwards. Lately I've been getting the urge to return to the ice as an adult, so I found my old skates. However, when I was examining them, I noticed there are only 4 screws attaching the blades to each boot. Is this a temporary mount? It was so long ago I honestly can't remember. Thank you!

Pictures

 

[overedge]

Whether it was meant as a temporary mount really depends on the skater and what they're working on, and how much stress the skater is putting on the boot/blade. You should probably take your skates to a good skate tech and ask for their opinion.

 

[treesprite]

It is a temporary mount. Eventually, the screws will loosen, even if you aren't jumping.

 

[spinZZ]

I assume by four screws per blade you mean two in the sole plate and two in the heel plate. Is this correct?

For mounting, the sole plate has two flat-top elongated slots and typically six (sometimes eight) countersunk circular holes; the heel plate has two flat-top elongated slots and two countersunk circular holes. For a temporary mount, screws are typically inserted into the two elongated slots in the sole plate and the two elongated slots in the heel plate. This allows you to reposition the blade to the inside or outside slightly. You should not attempt any jumps or spins with this configuration.

But not all skate techs follow this procedure. Regardless of the specific configuration though, having only two screws in the sole plate and two screws in the heel plate is not a reliable mount for extended skating at any level.

 

[Tinkerbellx2]

Hi everyone! Thanks for replying. Yes, there are two screws in the sole plate and two on the heel plate (Here’s a picture) Before I stopped skating I wasn’t very high level, I was just working on my axel.
I will contact someone at my local rink and see if they can do the permanent mounting. Thank you!

 

[spinZZ]

Hi everyone! Thanks for replying. Yes, there are two screws in the sole plate and two on the heel plate (Here’s a picture) Before I stopped skating I wasn’t very high level, I was just working on my axel.
I will contact someone at my local rink and see if they can do the permanent mounting. Thank you!

You were very lucky then. Definitely a temporary mount.

If you are happy with the blade positioning and alignment, at the very least, add two more screws to the sole plate and one more screw to the heel plate.

 

[treesprite]

The word "temporary" is too open to interpretation. My skate guy doesn't even call it a temporary mount, he calls it a test mount. But then, he lets people go on the ice to test them, while he watches to see how the blades are working in that position.

Years before I knew any better, I skated on a temporary mount for several months, and one day discovered that part of my struggle with skating was that both of my blades were loose. It is a dangerous situation to be landing a jump on a loose blade.

 

[spinZZ]

The word "temporary" is too open to interpretation. My skate guy doesn't even call it a temporary mount, he calls it a test mount. But then, he lets people go on the ice to test them, while he watches to see how the blades are working in that position.

Years before I knew any better, I skated on a temporary mount for several months, and one day discovered that part of my struggle with skating was that both of my blades were loose. It is a dangerous situation to be landing a jump on a loose blade.

I think "temporary mount" gives the right connotation: a mount to be used for a short period of time (in this instance, to check the positioning and alignment of the blades) until a more permanent mount is installed for long-term use. Similar usage to a "temporary spare" in most cars these days; or a "temporary fix" to any problem.

 

[treesprite]

I think "temporary mount" gives the right connotation: a mount to be used for a short period of time (in this instance, to check the positioning and alignment of the blades) until a more permanent mount is installed for long-term use. Similar usage to a "temporary spare" in most cars these days; or a "temporary fix" to any problem.

Yes, however some people think of temporary as a day and others think of temporary as a year.

 

[MadMac]

Hi everyone! I used to skate but quit about 10 years ago after an unrelated hip injury that required surgery. I just never really got back to it afterwards. Lately I've been getting the urge to return to the ice as an adult, so I found my old skates. However, when I was examining them, I noticed there are only 4 screws attaching the blades to each boot. Is this a temporary mount? It was so long ago I honestly can't remember. Thank you!

Pictures

I just wanted to say that I hope you do come back to the ice! I was away from skating for 16 years and I can't believe how much I love this sport as an adult. Good luck with your skates! ❤⛸