In
http://skatingforums.com/index.php?topic=8744.msg104963#msg104963Supersharp showed how she repaired boots in which the eyelets had been cut by the sawing action of the lace that occurred from "Russian lacing", using a needle and thread.
I always assumed repairing and rebuilding boots required a very heavy duty sewing machine.
Now you've got me wondering if I could rebuild my old Klingbeil boots with a needle and thread. Klingbeil is out of business now. I once took them to a shoe cobbler, and he said he didn't have a tough enough machine for skates. I took them to a custom saddle and jockey riding boot shop in Baltimore. The worker admired the workmanship, and was somewhat familiar with the Klingbeils' work, but said she would have to charge about twice the original cost to rebuild them. (Of course, at the time, Klingbeil only charged about $650 for new custom skates, I think. Everyone else now charges a lot more.) I don't know anyone anywhere near D.C. who rebuilds skates.
They only have minor creases, below the ankles. What has basically happened is that the material has become less stiff over time, and no longer provides sufficient ankle height lateral support to do anything hard - not that I have ever done much hard. But I'm mostly afraid to even try to do even the tiny half rotation jumps I learned.
They are also scuffed. The pictures makes it look worse than it is - the flash was bright to make the black skates visible. Anyway, I don't care about that.
They have two layers of leather, sewed together. My impression is that there is a stiffening element between them, that needs to be replaced.
How difficult are boots to rebuild? Would I just cut the current threads, insert the stiffener, and resew in the same holes?
What material and thickness do people use to stiffen boots? These were "soft ice dance" boots, though I'm not a good or strong enough skater to have broken them in the normal way. (After 6 years and a few thousand hours on the ice, I finally did many repeated heat moldings to break them in. Then skated for many more years and thousands of hours.)
And what type/diameter thread?
Any other guidance?
My other cheap alternative would be to use again the high level freestyle boots I got essentially for free (long story). The were Graf Edmonton Special boots (nominally designed for quads), sized 1.5 sizes too large, that I cut thick insoles for to make them fit, and that pretty much worked. I've repaired the heels that separated when I didn't use long enough blade mounting screws. But, between being high level, and too large, they are quite heavy and clumsy for me (and I had to use a different technique, so my feet don't come too close together, because they are large.)
I really should get new full custom boots. These never fit right because the fitter (who didn't work for Klingbeil) messed up. But they cost so much, even more if I travel to a factory fitter twice, which I would do. And I'm about 65, and too old and unfit to skate well now anyway.
Also - do you know anyone within a day's drive of Washington, DC who rebuilds skates?