Heat molding skates at home

[JulieN]

Apologies in advance if this has already been discussed, but has anyone successfully heat molded their skates at home? I have a pair of Graf boots that I haven't worn in a while. I recently decided to try them again and they didn't feel like they fit so well anymore. I'd like to try and heat mold them in my new convection oven. What temperature should I use and for how long? I've removed the blades, but do I need to remove the laces as well? Thanks!

[Casey]

No idea on the temperature or wisdom of trying this at home...but you don't need/want to remove the laces, as as soon as you remove them from the oven, you want to put them on and lace them up.

Personally I think the whole heat molding thing is nothing more than a marketing gimmick, but your mileage may vary, and I wish you luck!

[briar4012]

I was told to use 150 oC for 4 minutes for my Gams, think I used slightly lower as I was using a fan oven... Seemed to work any how!

[Mrs Redboots]

I haven't bothered with my pair - they were quite comfortable enough without. We did do my husband's pair, though, in a gas oven. We had been told to use a fan oven, but the gas oven worked fine.

[Skate@Delaware]

the Rain-bo sports website has instructions on how to heat-mold at home.

http://www.rainbosports.com/policies/fitting.cfm#heatmolding

I haven't done this at home so I'm not sure about it. I always though you could also leave your skates in your car on a very hot day for an hour and then put them on-wouldn't the results be the same? I'd be afraid of burning my skates-since I burn everything else.....(I'm the takeout Queen). :oops:

[TaBalie]

I have a convection oven at home and followed the instructions obsesively perfectly. :O I thought I heat molded them at home...

But about a week later I needed some areas punched out, and went to a boot fitter, and he did it 100x better. Higher heat, he kept feeling them until they were pliable... He also stuck all these pads on my feet--that I wore under my socks--so the the skate molded around those areas (so nothing needed to be punched out after all). He also laced them soooooooooooooooo tight, which is essential. They were completely different boots after that! I have Graf Edmonton Specials.

So my advice is not to do it at home. Even with a convection oven (you can not use a regular oven), it doesn't work as well. The hair dryer method sounds like a disaster--just as one area was heating up, the other would be cooling down, etc. I would take them somewhere. Ski shops have the correct equipment if your fitter doesn't, as they have been heat molding ski boots for years.

Hope this helps!

[luna_skater]

Personally I think the whole heat molding thing is nothing more than a marketing gimmick, but your mileage may vary, and I wish you luck!

Heat molding is a godsend, IMO! I much prefer the feel of my heat-molded skates over the bricks I used to skate in.

[Skate@Delaware]

Heat molding is a godsend, IMO! I much prefer the feel of my heat-molded skates over the bricks I used to skate in.
I 2nd and 3rd that! I wouldn't be able to skate in skates without heat-molding (thanks to 2 bunions)....

[flo]

I've also done "spot molding" with a blow dryer. Works well.

[icedancer2]

But about a week later I needed some areas punched out, and went to a boot fitter, and he did it 100x better. Higher heat, he kept feeling them until they were pliable... He also stuck all these pads on my feet--that I wore under my socks--so the the skate molded around those areas (so nothing needed to be punched out after all). He also laced them soooooooooooooooo tight, which is essential. They were completely different boots after that! I have Graf Edmonton Specials.

Hope this helps!

Ooh -- I like this idea!!

[singerskates]

Apologies in advance if this has already been discussed, but has anyone successfully heat molded their skates at home? I have a pair of Graf boots that I haven't worn in a while. I recently decided to try them again and they didn't feel like they fit so well anymore. I'd like to try and heat mold them in my new convection oven. What temperature should I use and for how long? I've removed the blades, but do I need to remove the laces as well? Thanks!

Preheat the over at 100 F for ten minutes, get a cookie sheet, place a moist towel on it, take your guards off (they will melt if you leave them on), place your skates on the moist toweled cookie sheet, then place your the cookie sheet with your skates on it in the oven for 2 to 4 minutes, then take them out, put your guards on the blades, then with thin socks quickly put your skates on and tie them up and then walk and sit with them on for 30 minutes. They will become your new best friends.

Brigitte

[Debbie S]

Careful, though. Not all boots are heat-moldable (as far as I know, only Jackson, Graf, and Gam, and certain Riedell and SP-Teri models). Make sure you determine that the boots are, in fact, heat-moldable before you try anything at home. And you need a certain kind of oven - convection - I think. Otherwise, I imagine you could really damage your skates if you do something that's not supposed to be done.

[luna_skater]

then walk and sit with them on for 30 minutes. They will become your new best friends.

Brigitte

When I tried on a pair of Grafs at the skate shop this spring, the fitter heat-moulded them for me so I could see the difference. He instructed me NOT to walk in them, just move in a marching motion with the foot flat on the floor at all times. I imagine this is so as not to start creasing the boot in the wrong place.

If you are re-moulding skates, I imagine it would not be an issue, since there are already skating creases.

[Caro]

If you are re-molding skates, does that mean you have to remove the blade when placing it in a convection oven??

[TaBalie]

Everything I have read about heat-molding stresses you are NOT to walk on the skates while they are molding. They should be laced tightly, and you stand (or sit) until they cool.

Walking in them (or bending your knees repeatedly) doesn't make sense --you want the plastic shell to mold to your foot, and if you keep moving it won't ever "pick" a shape.

The good thing is that with anything heat moldable (footbeds, ski boots, skate boots) when you reheat the boot, it reverts to its original shape. So if they aren't right, you can re-heat-mold them :)

Also, always using a convection oven... A regular oven will heat some parts of the skates very hot, and some parts not at all. I highly recommend going to a boot fitter or ski boot fitter for this for the optimum results.

HTH!

[TaBalie]

Wanted to add --

The blades do not need to be removed for heat molding, though you cannot use guards as they will melt (so if you are standing make sure there is carpet available).

[Skate@Delaware]

When I had my other boots heat-molded (at the pro-shop) the blades were on them. Also, I just sat there with them on until they cooled, about 20 minutes or so. No standing or moving at all. They were laced pretty tight 8O . After that, they felt absolutely wonderful!

My rink/pro-shop closed before I got these done, so in a few weeks a trip is in order! Of course, I've been told that you should only have them heat-molded 1-2 times because it speeds up boot breakdown. Don't know if that's true or not, don't care.

[pedonskates]

I don't post very often, but I have exact instuctions for SP Teris from the company itself. I was happy that my aunt and uncle had a convection oven to put them in (we did it before cooking ribs on the 4th of July). My skates feel way better.
Each company may have their own nuances, so you might want to contact the company directly.

Please make sure you follow these instructions step by step to avoid damaging your new boots.

1. Remove boots from plastic bags.
2. Unlace boots sufficiently to pull tongue outward so that air can circulate inside boots.
3. Place boots in CONVECTION OVEN.
4. Oven temperature should be set from 150 - 200 Fahrenheit (66 - 93 Celsius). Boots can be heated for up to 5 mins. to soften ankle area.

Note: Once boots are heated to attain desired softness, ankle pockets can be punched. While boots are warm any other areas identified as pressure spots can be punched out. Lace boots on skater's feet and lace up as normally done. Skater can then stand or walk flat footed (do not bounce on toes) in boots to help get boots to mold around contour of feet.

WARNING: Brass hooks on boots may be hot enough to burn skin while handling. Use extra caution while handling. Excessive heat or prolonged exposure to heat may cause damage to leather or spnge components of boots. High heat may scourge soles and heels.

I put them on with my soakers on and a carpet under them.

Pedonskates