Anyone punch their own boots?

Chunderface

Chunderface

Active member
Seems kinda silly to pay $25 and wait 2 weeks for a simple 1 or 2mm punch. Anyone do their own shell work? What do you use for heat? What do you use to do the actual punch?
 
topic:skeirman said:
Seems kinda silly to pay $25 and wait 2 weeks for a simple 1 or 2mm punch. Anyone do their own shell work? What do you use for heat? What do you use to do the actual punch?
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It's not silly.

I personally don't leave my boots for 2 weeks at the bootfitter they do it while I'm there, sometimes takes multiple tries to get it right (a good bootfitter will punch conservatively because it's easier to punch more and you can't really "punch back"), but regardless definitely worth going to a bootfitter. For what it's worth it's usually a good idea to chat with your bootfitter about your problems rather that directly asking for a punch, sometimes a punch is not the answer. (I personally have sixth toe problems, for some boots I need a punch in that area, sometimes I don't, and the problem is resolved by having a better lock of my ankle in order to remove movement and rubbing, this is obviously just MY example)
 
The most reliable method is with a heat gun. It also depends on what kind of plastic you're working with as different types of plastics have differing temperature windows in which they can be molded to. This being said not all types of plastics are capable of being stretched without significant risk of destroying the boot but most alpine boots are in the clear.

There is definitely a specific technique to stretching a boot and that $25 is ensuring it gets done the right way by someone who I would hope knows what their doing. I'm not doubting your ability to be successful with it but would you rather risk having to buy a new pair of boots or be patient and pay $25 to know it's going to be done right?
 
Loling that you think A. $25 is a lot to pay for that and B. You think it’s something you can accurately do at home
 
I did a full molding on a heat moldable shell from Salomon. I had a nice convection over and an IR thermometer to make sure the Temps were good. I taped a few layers of cut up sock over the first met area where I needed some room. There were a few tutorials floating around online. Check YouTube.

Visiting a boot fitter is probably preferable and much easier though. I did it for fun and because I like diy
 
If you don't already have the gear or experience to properly heat and punch the boot, $25 is going to be way cheaper.
 
14346162:mystery3 said:
I did a full molding on a heat moldable shell from Salomon. I had a nice convection over and an IR thermometer to make sure the Temps were good. I taped a few layers of cut up sock over the first met area where I needed some room. There were a few tutorials floating around online. Check YouTube.

Visiting a boot fitter is probably preferable and much easier though. I did it for fun and because I like diy
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Nice. Yeah my buddy used convection oven for a full mold on some Hawx. Worked out good I was surprised. I am just going to do one small spot with a heat gun.
 
Convection oven at 225. Eye the plastic and test it with your hands if you’re unsure. Usually 10mins is a good place to start.

Heat gun is even easier just make sure you don’t hold it so close to where the plastic bubbles. Put your hand on inside of shell to feel the heat where you’re heating

14346532:skeirman said:
Nice. Yeah my buddy used convection oven for a full mold on some Hawx. Worked out good I was surprised. I am just going to do one small spot with a heat gun.
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Yeah I’ve punched my boots for 20 years.

usually while im putting them on i get really angry at them and just punch the boots.

Very effective would recommend punching your own boots
 
So I ended up doing the punch and it was very easy and came out well. Used a heat gun to heat the area as well as raising the temp of last area of the whole shell with hot air inside the boot. The plastic was easy to control and my intention was to do about a 1mm out and 1cm around size punch at the outside toe area. I have skied the boots once since doing it and the specific problem is resolved but I'm think I'm going to try another liner mold at the toe area because I'm also experiencing numbness in the toes. The boots iz tight. Fit perfectly otherwise though.
 
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