syinx

I preferred the feel of Bauer holders, and in my area, replacement steel for Makos are not as readily available in my size. Coupled with my preference, it was logical to to this route and tweak the pitch with the profiling Plus this way I'll be able to carry extra steel for a quick change, rather than have to unscrew the CXN bolts.

Took my first skate. The boot is extremely comfortable. I had not realized how much pressure my Makos placed on my mobile flat feet until I got into these. Took a bit of getting used to, I couldn't get any bite on my inside edges (though it might be the sharpening) and felt like I was on my heels too much. Gonna get them profiled with a slight forward pitch and see if that helps any.

Odd. Pulled the insole out and it's the perfect length. Finally got them baked. Toes very, very lightly graze the front and my foot doesn't shift at all. There's definitely a bit more room than in my Makos. I have a wide forefoot so this might just be more than I'm used to. Looking forward to my first skate this week.

Got my VHs today. A little worried - even though they appear to be the right size (same size holder as my Makos, with the same amount of "boot" on either end of the holders), there seems to be a significant amount of room in them. If I yoink the tongue forward and slide my foot all the way to the front so my toes touch, there's about a pencil and a half worth of space in the back. The padding seems to be thinner than my Makos too. Perhaps I'm freaking out about something that isn't to worry about, as they are my first VH skates, but coming from Mako skates where it was difficult as hell to get my foot in the skate before baking, this feels different. Going to bake them in about two hours, and will report back.

I just emailed in. They'll be building the forward pitch into the boot, about a 3mm lift.

That's what I meant. I'd have to ask Scott to shim the holders, aye?

Currently ordering these with the Bauer LS Edge holder on them. I'm coming in from Makos, but have always preferred the length/profiling of the Bauer blades. If I enjoy the Mako's pitch, but want to use the Lightspeed Edge holder on my VHs, would I have to ask for a +2 or +3 pitch increase?

>> Removed Post.

Finally got my pair of Step Blacksteel for my Mako IIs from No Icing Sports, with USPS screwing up over the scanning process for the tracking, and Canada Post scrounging to find it in customs before it got to me. Anyways, got my first game in with them today (I didn't have time to "test" them and my previous set of runners were coincidentally broken from the previous game). They are absolutely fantastic. Profiling and sharpening was spectacular, and I definitely noticed a fair bit more bite and glide, which I'm not sure if its attributed to the coating. Nevertheless, it's a fantastic set of runners, and easily my go-to from now on if I ever get new skates.

There's a video on Youtube somewhere. I'm on my phone and can't link it. But search for "Mako Fitting Instructions".

I'd like to guess that as long as they're snug and don't wobble, you're fine.

I believe in the Mako fitting guide video Easton posted up, they actually recommend heating the area and squeezing the boot so the boot itself begins to conform to that "problem area" in your heel as stated. Also, a lot of skates have this "Achilles' tendon" problem, and there are socks like the Stable 26 which have variable-thickness foam inserts on either side of your foot that make up for that negative space.

Noicing managed to accomodate my CXN Runner needs really well and have an extremely reasonable shipping rate back to Canada. E-mail them up or contact them via Facebook and work with them to get what you need.

Must be something wrong with their e-mail servers, I can't seem to get an e-mail through. I'll post on their Facebook page. Thanks a lot!

Can't find the junior sizes anywhere, everyone's got them listed at 254mm+.

Need it in a Junior size, unfortunately.

Any chance you have further info regarding these? I've contacted them with no answer. Jimmy? Anyone else?

Is it possible to get Blackedge/Blacksteel runners for Junior size Mako skates?

No idea with regards to the footbed, but the tools for the two bolts in the holders are just a regular square-head screwdriver slot.

Do they not make junior size steel at all?

Here it is. My hand-built relic. I've been working on it for upwards of two months now. Cost me about 1400 to build and paint, all genuine Fender hardware, Body from Warmoth and a Neck from a luthier friend. AAA Flamed Maple, Gorgeously grained Alder, and Rosewood fingerboard (I believe it's Madagascar). The pickups are hand-wound by yours-truly. Nitrocellulose paint stripped and relic'd. It's a replica of the John Cruz-Masterbuilt Stratocaster that John Mayer owns, with a few personal touches. Fender Waterslide Decals and a Fender Custom Shop neckplate I found at a pawnshop. It sounds absolutely gorgeous. And the flame maple is to die for. Completely iridescent.

Let's lighten the mood, eh? Did another mod/build for an uncle of mine - he was looking to get into guitar and wanted to spend 300 dollars on a guitar he wasn't gonna be happy with. Was an SRV lover for years (The guy's in his 50s) so I decided to piece together an SRV Strat without the relicwork. Cost me about 150 in parts. CNC'd a Fender body out of Ash at my bud's luthier shop, and picked up a Squier Bullet neck for a tenner off his bud. Gorgeous sounding beginner guitar, with handwound (my work) CS69-spec pickups in there. For 150 bucks, it's quite the beaut. I'm also midway through a Stratocaster Relic Build at the moment. Stay tuned! _____________________________ Currently in my collection: 2012 John Mayer Stratocaster in Monterey Pop finish Blueridge BR-143 2010 Martin OMJM 1997 Gibson Lucille 2010 Gibson Les Paul Traditional

I've had some solid experience with GFS Parts, I use them on almost all the low-end Squier mods I do.

I'm getting the slightest heel lock problems in them. Even after a heat gun and boot squeeze. I didn't experience this with the Mako 1s. Anyone else with this problem?

Yup. I should have known better. When I got new steel for my old Mako 1's I asked for a "double sharpening". I don't know why I didn't do it with these new ones.