Graf Supra 704 question

[Kgbeast 195]

Hi,

 

I just got a pair of NOS Graf Supra 704 for what I think is a pretty good deal. I did a bit of a research before and I found in many reviews that the Graf 7xx skates are some of more comfortable skates, but without much ankle support due to the shallow fit of the boot design, which I am ok with. Got them in, and they are definitely a nice, luxury, and rich in appearance. No two ways about it, you see that they are hand made by probably a one person. The tong is ridiculous... you do not see that anymore. Good old NT-3000 holder which a massive slab of steel of a blade probably 5/32" thick. The stance wise skates feel similar to CCM JetSpeeds which I like. These are not the 30 years old pair, but perhaps one of the later iterations of 704 (no eyelets in the tendon guard). Love the tendon guard on them as well as it wraps around the leg... might not be as cool looking as today's hexagon shaped tendon guards, but the "accordion" wing in the back of Porsche 911 looks pretty lame too :).

 

Anyway, the fit is pretty tight and anatomical for my foot. Hill-lock is excellent, although hard to stick my foot in as the leather inside is not a low friction material. My right foot felt right at home and I can wear the skate all day long. My left foot however, is not as comfy. I probably need to try to bake it.

 

The writing on the tendon guard says that the skate is a TopLite CP93 construction... From what I understand it is the heat moldable material. I wonder if anyone knows the baking temperature and timing for these skates. Looking around, I was not able to find this info. Thanks,    

[Anjin-san 29]

I have a pair of 705's that are also made of CP93. Back in January Graf Canada emailed me with their skate baking instructions. I'll cut and paste below.

 

GRAF Retailer Skate Heating Instructions

 

ALL GRAF skates contain thermo-formable materials, but heating times may vary by model.

The recommended heating cycles of GRAF skates are as follows:

1. G9035 Junior: Maximum 1 minute in a skate oven that is pre-heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. G9035/G8035 Senior: Maximum 3 minutes in a skate oven that is pre-heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. All other GRAF models: Maximum 3 minutes in a skate oven that is pre-heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
*Remember to remove the footbeds before heating the skate

Boots must be molded in a non-weighted position (do not stand during the molding process). Please wait at least 5 hours to allow for complete cooling. Skating while the boot remains heated will cause the boot to lose its form.

GRAF skates should not be heated at home or in a conventional oven. Improper heating will void any warranty on your GRAF skates.
If you have any questions, please contact customerservice@grafcanada.com before heat molding your GRAF skates.

[Anjin-san 29]

Just FYI. The dealer I purchased my 705's from baked them for 4 minutes. I asked the Graf rep and she said that 4 minutes was fine. The recommendations err on the side of caution.