Boot work

[Bill_S]

I spent a couple of hours today "freshening up" my old Riedell Gold Stars. I still haven't been able to make an appointment with the fitter at OSU, and I believe that this weekend is when they melt down for a month. I don't know if the fitter will work during that period.

I used Beeswax on the soles, polish on the uppers, changed laces to the Core by Derby Laces that I purchased back in January, and changed the ROH to 1/2" for warmer ice.

Even with all that work, these poor boots have seen better days..





(Note the crumpled-up foam shoe-bumpers in the heel area of these. They have been there for years. These boots were 1/2 size too large when I bought them, and I made-do with "stuffing".)

The outsides aren't too bad looking considering their age...



One other problem is that the tongue foam padding is broken down. I'm having to tie the left lace in a way that doesn't cause lace-bite.

Overdue for new ones, I'd say.

[AgnesNitt]

I'm bad. I just dry my boots and stuff them in their bag. Of course due to still being employed I don't put the time in them you do. However, I pretty much have homemade padding between my buntion and tarsus, and heel and the boot, it's almost like remaking the boot.

[tstop4me]

One other problem is that the tongue foam padding is broken down. I'm having to tie the left lace in a way that doesn't cause lace-bite.

You can insert a new piece of foam between the broken-down tongue liner and your foot before you lace-up.

[Bill_S]

I should look for something to hold me over.

In the meantime, I do want to report on the laces. I love them! They stay put like no others I have tried. They are a little wide so I have to make sure they go under the lace hooks completely, but that's a small thing compared to the benefit of skating without having to retie.

I'm sold so far. Now we'll see how long they last before they lose their "goodness".

[Query]

Gee, your boots have hardly broken down at all. You must have kept great care of them!

I assume you are talking about the roller derby laces you mentioned in http://skatingforums.com/index.php?topic=8284.msg98811#msg98811 ?

However, I pretty much have homemade padding between my buntion and tarsus, and heel and the boot, it's almost like remaking the boot.

If by tarsus you mean the back of the foot:
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsus_(skeleton)

Is "buntion" an accidental spelling of bunion? Except that wouldn't be next to the tarsus, would it?

There was a product designed for lace bite, called LaceVice. I don't know if the company still exists, as their web page (http://lacevice.com) is gone.
See
  https://www.facebook.com/LaceVice-331859898574/
  https://web.archive.org/web/20140517192924/http://lacevice.com/

If they don't exist anymore, you could cut something like it out of leather, or similar material, and glue or otherwise attach it to the boot - or buy an old one from a pro shop. Looks like a simple design.