DIY Punch Out for Ankle

[pelikano 1]

My U+ 10s started hurting my left ankle, mostly in the lower half of the ankle bone. It became quite painful and I fixed it with a home-made punch out.

I love the U foam: it is snug and supportive, but also tough. I had a feeling re-baking would not solve the problem. But luckily the foam seems fairly moldable. The process worked well and I repeated it several time, over about three weeks, not wanting to over do it and punch out too much.

1. Borrowed some lipstick from wife and smeared the sore part of my bare ankle.
   
2. Carefully inserted bare foot into boot and laced as normal, to mark the spot.
   
3. Removed boot and with heat gun on low setting gently heated the area marked with lipstick until nicely warm.
   
4. Applied golf ball to the lipstick mark and then clamped firmly, leaving it overnight.
   
5. Tested by skating and then repeated the process, moving the ball slightly each time.
   

The lipstick is crucial. Matching the hurt area to the exact place in the boot is not so easy. The lipstick mark revealed an area a little different from where I thought the problem was.

After two weeks, when the sore area had shrunk by about half, I lipsticked the remaining sore area and re-marked the boot a second time, and then did a final couple of clampings.

http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o593/tablehockey/29.jpg

[xaero604 0]

thanks for the DIY tip! I have the same problem with my mission assassin 09 skates. I can understand now why people on this forum were complaining about that lineup of skates.

[theflash0000 0]

Another way to do a DIY punch-out is to ball up some hockey tape (how much depends on how deep of a punch you need); stick it or tape it to the affected area of your foot; then bake or spot-heat the skate and lace it up and let it cool.

It can be a little uncomfortable while you're doing it, but it works perfectly. Just did it to a pair of Graf 705s (the spot was up near the toe box) a few weeks ago and I'm very happy with the results.

[flyers10 57]

I have done it the same way as theflash0000. Took some cheap insoles, cut size needed, built up thickness needed and taped to my outer ankle bone then heated that area and laced it up. Boot feels much better now and an easy fix. Lipstick as a marking tool is good idea.

[JustHockeySFS 1]

That's actually a great tip because our boot punch machines are just a half ball and a cup with pressure being applied.

[Davetronz 109]

Chalk is an alternative to lipstick. It will also fade/go away after punching.

I've never used lipstick... lol... but I'd assume that it is on your boot long-term.

[pelikano 1]

Chalk is an alternative to lipstick. It will also fade/go away after punching.

I've never used lipstick... lol... but I'd assume that it is on your boot long-term.

Surprisingly it is already quite faint. Absorbed into the material? Rubbed away?

Apologies for the graphic not showing up. Wanted to make clear it was a big iron C-clamp, the type you screw down.

Can anyone point me to instructions for posting a pic directly to a topic on MSH?

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

When in doubt, look at How Do I

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/topic/32356-how-do-i-post-a-picture/

[Sofer 0]

wow great ideas guys. im going to try this on my apxs

[lovejotd 1]

I want to do this to my skate, but I do not know exactly how you clamped it. Is there any chance you could post a picture of how you clamped the area with the golf ball? Thanks!

[pelikano 1]

The link is there in the OP.

[lovejotd 1]

I dont see a picture with it on the skate...but i may be missing something...

[hockeymass 11]

I dont see a picture with it on the skate...but i may be missing something...

It's not all that complicated. One clamp foot is on the outside of the boot and the other one is on the ball which is pressed against the foam on the inside of the boot. Then you tighten it...

[chippa13 1844]

Unless the outside clamp is bowed outwards then all you are doing is crushing the foam between the golf ball and the outside of the skate.

[lovejotd 1]

Unless the outside clamp is bowed outwards then all you are doing is crushing the foam between the golf ball and the outside of the skate.

Thats what I was thinking, this isnt punching out, this is crushing foam

[theflash0000 0]

You need a "cup" for the "ball" to push the material into, forming the punched out area. Doesn't really matter what you use, any ball and any cup will do, just need to find something that won't be crushed under the force of the clamp.

This is what you are trying to approximate:

http://www.blademaster.ca/images/product/b_SC6000.jpg

[seanyo 0]

Use a roll of tape and a small piece of plywood on the outside of the skate. So the inside of the skate would have the clamp and golfball, outside will have roll of tape, plywood, and then the other end of the clamp. Hope this helps.

[pelikano 1]

Use a roll of tape and a small piece of plywood on the outside of the skate. So the inside of the skate would have the clamp and golfball, outside will have roll of tape, plywood, and then the other end of the clamp. Hope this helps.

Funny you mention this. Don't know whether it's clear from that photo, but the screwing end of my clamp has a small piece of wood glued to it. I used to do some cabinetry-style work and this way the clamp would not dent the wood surface.

Not that it really matters with U+ skates--the outside appears indestructible.