The NHL season is almost upon us! The puck is set to drop this Friday, October 4th, and the annual trade deadline is just about here. With that in mind, we’ll walk you through the process of making your very own NHL-inspired skates at home!
Table of Contents
Step 1: Select The Skate You’ll Need
The first step is to determine what size and style of skate you’ll need. As mentioned above, the puck is set to drop on October 4th, which means you only have a short amount of time to make your skates. To save you some hassle, we’ve got you covered on this front. Simply head over to bauerhockey.com and enter your email address to receive a notification when the site updates with the newest products and offers. When you get the notice, you’ll know exactly which size and style to order.
Step 2: Decide Whether To Order A Worn Or Unworn Pair
The next step is to decide whether you’ll order a worn or unworn pair of skates. You’ll need to think about this decision based on a variety of factors, including how you plan on using the skates, the material the skate is made out of, and the like. The best thing about this step is that you can always change your mind and order a different pair. This is a key step if you’re not sure which one you want to go with because sometimes the fit isn’t the same when freshly worn.
Step 3: Set Up A Baking Sheet And Temperature Controls
You’ll also need to set up a baking sheet and temperature controls if you decide to go with unworn skates. The baking sheet is where you’ll place the boots when they’re baking so that the heat can penetrate the uppers and drizzle into the soles for that authentic hockey shoe look. Make sure to place the baking sheet on a level surface in your kitchen so it doesn’t end up in the oven itself. You’ll also need to purchase a pair of oven mitts just in case the sheet happens to burn your hands while handling the hot skates.
Step 4: Cut The Skate To The Proper Length
The next step is to cut the skate to the proper length. Remember, your goal is to create a realistic look for your skates so make sure you get the dimensions right. It’s also important to cut the ends of the skate to create a smooth transition from the top to the bottom. You can purchase a pair of hack saw blades at any home improvement store for this task.
Step 5: Sand The Bottom Of The Skate To Perfectly Smooth
The last and arguably the most important step in creating an authentic-looking pair of hockey skates is to sand the bottom of the skate to perfectly smooth. This is where most people get sloppy and start creating holes in the bottom of the skates, so be sure to do this step correctly. You’ll need to use either an oscillating sanding sponge or a pad of foam paper to ensure that the surface is very even. Don’t rush this step or you’ll find yourself with lots of tiny bubbles underneath the surface of the skate.
Final Takeaway
Hopefully, this article was helpful in providing you with a good overview of the process of creating a pair of authentic-looking hockey skates. If you’ve followed all of the instructions correctly up to this point, then you should have a very good idea of how to bake your own Bauer hockey skates. Remember, if you’re still not sure which size and style to order, then simply visit bauerhockey.com and enter your email address to receive a notification when the site updates with the newest products and offers. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected].