Have you ever tried to heat mold your own hockey skates? Not only is it a fun project to do with the family, but you can use all the parts you normally would throw away to create something unique. The main components you will need are an old pair of ice skates, some clear plastic sheeting, an oven, and a hair drier. Of course, the resulting product will not be perfect the first time you make it, but it will have that handmade look that is so charming and makes any hockey player proud to wear his or her team’s colors. Here’s how you can do it:
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Get An Old Pair Of Skates
There are many reasons why you may want to make your own set of hockey skates. Maybe you are a child who has outgrown the pairs your dad gave you and wants to create a custom set for your favorite hockey player. Or maybe you were given a pair of old skates and now you want to give them a second life as something unique and custom made. Whatever your reasons are, you can find a set of old hockey skates at a garage sale or antique store that will work perfectly for the project. Ensure that the skates are in good condition, have no rips in the leather, and have the metal in good shape. These will determine the overall look and feel of your homemade skates. You may also want to consider getting a pair for a kid or a couple of kids so they can have a set of their very own. Creating something unique and custom made is a fun bonding experience for the family and can be a good way to show your creativity and innovation.
Cut Out The Plastic
Once you have found your old pair of ice skates, it’s time to start cutting. You will want the edges to be beveled so they look like real ice skates, but you don’t have to go any further than that. Simply use a hack saw or any other sharp tool to remove a small circle of plastic around each of the joints. This will help with the flexibility of your homemade skates and ensure they don’t crack or break under pressure. You can cut away some of the leather around the back of the skate as well, but that’s it. You can also cut out the toe piece and part of the heel, but leave the rest of the leather in place. You will find many uses for the remaining parts of the skate. You can cut them into different shapes or use them to make decorative items such as collars, hair clips, ornaments, or anything else you can think of. Feel free to be as creative as possible!
Wash And Dry The Skates
After you have cut out all the plastic, it’s time to move on to the next step. You will want to take your old skates and thoroughly clean them. Use dryer sheets or any other soft cloth to clean out the leather and ensure it is completely dry. You can clean the metal base and heel area with steel wool or another abrasive cloth. This will ensure your metal parts don’t rust or corrode.
Now that your skates have been cleaned, it’s time to attach the metal blade to the boot. Start by placing one skate on top of the other, with the toe piece resting on the sole. Slide a washer down over the outer edges of the skate for added friction, and then tie the lace on top. Do the same for the other skate, and then tighten the laces on the boots. You can also use shoelaces or string to connect the two boots, according to how you want the overall look to be. When you are finished, give them a good brush up to ensure the leather is slick and there are no rough patches or places where the strings or lace may become damaged.
Place In The Oven
Now that your skates are all set up, it’s time to place them in the oven and have them heat up. Because ovens vary in temperature, you may have to experiment with the heat setting a bit to get the best results. The general rule of thumb is medium heat for the first hour, and then gradually turn the heat down as the product continues to cook for another hour. After the first hour, check the progress by cutting a small piece off one of the skates. If you notice the leather is getting all bubbly and stretchy, then the temperature is probably still too high and you will need to reduce it. Once you have taken the skates out of the oven, test them by putting them on and taking a few steps. If they feel springy and comfortable, then the temperature was probably correct and you can leave them on the countertop to cool down. Once they have cooled down, it’s time to store them in a cool, dry place to maintain their new, custom-made look.
It’s fun to heat mold your own ice skates, and in terms of looks, it doesn’t get any better than having real metal spikes on your shoes. However, if you want to create perfect replicas, you will need to do it a few times. The main issue is coming up with enough space in your freezer to store all the parts, and then having the willpower to remove them after you have molded them. If you have a garage, then it’s simple enough to store them there. Otherwise, you may want to consider putting them in a cool, dry place in your home where they will stay fresh and will not deteriorate.