phunky_monkey 6 Report post Posted September 15, 2008 Hi guys, I just bought some Graf 727's and went to my LHS to have them baked and sharpened on the weekend. I'm new to all this baking business as I haven't played hockey for the last 6 years, so it wasn't around when I was last playing. Bear with me...Anyways, I have the skates baked, and I get instruction on what I should be doing. I was told not to lace them too tight as the structure is weak while their hot, which makes sense. Anyways, I have them baked, all goes well. The guy I'm dealing with was then busy with another customer, and had another staff member sharpen the skates for me. He's not a hockey guy as far as I know, and precedes to tell me that he doesn't think the skates are a top skate, and tells me the way that next time I'm looking for a skate I should check the ankle stiffness and begins flexing the boot he was holding really hard on the ankles, causing the sides to nearly touch each other. He also tells me there should be more rivets in the holder and that the steel is no good, despite them being identical runner and steel to the GRAF's they have on the shelf... and asks if they're 725's, so I don't really trust his knowledge. I've bought a few pairs of skates in my time so know what I'm looking for.My question is, can this ankle flexing cause the fibres to alter in their weakened state? I may just be being mega paranoid, but one ankle now feels slightly softer than the other... but I haven't skated on them yet. The skates had been out of the oven for about an hour total at this point.CheersDane Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gummer12 134 Report post Posted September 15, 2008 Yeah, that guy should be Shot. Obviously the guy is a moron, cuz Graf doesn't use rivets on their skates. And the RMS screws will work just fine as they are. As for doing what he did with the skates while they're still fresh from baking, isn't good. It might not be the Worst thing, but it surely doesn't help the idea of what baking is for. If it's not what you expected when you end up using them, have them rebaked by the first guy, and let the other guy no where near you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phunky_monkey 6 Report post Posted September 15, 2008 Thanks mate. Wasn't sure whether it was all in my head or not, but one felt a little softer. I'll give them a squeeze now that it's been 2 days and see how they feel. Hopefully he hasn't ruined my brand new skates, won't be impressed... I don't mind having to get them re-baked, just hope it didn't do any permanent damage to the structure of the skate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gummer12 134 Report post Posted September 15, 2008 no, there shouldn't be any Permanent damage...at worst just messed up the forming process. Do keep in mind different Graf models have different stiffnesses. And that there really isn't a Top or Low end. Their main focus is Foot Type and Fit. As long as you got fitted correctly, and the stiffness and/or lack thereof is to your liking, you should be all set. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phunky_monkey 6 Report post Posted September 15, 2008 Yeah, they were a fairly flexy boot compared to something like the G5's, XXXX, One90 etc just didn't want one to be more flex than the other.Thanks for the help mate, feel better about it now :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
