Is it normal to hear squeaks wearing skates?
- Thread starter Rozeamide
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- Mar 23, 2017
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I've had my skates for more than two years (riedell bronze stars) and they squeak
Just to clarify: How are you walking around? Are you walking around with bare blades on a soft mat, or are you walking around with blade guards on? My blade guards often squeak, but I've never had an issue with squeaky boots as such, when I'm not wearing blade guards. But I've worn only Riedell and Jackson boots; no experience with Edea.
With blade guards and when I walked at the rink it was also squeaking and the floor is a rubber mat.
I have only skated in my skates once but when I was skating I didn’t hear squeaks but off ice when walking I hear squeaks.
Does this mean I have to go to skate shop for them to tighten the screws?
How does one know if the screws are loose? Like you can wiggle the screw or too much screw part is out?
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2018
Try wiggling the blade to see if it's loose.....
Yes, this. Also, for me, I know my screws are loose because it squeaks when I walk off ice, which is where we started this discussion. I've just gotten into the habit of checking them periodically, and using a screwdriver as needed.
If you can wiggle the blade, wiggle the screws, or see that the screwheads are raised up, then the screws are waaay too loose. You need to tighten them before they ever get that loose. The problem is that if you overtighten them, you can strip the screw holes. If you're not sure what's too loose, what's too tight, and what's just right, it's best to ask someone experienced (a tech, a coach, a fellow skater, ...) to show you.
This is the trick I use. Typically when you use a screwdriver, you press the head of the handle against your palm and grab the handle with your thumb and all four fingers. This strong a grip can cause you to overtighten screws and strip screw holes. What I do when checking the tightness of screws is press the head of the handle against the first finger (next to the thumb) and grip the handle with the thumb on one side and the remaining three fingers on the other side. This will allow you to snug up loose screws without overtightening them.
Especially with a new mount, you should check the screws before each session. After a while they will settle in. I then check them every 3 - 5 sessions.
Thank you very much!!
Thank you very much!!
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2016
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Last edited:
- Joined
- May 27, 2018
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My Concertos were super squeaky. They still are but it's not as bad. It wasn't the blade or the screws; they squeaked when I tried them on before having blades mounted. For me, it was just the leather and the newness of the boot.
