Baking skates at home?

[sitzlejd 0]

Found this article and didn't know what to think:

http://www.hockeyx.com/hockey/dept.asp?s_i...amp;dept_id=118

I've always heard it's a really bad idea to try to bake your skates at home. These instructions sounded reasonable but what does everyone else think? Also, I just bought some used skates that are heat moldable. If the previous owner already had 'em baked can I do it again for my foot? Thanks boys (and girls)!

[burrn 0]

a friend of mine once "baked" his skates with his stove

...and as far as I know he didn't have any problems.

but still, I would'nt do it :P

[tbintexas 0]

I've done it 3 or so times with mine and my son's skates with no issues. I went with 180 degrees for 7 or so minutes and it seemed to work out just fine. I think so long as you don't crank up the heat too high or leave them in too long, you should be OK.

Now saying that, I think there are some new skates out there (Stealth's perhaps?) that don't need as much time in the oven. Definitely check first to see.

[brettlynch11 0]

i once heard of someone using their bath tub to mold their skates....

but def check into that before doing it

[Zac911 317]

please dont do this. its not as crazy as a HOME DENTISTRY KIT, but they are both doomed to cause you pain and money.

[hockeydoc 0]

Type "Baking" into the search and you will find hours of great reading.

You can definately bake them at home. I always have 8mins at 200deg. Be soft on the tightening or you can ruin your eyelets. I don't remove wheels and have never had a problem. Let them cool and mold around your foot, but do not over flex or skate on for 24 hrs.

[TheBeatGoesOn 0]

What is baking skates and is it common procedure for all new skates?

(Sorry, I'm a n00b)

[thehighlife 0]

I dont know what skates you guys are baking but 8 min at 200 degrees is way to long and to hot.

175-180 degrees max for 3-4 minutes is th emost common time and temp. Avoid heating at home if at all possible

[ONE96 0]

Vapor 40's have a warning sheet in the box regarding heating. 30's didn't that I recall. Of course they state to use their oven/authorized dealer, blah, blah...

175ºF/79ºC and a MAXIMUM of 3 minutes with 15 minute cooling period between a maximum of 3 heatings and 1hr. before actual use.

Do not pull forcefully on the laces, esp for the top 2 eyelets. Do not forward flex while they are warm.

I think if you have a convection oven, you are good to go. What you want to do is to be able to also direct the heat into the boot, otherwise you aren't getting full benefit.

Of course doing so at home renders the warranty null and void.

If you don't have a convection oven or aren't sure how many times they have been done in the past, I wouldn't try it. Just lace them up and watch TV in them for a couple of weeks.

[hunterphfr 12]

I've successfully baked 2 pairs of skates in my home oven. But I live in Florida and don't exactly have a hockey shop on every corner. I got a good deal on both pairs from friends back home in Canada and considered it an experiment the first time. I'm on the ice 3-4 times a week still use both pairs and have had no breakdown issues. The temps are not all that high, in fact I could bake my skates in my wifes car in July and August but the temperature is too high. I would follow several key points though:

1. Convection oven only.

2. Different manufacturers have different temps. get the right one.

3. Correct time again, different times depending on manufacturer and construction. DO NOT overbake.

4. DO NOT stand or walk around in them (except I THINK Kors).

5. Follow the other points on tightening the laces etc.

[bbruins8 0]

Home ovens, unless they are convection, don't do the job. I tried home baking on my Grafs, did not soften the boot at all, and was barely warm inside. I took them to my local Play it Again Sports, they had a Mission oven...and didn't charge to use it.

[hunterphfr 12]

Home ovens, unless they are convection, don't do the job. I tried home baking on my Grafs, did not soften the boot at all, and was barely warm inside. I took them to my local Play it Again Sports, they had a Mission oven...and didn't charge to use it.

Which PIASs, I'm in Tampa as well.

[TBLfan 25]

I think the one on BBD has an oven.

[bbruins8 0]

The one on North Dale Mabry near Fletcher has one and they do not charge, but if they are all assisting customers when you walk in, you have to wait until one becomes available. No biggy, although I knew more about how to use it than they did. The guy turned it on and it walked out of the room and it wasn't even plugged in...anywho, it's free and they let me do it myself.

[Polishprince85 0]

I baked mine at home and had great success.

1.Preheat your oven to 185 degrees then turn it off. You dont want the oven on with your skates inside!

2.Put one skates in at a time and leave in for 10-15 minutes. (When you place your skates in the oven, try to have the the oven racks centered, so that way the heat hits the skate as evenly as possible.

3.Check on them every 5 minutes or so, to see how soft they are getting. Do not leave them in longer then 15 minutes. All you have to do is open the oven up and squeeze around the eyelets.

4.Then when you take them out turn the oven on again so it heats back up to 185.

5.Put your BAKED skate on, and when you lace up, make sure to pull OUT on the eyelets not UP or else you will cause damage. Lace them tightly and sit in for 20-25 minutes. Dont flex the skate, or jump in it, as this will cause damage. You may walk in them, but be gentle. Once they cool, you may take them off and repeat steps 1-5 with the other skate. Good luck bud, mine turned out great and as long as you follow the directions carefully, your's will as well. Do not use the skates within a 24 hour time period!!!

[VakarLajos 5]

Vapor 40's have a warning sheet in the box regarding heating. 30's didn't that I recall. Of course they state to use their oven/authorized dealer, blah, blah...

Taken from the Vapor XXX box:

Preheat oven to a maximum of 175 degrees F/ 79 degrees C and only heat for a maximum time of two (2) minutes. Failing to ocmply with the above mentioned instructions can damage your skates

This pair of skates is meant to be heated a maximum of two (2) times Cooling period of fifteen (15) minutes is recommended between each session, if required.

Remain seated during the entire five (5) minute period of thermal fitting session.

When lacing up your skates after they have been heated do not pull forcefully on the laces. This is especially important when tying up the top two eyeslets on the skate, since you do not wish to inhibit forward flexion.

The instructions for the XXs were the same as the XXXs.

[bbruins8 0]

That's ridiculous...two minutes in an oven at 175 is not going to uniformly heat a rabbit turd, let alone soften a stiff boot like the vapor line.

[jrgretzky99 1]

You need a heat gun to do it. I use my Milwaukee heat gun and a infrared temp thermometer. I heat the skates for about 4 minutes, this is 1 minute longer than required in order to get the skates up to temperature. I heat the entire skate, inside and out, moving the heat gun all around while simultaneously temping the boot so not to exceed 175 degrees fahrenheit. The heat gun mimics convection because you are blowing hot air into and around the boot. I've done this numerous times without incident.

I will suggest you have the right tools for the job before attempting this.

JR

[shifter 0]

I baked my pair of easton S7's at home and everything was fine except one mistake during the process 50/50 right. For one skate i turned off the oven and put it in and followed the instructions. Then i put in the other skate after the first was done baking but, this time didnt turn off the oven once taken out it was fine but, when i put it on my foot did that ever hurt. Something was really hot and was touching my feet :) it was the eyelets hot as hell.

[DBLMINR 0]

i know a guy who melted his skates, he said the oven was only set at 160 but never the less, he had to buy a new pair of skates

[Scorgul 0]

I used a Hairdryer. Work great with my Synergy 1500C.

Take the Hairdryer will holding it and making sure it doesnt touch anything Put it at maximum power for 10 minutes in the skate. After put the skate, tigh it up and wait till the skate cool down will seating with your leg at 90 degrees (15 min).

Big advantages of hairdryer.

1- The heat comme from inside so no blade or anything outside you don't whant to heat up is heat up.

2- Very easy to handle.

3- Very dificult to damage skate compare to everything that can happen with a stove.

4- if you want to work on a specific area just blow on it.

[McDougalfaschnitzer 32]

The downside to a hair dryer is that you aren't getting uniformed heating at once. The reason a convection oven is required because there are no pockets of hotter air that may inconsistently and/or over-heat skates. You get a uniform "bake" that way.