Retrofitting/Modifying Steel?

[McDugan 89]

So, In my never-ending quest to make sure I never have to worry about sourcing steel for the Pitch 3's on my Shift1's (god I wish the Shift 2 boot had just fit me better - at least I could have changed the holders on those), I bought a bunch of sets that I'll keep on hand.

But as I sit here at my boring desk job day-dreaming about hockey stuff, I had a thought - would it be possible to somehow retro-fit other steel (Bauer or Step, for instance) to fit the Pitch 3 holder? IIRC, and I plan to check this out in more detail, the Pitch3 steel has holes in it that the bolts go through. I know that's the case in the back, where the pitch-change notches are. I don't recall for sure whether the front is a closed hole too but i think it is. Seems to me that most other steel has open "hook" or "notch" type things that the holders catch on. So I'm thinking that with the right tools (drill press and good metal-drilling bits, and maybe griding to take away any excess "appendages" on the top) I should be able to take high-quality available steel and modify it to fit the Pitch3.

Anyone know much about this kind of stuff? I'm pretty handy but don't have a lot of experience with metals, especially steel. Maybe one of you guys who's built his own sharpener could advise. I'd be concerned about potentially weakening the runner in the process.

[jimmy 194]

Way too much work even if you were able to figure it out. Just get some Easton Connect holders and Es4 steel and install them and ditch the Pitches.

[danno25nh 3]

If you absolutely had to have replacement steel, any reasonably competent machine shop could make blanks.

Not cheap but possible.

[McDugan 89]

I was under the impression that the holders on Shift1 couldn't be replaced due to the boot construction. Do the new Easton holders' holes line up with the Pitch3 holes? If so, awesome. Didn't know that.

[jimmy 194]

I was under the impression that the holders on Shift1 couldn't be replaced due to the boot construction. Do the new Easton holders' holes line up with the Pitch3 holes? If so, awesome. Didn't know that.

You wouldn't be able to use the helicoils and screws, would have to rivet them. But, why not search ebay and stores for closeout Mission skates to use as donors? Then just throw away the skates and keep the steel.

[McDugan 89]

You wouldn't be able to use the helicoils and screws, would have to rivet them. But, why not search ebay and stores for closeout Mission skates to use as donors? Then just throw away the skates and keep the steel.

Yeah, I have done that - I have a few sets of steel on deck, and I can probably get more. I just really like the skates, and they can be had so cheaply (when they pop up) that I don't want to ever have to buy skates (boots) again. I'm paranoid about having the boots outlast my supply of compatible steel.

Trouble is that 280mm (and 272 and 288 for that matter) is such a common size. Since they're so old, most of the skates left on closeout with Pitch3's are small and huge sizes.

I'd be interested to know a little more about the possibility of the Easton stuff though... so the holes line up but would need to be modified slightly? As long as it doesn't require drilling into the boot, which I understand is very risky with the Shift1, I'm intrigued.