Ours just arrived! Excited to have my daughter not have a nightmare of finding a place anymore and having total control over her sharpening on her figure skates. Thanks Sparx!
@gurubry
Жыл бұрын
I'm proud to say that my Kickstarter Gen 1 sparx sharpener from 2015 is still going strong and still works flawlessly; You should make some special anniversary stickers for 2025 and send them to the original backers. Why did you have to make the beam edge checker.... now I have to buy one lol
@malATX
Жыл бұрын
I'd love to see an improvement to the toe/heel handling, whereby the machine detects the toe/heel area by detecting the ring touching the steel. For example, a sensor on the carriage to measure it being deflected down as it passes over the blade would work well. Currently, because the toe and heel are curved but the grinding ring moves at a constant speed, the toe/heel get less “time on the ring” than the flat of the blade. Once the machine knows where the toe is, it can use that information to move the grinding ring at a variable speed so that every inch of the blade gets the same amount of grinding revolutions. This should also make it possible to sharpen higher on the toe and heel, since the carriage will move slower where the curve is, allowing it to sharpen higher without stuttering the wheel. This is the kind of stuff that will get me to replace my gen1 unit. Not LED lights or alignment tutors. I’ll be waiting! 😄
@BWT599
Жыл бұрын
Yep it's the main issue I have with Gen2. I have to use the stone to wear it down. Another dad told me he uses a dremel.
@Pau1ywog5
9 ай бұрын
Who cares about the toe. It's not a part that anyone skates on. A profile is only about the middle 2/3 of the steel. I suggest avoiding the "banana" toe caused as a result of obsessively rounding out the front and back.
@malATX
9 ай бұрын
@@Pau1ywog5 over time, the sparx creates a toe pick. That toe pick catches the ice sometimes and makes you fall. It does matter. Everyone that I know that has used one for a while knows about it. This is a useful improvement, even if you don't personally care about it, and one of very few ways that Sparx is noticably worse than a hand sharpen. Fixing this would make a big difference in perception and a meaningful practical difference as well. Toe picking to the ice isn't common, but every time it happens you think "stupid Sparx"
@aerodeck
9 ай бұрын
Is there already a date when the Sparx Sharpener 3 will be available in Europe?
@Sparxhockey
7 ай бұрын
The Sparx Sharpener 3 is not yet available in Europe. We expect it to be available for our EU customers in late Spring/Early Summer. The Sparx Sharpener 2 is available right now in the EU!
@BryanCristina
Жыл бұрын
Cool upgrades for new owners. Incliding an edge checker is smart and probably the #1 reason people haven't liked Sparx previously - they didn't know they were misaligned
@Pau1ywog5
9 ай бұрын
Lol who doesn't like a Sparx? I think half my beer league team has one and they all love them. They've always sold edge checkers. The Beam is also backwards compatible. Admittedly, the old method of peering through a lens might've been a challenge for some...
@BryanCristina
9 ай бұрын
@@Pau1ywog5 the edge checker is expensive and there's enough wobble vs parallax going on that you can easily be off a click with the visual tool. There's a reason they eliminated it
@hotready4655
10 ай бұрын
Do you need to remove the grinding wheel on the Pro 3 before adjusting to the Beam recommendations? I’ve watched 3 videos on the beam and none of them show what to do after running beam. And the video that plays on the app I believe is for a previous generation machine
@Sparxhockey
10 ай бұрын
No - you do not need to remove the grinding ring. Simply press the align button on the keypad and insert the Adjustment Driver into the Adjustment Driver Slot and adjust in the direction as recommended in the app. You can see a picture of this step on page 18 of the user manual. The manual can be accessed via the Sparx Hockey app or at our site, sparxhockey.com. Please reach out to help@sparxhockey.com with any other questions!
@MasterKzaM
8 ай бұрын
What is the max size of skates that will fit in?
@marcfalardeau6058
9 ай бұрын
Two questions: 1) What is the entry price for a sharpener for my home? 2) Does the machine modify my blade profile ? Thanks, Marc, Quebec, Canada 🇨🇦
@Broxty
9 ай бұрын
Just paid $1500 Canadian shipped to BC. Keeps your stock profile and can cycle between various profiles and radius.
@Sparxhockey
7 ай бұрын
The entry price for a Sparx Sharpener 2 is $949.99 CAD. The great thing about Sparx - and why several NHL teams use it - is that the sharpener MAINTAINS your profile. Unlike manual sharpening, the Sparx Sharpener provides consistent pressure and speed which maintains the shape of your profile.
@ericbodkin2112
Жыл бұрын
Cross-posted from an earlier Gen 3 video I'm a very happy owner of Gen 2. Probably won't buy Gen 3 because the improvements don't outweigh the costs of a new unit. I've watched the longer video this morning on Hockey Tutorial's YT page I either missed these topics or they weren't addressed: - "Toe Pick" issue. One of my only real gripes about the Sparx compared to traditional sharpening is that the machine lacks the soft edge at the toe of the skate in which a human is able to finesse. I don't presume to understand how it all technically works but the grinding wheel moves forward, hits the same spot on the blade (that you manually set) and then the pressure sensor says "I need to start moving along the blade". However, hitting the same spot with what appears to a greater amount of force (based on audible changes of the grind along the blade) which causes the blade to develop a sharp toe pick almost immediately and very prominent over time. So the question is, you mention all the cosmetic and user experience changes, but has any modifications been made to the actual sharpening algorithms? You mention the ability to update firmware in the future, will that include updates to the sharpening function itself? - Grind wheel height. I do love the digital user profile in gen 3 but I missed if the grind wheel height was one of those variables recorded and displayed either on the unit itself of in theapp? Going back to the toe pick issue ^^^ one of my challenges when sharpening a household of 4 skaters is manually checking and adjusting the wheel height each time. If I forget and it doesn't hit the "toe pick" in exactly the right spot...it doesn't end well. - The new laser alignment is cool and all but does the unit or app track the "offset" of where the wheel is currently aligned? In gen 4 I'd expect digital alignment of the wheel :) but for gen 3 if I have 4 skates to sharpen and each one theoretically has a different offset to achieve an even grind, it would be a logistical nightmare to go 5 clicks left, sharpen the blade, and then know that I need to reset 5 clicks to the right to get back to the zero offset. Sure you can say "just remember to go back right 5, if you went left 5" but sometimes you are in a rush or just forget. And if I now sharpen the next blade with the wrong offset now I need to 1. identify the mistake and 2. go over at least 5 more times to fix the mistake.
@malATX
Жыл бұрын
Agree about the toe pick. Check out my comment above about how moving the wheel at the same speed over a curved surface is effectively moving it faster than on the flat... Just visualize if you straightened the curve at the toe, you'd have longer steel. Basically the issue is constant speed carriage but more steel at the toe vs the flat.
@ericbodkin2112
Жыл бұрын
@@malATX I failed physics but sounds good to me! 🤣
@malATX
Жыл бұрын
@@ericbodkin2112 haha. Just remember, it takes the wheel same number of seconds to pass over the toe than the next inch or two of flat. But toe is curved-- longer "Distance" = faster wheel movement relative to edge at toe than at flat. Another way to think of it is at the toe the ring is moving forward AND down. So unless it slows down its forward movement then it must be moving FASTER too
@Sonic-wq2on
Жыл бұрын
Great stuff and I can’t wait for the new sharpener to ship! The only question I have is why the new edge checker uses a really outdated USB port and not the new standard USB-C? Will a USB-C Beam version be released?
@Havocme7
Жыл бұрын
I didn't see a USB port. What time stamp do you see one?
@Broxty
9 ай бұрын
It comes with a wireless charging mat...
@Pau1ywog5
9 ай бұрын
If it's just for charging, having USB-C is an unnecessary added cost that will likely force many new owners to then upgrade to USB-C... (believe it or not).
@Sparxhockey
7 ай бұрын
The Sparx BEAM is charged via the charging pad there is no charging port directly on the BEAM itself.
@robertasmith5000
Жыл бұрын
Please make a 7/16 Fire ring!
@Pau1ywog5
9 ай бұрын
OMG YES
@gatis_vaitovskis
7 ай бұрын
Is this sharpener available in Europe?
@Sparxhockey
7 ай бұрын
The Sparx Sharpener 3 is not yet available in Europe. We expect it to be available for our EU customers in late Spring/Early Summer. The Sparx Sharpener 2 is available right now in the EU!
@gatis_vaitovskis
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for reply@@Sparxhockey What will be the approximate price?
@NicholasG27
Жыл бұрын
Wish you would release "regular" and "fine" wheels, so the final pass would be more refined.
@SaccoBelmonte
11 ай бұрын
How much would the Beam cost?
@Sparxhockey
7 ай бұрын
The BEAM is included with the Sparx Sharpener 3 - but can be purchased separately for $249.99 USD.
@skatersedge3139
9 ай бұрын
.010" My hollow depth indicator can do +/- .001" I would never let a pair of skates go out the door with +/- .010. lasers should be more accurate than that.
@Broxty
9 ай бұрын
.0011 would show a fail. In the green is always sub .001 and under... I'm a machinist specialist, and this is amazingly accurate for a grinding stone. You're talking out of your ass here.
@skatersedge3139
9 ай бұрын
@@Broxty I'm a machinist aswell and use a hollow depth indicator and can get my customers skates +/- .001" all day long. My indicator is calibrated every year.
@Pau1ywog5
9 ай бұрын
@@Broxty I think the person you're replaying to is upset the Sparx is putting their shop out of business.
@Broxty
9 ай бұрын
@skatersedge3139 That's all fine and dandy... But you already have a negative attitude towards this company/unit due to your "skillset" being replaced by said unit. You know as well as I that with regards to millspec +-.001 means fuck all with skate blades. Shit, if someone wants to make sure, they can buy an HDI to double up.
@Broxty
9 ай бұрын
@skatersedge3139 also.... I just saw you stated 0.01 the device does 1/10000th of an inch.... "Sparx BEAM measures blade edges to 1/10,000th of an inch."
@aseltzer22
Жыл бұрын
Omg I need the beam edge checker NOW! I’m so pumped that it works for all gens
@Sparxhockey
7 ай бұрын
It really is a game-changer!
@Quad038
10 ай бұрын
Received mine yesterday, to upgrade from my 2017 model. Really like it. Hope it’s as bulletproof as the original. Never had a single problem. One of my best purchases in the last 10 years. Way more convenient and infinitely more consistent than hand sharpening. In addition, it keeps my profile (I have a profiling machine) which no human could do over time. Now to find a new home for the original.
@landonmcphedran772
10 ай бұрын
Looking to get rid of your old one? I'd be interested
@Pau1ywog5
9 ай бұрын
Chime in if you manage to sell this and for how much. Maybe I'll do the same. Agreed easily the best purchase in the last several years. I still laugh when players come down from the "pro" shop with their steel destroyed.
@Sparxhockey
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for the support! Hope you are enjoying your new sharpener!
@discreteentropy
Жыл бұрын
What exactly is meant by “BEAM communicates directly with the Sparx sharpener and directly with the Sparx hockey app to ensure your machine is laser aligned”? This makes it sound as if there is an auto alignment process, but other areas of info make it sound as if it is still a manual adjustment/alignment process done by following instructions provided by the app given BEAM’s readings. So is it an auto alignment process or the latter manual alignment process where BEAM is replacing the optical view lens and alignment wheel? Thanks!
@Sparxhockey
Жыл бұрын
The Sparx Sharpener 3 comes factory precision aligned. For the vast majority of blades you can just sharpen and they will measure perfectly level on the BEAM. For those blades that are not perfectly level after sharpening, the Sparx BEAM will communicate with the Sparx Hockey app and process various information (number of cycles, hollow type, etc) and display exactly what you need to do to the machine to get even edges (for example, it will display 4 clicks clockwise, and 4 cycles). There is no longer a need to use the optical tool or the alignment wheel. You will still need to use the driver to adjust the machine but you will be provided with EXACT instructions to ensure perfect edges.
@discreteentropy
Жыл бұрын
@@Sparxhockey Very cool. Thanks!
@Sparxhockey
Жыл бұрын
@@ericbodkin2112 There is not a visualization on the unit or the app....remember these are tiny, tiny differences - we are talking thousands of an inch. It would almost be impossible to see on the machine itself.
@ericbodkin2112
Жыл бұрын
@@Sparxhockey I understand but its still a setting that can be adjusted and in which there is an initial "precision alignment" offset. Not pretending I understand these mechanical and electronic challenges but... The wheel height seems like it would be more straight forward since there are 8 (don't remember exactly) or so height levels. Seems pretty straight forward to display which level it's currently at and record which level it was at when a given user profile was saved for next time. Regarding the left and right axis changes what I'm thinking is to display an offset value from true 0. It doesn't really matter how tiny each change results in because each twist of the screw driver is "one click". It comes from the factory with laser precision alignment we'll call zero (0) , so if I have a pair of blades and have to go left 5 clicks because that's what the new BEAM tool tells me, I want to see L5 or +5 somewhere, R5 or -5 it I had to align it in the opposite direction. If I was keeping track of one pair of skates this wouldn't be that big of a problem but when you are sharpening a household and for whatever reason the wheel becomes offset, there is no current method I'm aware of where you can find true or relative position without trial and error. And I don't really want to sit there and continue to shave steel off the blade as part of that trial and error.
@NoahFlemingConsulting
Жыл бұрын
But then what, do you adjust BACK to original settings after those adjustments?@@Sparxhockey
@sPGgwUxYrSd7Cf5H
8 ай бұрын
Just got my Sharpener 3. It's pretty cool. Im curious though, if the beam recommends that you change the alignment of the sharpener, do you have to return the alignment back to the factory preset once you have achieved an aligned edge on a pair of skates? For example, if my personal skate edges are aligned with the factory alignment setting but my friends require 4 clicks counter clockwise adjustment to align the edge, do I need to return the sharpener to the factory setting when I sharpen my skates again? If I sharpen my friends skates again after returning the machine to factory settings, do I need to add four clicks counter clockwise again to achieve an aligned edge or will they be aligned if I return to the factory setting?
@Sparxhockey
7 ай бұрын
Yes. When you set up your sharpener, you should first sharpen the skate you most frequently use to ensure and confirm alignment with BEAM. Once confirmed, if you need to adjust the sharpener for different skates, you should return your settings to the "home" position after sharpening that skate. We have found this to be a fairly uncommon issue. For the vast majority of skates/steel, once you machine is perfectly aligned, adjustments are not needed, but there are several variations in steel, skates, etc that could require adjustments.
@sjars1393
9 күн бұрын
@@Sparxhockeywhat about for gen 2 this seems very confusing
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