The Holy Grail of umpire gear

[DG]

I have 4 Honigs K91's with doeskin pads. I have taken several direct shots and never left the game or taken more than a minute to recover. Only one shot bent the frame and I put it on a table vise and bent it back and it is still in use. No concussions, no headaches.

My wife says I have CRS disease (can't remember sh*t) but I think that is more age related than shots to the mask related.

[dash_riprock]

Don't ever bend a bent mask back into shape. You will weaken it.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Don't ever bend a bent mask back into shape. You will weaken it.

...and THAT is GREAT advice. Or is that "ad-vise"?

JJ

[DG]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Don't ever bend a bent mask back into shape. You will weaken it.

The logic of this escapes me.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by DG

The logic of this escapes me.

Ever take a nail and bend it several times and have it break into two pieces. It also weakens the weld points on the mask. If it bends once, it will bend again, only easier.

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by DG

The logic of this escapes me.

Mask frames are heat treated metal, designed to absorb shock and rebound. An impact with sufficient energy to bend the frame has weakened the metal. Bending it back will further weaken the bar, putting in jeopardy of failing if hit with sufficient impact again in the same area.

Think of bending an aluminum can tab back and forth. It weakens more with each bend, finally breaking. mask frames are more brittle from the heat treating.