Thermo moulding
RBC Thermoform Skates Make a world of difference - here's why
After more than a decade of making the world's most advanced custom boots while flying under the mainstream radar we have had the advantage of being able to design our Production boots with a positive fit for response and Feel. The two main areas we have always been concerned about in production boots are the rounded toe box in many popular brands in place of a real foot shape and the lack of ankle definition and Achilles tendon contour. The main goal was to make our Production boots fit very snug with the ability to expand the shells in place of trying to make them tighter on your feet. When you look at RBC boots you can see they are made for real skaters' feet not for pretty looks and round lines. All RBC Production Thermoform boots are able to be easily molded for increased comfort and the ultimate foot hugging performance.
HOW TO HEAT MOLD?
Please follow the RBC heat molding instructions to ensure you gain optimum benefits of thermoforming and also avoiding potential damage. Please be sure to read and understand the instructions, before thermoforming as should you damage your boots during this process there is absolutely no warranty. If the boots fit great and you only have one small point of issue then please refer to the extra thermoforming tips at the bottom of this page.
1. Center oven racks, placing boot and frame in the oven to confirm the boot doesn't make contact with heating elements or other parts of the oven.
2. Preheat oven 175 - 200 degrees f. We suggest that you purchase a separate oven thermometer as many household ovens are not calibrated to be accurate.
Increasing the oven temperature setting to rush the process will only lead to damaging your boots. As you have heard many times, slow and easy will give you the best results. RBC has specifically chosen materials that lend themselves to our Thermoforming process.
3. Inline boots. Please remove wheels and bearings leaving the frames bolted to the boot. This will make sure that your mounting points do not change while your foot distributes its pressure inside the boot. The frame will also allow you to set the new shape in the correct skating position during the thermoform process.
Short track and Long track boots. Please use old blades checking the cups are not bent. This will avoid changing you competition blades composition in the oven.
The bolts should be made finger tight and then just 1/8th turn after finger tight to ensure the correct tension. The fame or blade should not move freely if you have followed this correctly. You should be able to move it if forced though.
4. Before thermoforming your boot in the oven, loosen the laces to the point where you can easily slide your foot in the boot. After the oven is preheated PLEASE Heat and mold one boot at a time and be sure to carefully place it in the oven.
5. Prepare a chair with a firm to hard seat and an area able to take some heat with clear access to fit the boot. The frame/blade and boot will be extremely hot when you remove them from the oven.(do attempt this on carpet or vinyl floors).
6. Place 2-3mm cardboard or leather circles over the points that need to be pushed out on you foot then put on a thin sock or nylon to help protect your foot from the heat. (the circles will allow for the correct expansion of the boot as sometimes the foot itself does not give you enough room for comfort).
7. Wait 10 minutes and using hot pad or mitt check to see if the boot is pliable. If you think it is not yet soft enough close the door check it every 60 seconds keeping the oven door closed in between checks until you are happy (Do not attempt this for longer than 20 minutes total).
8. The next couple of steps should be completed with speed and care. DO NOT STAND IN THE BOOT! THE ONLY WEIGHT ON THE BOOT IN THE NEXT FEW STEPS IS YOUR LEG UNTIL COMPLETELY COOLED.
9. Using a hot pad or mitt remove the boot from the oven quickly and carefully, avoiding contact with any metal parts like the frame and eyelets.
10. While seated slide your foot into your boot ensuring the circles on any sore points have not moved. Lace the boot up SNUG .Over tightening will cause damage.
11. Place your boot and frame on the ground while it is still hot. PLEASE DO NOT STAND IN THE BOOT WHILE IT IS STILL HOT.
12. INLINE/ LONG TRACK BOOTS. Sitting in the chair try to have as close as you can to a 90degree leg bend. The goal here is to be able to draw a straight line from the hip where the femur joins through the middle of the knee and then down to the 1st & 2nd toes.
SHORT TRACK BOOTS. Sitting in the chair try to have as close as you can to a 90degree leg bend. The goal here is to be able to draw a straight line from the hip where the femur joins through the middle of the knee and then down to the 1st & 2nd toes.
INLINE/ LONG TRACK BOOTS. Now with your nut or washer tied to the end of a piece of string drop the line from the middle of the knee to the gap between the big and second toe. The most accurate position for the washer or nut to sit is about 1 inch or 25mm from the end of the big toe. Use the skin where the big toe joins the foot as your guide. STAY IN THAT POSITION FOR THE NEXT 5 MINUTES OR UNTIL THE BOOT HAS BECOME HARD TO THE TOUCH AGAIN.
13. SHORT TRACK BOOTS. Now with your nut or washer tied to the end of a piece of string drop the line from the middle of the knee to the gap between the big and second toe, with the line dropping equal to the end of the longest toe. STAY IN THAT POSITION FOR THE NEXT 5 MINUTES OR UNTIL THE BOOT HAS BECOME HARD TO THE TOUCH AGAIN.
14. Loosen the laces or even remove them and gently remove your foot from the boot by curling your toes and sliding your foot forward so you do not affect the heel and ankle shape you have just formed Allow to cool completely.
15. Now for the second skate repeat steps 1-14 for your other foot.
EXTRA THERMOFORMING TIPS:
Changing the shell over one specific point. Before attempting any spot forming, be sure you know exactly where you need to change. Quite often the pain that you may feel on the inside of the boot is higher or lower than you think looking from the outside.
We suggest that you:- Place some paper tape over the suspected area.
- Using lipstick or non permanent marker cover only the sore point, not every where around it as you need to find the middle of the problem in the boot.
- With the laces very loose or completely out place the boot on your foot and move your foot inside the boot. This should leave a mark on the paper tape inside the boot.
- Remove the boot and you should be able to see exactly where to reform the shell
Using a heat gun to activate the composite so you can reform it, many skaters have used the handle of a screw driver to push and reshape the shell. By using the handle to prevent your hand from getting to hoot you can apply a little pressure for a slight change and harder pressure for a more extreme change to that specific point. WHEN USING THE HEAT GUN GO NOT USE ON HIGH AND KEEP THE HEAT MOVING IN A CIRCULAR MOTION SO YOU DO NOT BURN THE MATERIAL.
Tight Forming the heel cup and tendon area:
- Use the heat gun to activate the composite resin.
- Once the heel cups becomes pliable with the laces very loose or completely out place the boot on your foot.
- Place a rag or mitt on your hands and apply pressure around the back of the boot.
- Squeeze the back of the boot together (Apply more pressure than you really need since most of RBC composites retain some memory. Once cooled completely it will tend to slightly spring back). Hold the cup and tendon until the shell has cooled and become hard again.
