Manual sharpening with a flat-file takes more skill and patience than other methods. However, it's one of the best ways to truly understand and master the art of sharpening. For this method, you'll need a jig to hold the skate in place, a flat sharpening stone, a needle file, and lubricant.

Slide up and down the outside and inside edge a couple of times while keeping your finger at a 45-degree angle. Don't press down! You should be able to feel any rough spots or areas that catch your finger or fingernail. If you notice that, it's time to get your skates sharpened!

How long does it take to sharpen a pair of skates? Average rental/retail sharpening is 3-5 cycles equaling 2-3 minutes per skate or 4-6 minutes per pair. With two heads found on the Sparx Sharpener Commercial Dual (PS200 Dual) you can sharpen twice as fast and sharpen a pair of skates in 2-3 minutes.