Punch Reebok Toe Cap?

[boo10 323]

Question for the pros here. I found a pair of 17K skates that feel really good, but the toe cap is a little tight on one foot. Its the pinky toe, right where the toe cap is stitched between the liner and quarter. Can this spot be punched successfully?

[jonesy9020 77]

Someone please feel free to correct me, but I believe the answer is yes. However, because you're working with a toecap rather than a more malleable part of the skate, you're probably looking to spread rather than "punch" it (You're not going to use a standard ball-hole tool to punch out the toecap. This should be done slowly so as not to break the toecap, and a good LHS should know how to do this, Vet88 had a post a few days back detailing a DIY method he uses.

http://modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/63550-for-those-that-want-to-punch-their-own-skates/#entry1017102

[boo10 323]

Someone please feel free to correct me, but I believe the answer is yes. However, because you're working with a toecap rather than a more malleable part of the skate, you're probably looking to spread rather than "punch" it (You're not going to use a standard ball-hole tool to punch out the toecap. This should be done slowly so as not to break the toecap, and a good LHS should know how to do this, Vet88 had a post a few days back detailing a DIY method he uses.

http://modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/63550-for-those-that-want-to-punch-their-own-skates/#entry1017102

Thanks. The spot that needs to be punched is on the boot, right at the edge of the toecap. I'm not positive, but by touch it feels like a thin piece of plastic, stitched between the outer layer of the boot and the liner. Im assuming its an extension of the toecap that is stitched in to keep the cap from separating from the boot.

[chapel 20]

if the toecap is plastic, try a ski boot fitter. They punch the plastic ski boots regularly.

[Vet88 674]

I have successfully stretched that area using c clamps and other gear detailed in my post. A heat gun definitely helps to move the plastic toecap but care is needed. You want to gently heat the area of the toecap you want to stretch and try not to get to much heat into the toecap as a whole or else the glue that holds the toecap to the boot could let go.

There are now punches out there that will stretch the toe cap, I believe customskateworks has one.