Rusting Bauers

[DafoeFan34]

The best way to combat rust is the kick all the ice off of the blades and use a hot-air gun and dry the blades off. By heating the blade to room temp, you don't have to worry about condensation on the steel. And it beats having to wipe them down three or four different times. The main and only way to take the rust off is to have them resharpened. I keep my skates with my hockey equipment, but in a backpack.

[KMcDermott]

I go with the WD-40 & terrycloth covers. As for steel wool/brillo, I had to do that when I came back from my honeymoon last week. Hadn't done anything with my skates in 3 weeks, and the blade hollows were horrendous. steel wool took good care of them. now I use WD40

[Matt#30]

3 in 1 oil is what most of the skatw sharpeners reccomend around here.

[Stef66]

I wipe mine down after I get off the ice, then again when I get home. I then spray a fine coat of WD-40 and wipe off any excess, then hang the skates up without skate covers.

If the room where you store your skates is damp or humid, that might lead to rusting also. The light coat of WD-40 will displace any moisture and coat the metal blades to keep dampness off as well. I've also used cooking oil too, didn't seem to cause any problems and kept rust off.

I had a older pair of Bauers that would tend to rust of not used reguarly, say 4-6 weeks between sessions. WD-40 or oil might help in that situation as well.

[ouch!]

Of course, a sharpening will get that rust out of the hollow...
After every game, I wipe the blades before I pack up and wipe them again when I unpack. I use a ProFiler hand sharpener and I have a rag that is well saturated with the ProFiler cutting oil and THAT'S what I wipe the blades with. The rag. With the oil in it. For wiping the blades...so, they don't rust.

[Leffler]

I've had my Bauer 3000s since about 1993 and have no rust at all. The trick, as has ben mentioned several times, is to wipe them down with a dry towel after you take them off. Then, when you get home, wipe them down one more time and hang them in room that has a dry atmosphere. Don't put anything on the blade and make sure you take any skate guards off. That should do the trick. Certainly has for me over eight years.

[G-Man]

Oh. I almost forgot! One more really important tip for preventing rust on your skates... NEVER lend them to anyone!

[stollie_the_goalie]

I take it you speak from experience?

-stollie

Bauer 2000s (13 years old)(with loose blades) and I was told to use a fine grain sandpaper (!) and 3-in-1 oil on the sides only. This doesn't get all of it off, but it's close.
Are stainless steel blades any better than carbon steel?

[stollie_the_goalie]

Yes.

-stollie

[G-Man]

Originally posted by stollie_the_goalie:
I take it you speak from experience?

-stollie

I'm sure you've heard that saying that even monkeys learn not to repeat their mistakes. Suffice it to say, monkeys are smarter than me.

[njt42]

I have used my skates only 2x since my last sharpening, and the hollow is a quarter rusted. The rust is spread throughout the hollow, should I get my skates sharpened, or would it be ok to use them again? They're vapor 30s BTW.

[bellness]

Do you guys not wipe down your blades after use? ive got supreme 3000's , and the only time they rust is if i dont wipe them down good after hockey.

[njt42]

I wipe my blades down very well! Idk why they rust like that.

[jbgd825]

If you use the hard rubber skate guards, make sure there is no rust growing in those.

I noticed it in mine after mine were constantly rusting up no matter how much i dried them. I switched to the cloth stretchy guards and no more rust.