How ice skates are made

The boot of a figure skate can take as many as 125 separate production steps.

stations: 8
things upstream: 73
raw sources: 22
steps from the ground: 8

The short version

An ice skate has two halves built separately. Leather and synthetics are cut for the boot, stitched, and stretched over a foot-shaped mold called a last. Steel for the blade is ground with a shallow hollow along the bottom that makes two edges, then screwed to the sole.

Cut the boot pieces

Machines cut the leather and other materials into the parts of the upper and its lining, along with the heel, tongue and reinforcements. Boots today are often a mix of leather and synthetics.

Goes in
Leather
Stitch and cement the upper

The fitting department stitches and glues the components of the upper together. Eyelet holes are punched for the laces, and the material is softened so it can be worked.

Goes in
Sewing thread Adhesive
Stretch it over a last

The upper is pulled tight around a last, a molded wooden or plastic foot form. This step sets the skate's final size, width and shape, which makes it one of the most important in the whole process.
Fit the outsole and heel

The finish is removed from the bottom of the lasted upper, a step called roughing, so the outsole will stick. The outsole and heel are attached and trimmed to match the skate.

Goes in
Leather Adhesive
Temper and coat the blade

Blades usually come from an outside maker, in carbon or stainless steel. The steel is tempered and often chromed, and stainless blades for skilled skaters may get a titanium compound that cuts friction against the ice.

Goes in
Steel Stainless steel Chromium
Grind the hollow edge

Grinding leaves the bottom of the blade slightly concave along its whole length, with two sharp edges that are what actually touch the ice.
Screw the blade on

The blade is screwed to the sole and the laces are added. On figure skates the front of the blade carries saw-toothed picks that skaters use for jumps like the Lutz.

Goes in
Screw
Polish and test the pair

The finished skate is polished and checked in a last inspection, then packed.

End of the lineIce skates

Worth repeating

The first ice skates were made from the leg bones of horses, oxen or deer and tied to the feet with leather straps.
In the 13th century, Dutch skaters began sharpening steel blades, so people could push with their legs instead of using a pole.
Because of the hollow ground along its length, a skater is always balanced on a pair of tiny blades.