How to make foam liners?

[MnO]

I have manage to get hold of a pair of Strolz liners with a foam kit for next to nothing. I got it as a compensation for a really old pair of liners that broke at the tounge. The warranty was long gone and they made me a deal that I was supposed to rip the tounge of the new liners and replace the broken tounge on my old Strolz.

Standing there with a brand new pair of foam liners it felt really stupid not to try to find some foam, and that actually wasn´t that hard or expensive. Now I have a complete set, but I´m not totally sure about how to do. I´ve done three pairs at shops but that was a while ago. This is how I will do them if noone tells me others:

1. Insert Conformable soles into liner.

2. Insert liner into shell and get the tubes out in front.

3. Put the foam bottles in a warm water bath (about 50 degrees C)

4. Add distance tape/material to feet and wrap in plastic

5. Insert foot into boot and make sure everything feels ok and that air can get through the tubes freely. No buckles tightened.

6. Pour the hardener into the foam and screw the bottle onto the tube.

7. Shake.

8. Allow foam to fill liners and wait until it comes out of front tubes. Pull the body down hard by side handles to stay at the bottom of the shell.

9. Wait for 20 sec and then tighten buckles at first hook.

10. Keep the downward pull for a couple of minutes.

11. Stand still for 20 minutes to make sure the foam cures.

12. Let the liner harden out for an hour and then take the liner out and cut away the tubes.

Done. Hopefully.


Anyone know if some of this steps are wrong? How long should I wait before I tighten the buckles? I want them really, really tight. Some say that its better to cut the tubes after a while. True? Should I stand flat or at a forward sloped platform?

If something goes wrong, it´s not the end of the world, since I can do as supposed and just cut the tounge loose, but when I have all gear and it doesn´t cost me anything, I have nothing to loose if trying.

[KANUTTEN]

I got my foam liners done a couple of seasons ago, so I don't remember all details. But a couple of things comes to mind:

I used a plastic cap around my toes to prevent too much pressure from foam there.

Also, before doing the foam thing, it is a sound idea to check if air flows through the tubes ok. Do this by blowing with your mouth through the back tubes and checking that air flows out of both front tubes.

After having pulled down, I was told to bend forward with my knees, so that the heel was pressed backwards as if skiing.

Last, before foaming, I had plenty of paddings on areas of my foot where bones sticks out. Both ancles and other areas in my foot were padded. Obviously problem points should be padded a lot.

I guess the best advice is to let pros do this; I understand quite a few get their foam liners incorrectly adapted. But if too expensive or dont know anyone who can do it for cheap, it can still be done. You probably want one to help you with all the shaking and stuff, but I guess you have figured that out yourself.

Good luck!

[phUnk]

You only get one shot with foam, might as well pay a pro to do the labor.

[splat]

I used a plastic cap around my toes to prevent too much pressure from foam there.

A plastic toe cup is good to prevent the foam filling the back of the boot and driving your foot and toes too far forward.

[MnO]

Remember those toe caps now and they are most certainly needed. Thanks for reminding me.

I have no pro near me. I think I have about 3 hours by car to the nearest, but I still asked some. They all said the same: "That´s nothing we do. Either you let us do all the work and also buy the liners from us or nothing at all". Of course it won´t be a problem to find a shop if I ask around in a big resort, but I wont be in any in at least a couple of months. The whole kit cost me 200 sek in total. Thats about 25 dollars. To have a pro do the work should cost around 100 dollars or something close to that. I still have a the old liner with a great fit and if something goes wrong I just put the new tounge in there.

And last, but not least, I like to handle my gear myself. Custom mounting, repairing complex damages or just do things thats not totally everyday for a shop employee especially. Pro or not, most of the time the shops just fuck things up. I do almost everything by myself, but haven´t tried foaming liners yet. There are really few good shops that make foam liners in Sweden.

[KANUTTEN]

I can appreciate that.

I know quite a few of the pros even mess up their liners, so I guess it is a good idea to be very careful. Also you need help. You won't be able to do all that shaking on the second container of foam-to-be and keep your first foot stable in the boot.

[mammuth]

I know enough people having troubles with bad foamed shoes. On the other side i know some shops where they do it perfect the first time. Experience counts here. I did my strolz at strolz in austria, guess what ... perfect

[MnO]

I foamed them myself a couple of days ago and have now tried them on snow two days. They fit really good actually and I´m really happy that it went out well.

The liners actually were size 29,0 and my shells are 26-26,5 Tecnicas. I were worried that this would cause serious problems, but as it turned out it was only a benefit. The foam filled out nicely and the liner is a bit higher than a normal 26. As I normally ride with double power straps I now have a really nice and powerful feeling with the extra height of the liner.