Is this ice screw too dull to climb?

Hi folks,

may you take a look at this screw, do you think it needs to be sharpen or discard?

10 minute job to sharpen it.

Where can I sharpen the ice screw? friends told me that it is important to do it right, otherwise it will not bite the ice well.

There is a place where you can send them to be sharpened, I had a friend get his sharpened there. They did a fantastic job, and only charge eight bucks a screw. I will have to get back to you with the link

What happened to the 3rd thread on that screw?

Like they all said, it takes about 10 minutes to sharpen. BD has a video of how to do it properly. I use a dremel and just very lightly tap the teeth, and then stop, tap and stop. I never let the metal get hot, or even warm to touch. I wouldn't recommend using a dremel unless you are very familiar with how to use one, and practice on something first.

Griz Guides does mail order sharpening. I bought some used screws from him and they seemed pretty sharp.

Looks like one of my old beat up titanium Russian screws from years ago. I used a small dreml tool grinder to sharpen it up once

DannyUncanny wrote:Griz Guides does mail order sharpening. I bought some used screws from him and they seemed pretty sharp.

Thanks for the advice. Yeah I got this screw used that is why it's bitten up.

Thanks for the advice folks!

Does BD take it back and sharpen it? Just curious

I believe that Ouray Mountain Sports in Ouray, CO has a machine to sharpen ice screws.

I'd sharpen that screw in less than a minute.

Get a small triangle file. Take the burrs off the outside edge of the teeth. Carefully remove any burrs on the main cutting surfaces, trying to keep the same geometry.

If you're curious if it will start in ice, freeze a milk jug, cut the top off, and, check to see if it works.

Voila.

Brian in SLC wrote:I'd sharpen that screw in less than a minute. Get a small triangle file.

thanks again for all the great advice folks!