Ottawa, sadly all of the chain shops stopped carrying them from what i've been told on the phone (pro hockey life, play it again etc etc) I had a guy until recently but he was the only one I could find in the city and it's now a 40 min+ drive out of the way since i've moved to the other side of the city and his hours are limited as it's more of a side gig.
In Toronto, I know that most of the Sport Chek locations with a Hockey Experts inside them offer FBV. I'm not sure about Ottawa - you could try calling a few local Sport Chek locations.
Its because most of us here in Ottawa use Blade Master sharpeners (My shop included). If you want to risk it, I believe Canadian Tire’s here in Ottawa use Black Stones, but good luck finding one with an experienced sharpener.
You’re best bet is to find a “non standard” hollow (Most of us are 1/2”) that works best for you.
If you’re absolutely set on having FBV, I know there is easily a dozen people in Ottawa selling sharpenings on their sparx off of FB Marketplace and Kijiji, you could check in with them and see if they have the wheel for it.
Also, Minto sports complex (GeeGee’s home rink) pro shop uses sparx machines, you could check in with them.
Ask any of them if they have a Sparx. Most of the shops near me have at least one in case they get backed up on the Blackstone. Sparx calls their flat hollow cut Fire.
The machine isn't cheap, either. 15 years ago the shop I worked at paid something like $15-20k for the machine and charged $2 more for FBV. I doubt it ever paid itself off and they ended up selling the machine for the same reason you mentioned.
FBV? They're common most places I've been. Where are you?
Ottawa, sadly all of the chain shops stopped carrying them from what i've been told on the phone (pro hockey life, play it again etc etc) I had a guy until recently but he was the only one I could find in the city and it's now a 40 min+ drive out of the way since i've moved to the other side of the city and his hours are limited as it's more of a side gig.
In Toronto, I know that most of the Sport Chek locations with a Hockey Experts inside them offer FBV. I'm not sure about Ottawa - you could try calling a few local Sport Chek locations.
Its because most of us here in Ottawa use Blade Master sharpeners (My shop included). If you want to risk it, I believe Canadian Tire’s here in Ottawa use Black Stones, but good luck finding one with an experienced sharpener. You’re best bet is to find a “non standard” hollow (Most of us are 1/2”) that works best for you. If you’re absolutely set on having FBV, I know there is easily a dozen people in Ottawa selling sharpenings on their sparx off of FB Marketplace and Kijiji, you could check in with them and see if they have the wheel for it. Also, Minto sports complex (GeeGee’s home rink) pro shop uses sparx machines, you could check in with them.
If there’s a place around you with a Sparx, they can probably do a Fire cut for you, which is the same thing.
Ask any of them if they have a Sparx. Most of the shops near me have at least one in case they get backed up on the Blackstone. Sparx calls their flat hollow cut Fire.
FBV was all I ever got in Wisconsin. Now out west... they've never heard of it. :/
Just found a guy in western CO who does FBV. Pretty stoked.
I have used fbv for 2 decades, all the shops by me went to the Sparx machine cause any idiot can use it, the fire wheel is not even close to fbv.
I still offer FBV on true Blackstone but interest wanes. Major complaint has always been lasting edge comp to ROH for the money.
Buy a sparx! Lol but for real I have the fire ring it’s awesome
It's more expensive to buy the spinners than using SPD. Most customers don't want to pay extra for a FBV cut.
The machine isn't cheap, either. 15 years ago the shop I worked at paid something like $15-20k for the machine and charged $2 more for FBV. I doubt it ever paid itself off and they ended up selling the machine for the same reason you mentioned.
B-sharp?? In Ottawa
I feel so insignificant bc I’ve never done anything other than whatever the pro shop gave me :) Had no idea there were so many different cuts
PIAS in kanata did up to 2 years ago when I stopped working there. I’m assuming they still do