Shoe repair glue advice?

[Simon Robinson 4Participant @simonrobinson4]

Hi

The entire rubber sole has come off one of my Peter storm boots. You have to apply to both surfaces before sticking together. Is a 30ml tube enough to stick down the full sole?

Boot Size is 12 and the glue I’m thinking of ordering is Klebfest which has good reviews.

Edited By Simon Robinson 4 on 17/04/2020 13:50:51

[Simon Robinson 4Participant @simonrobinson4]

[Andrew EvansParticipant @andrewevans67134]

Hi – I have tried fixing walking boot soles a few times and it has never really worked for more than a couple of uses and you risk being stuck somewhere remote if they come off half way round a walk. I also tried getting them fixed professionally by a cobbler and that failed too. The soles take such a battering in this country and walking conditions can be so wet and acidic that even top quality boots seem to last for 3 or 4 years for me.

[Simon Robinson 4Participant @simonrobinson4]

Posted by Andrew Evans on 17/04/2020 14:03:32:

Hi – I have tried fixing walking boot soles a few times and it has never really worked for more than a couple of uses and you risk being stuck somewhere remote if they come off half way round a walk. I also tried getting them fixed professionally by a cobbler and that failed too. The soles take such a battering in this country and walking conditions can be so wet and acidic that even top quality boots seem to last for 3 or 4 years for me.

They are walking boots but fortunately I only wear them when working the garden and in the shed. So not sure how much wear and strain they get digging over the veg patch or chopping logs.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

I just repaired my split and peeling slipper soles with gorilla glue and gaffer tape.

I'm not optimistic.

I once had a pair of industrial safety boots modelled on traditional army boots that lasted me 13 years.

Finally the sole came off one walking in the Outer Hebrides – and it was final. It was good that I had a spare pair of heavy shoes with me.

[David Jenkins 2Participant @davidjenkins2]

Try a Polyurethane glue it may work, in a shoe factory they would use a hot polyurethane adhesive and significant pressure to fuse the base and sole.

[John RutzenParticipant @johnrutzen76569]

I've always found that cyanoacrylate [super glue] works best for shoe repairs where the rubber sole has come away from the leather . I mend all the family;s shoes this way and they stay stuck. You have to hold the join together until the glue sets.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Being cheap (or perhaps an eco-warrior before such things were fashionable) – I used to stick rubber soles on new leather shoes and replace them when they wore through to the leather. A "Rubber" glue was supplied with the soles to do the job – usually together with a free gift (typically a miniature cheese grater). This all worked very well.

However, several work boots and other shoes with assorted synthetic soles have absolutely refused to be re-glued using all the assorted adhesives in my considerable gluey arsenal. I can only assume that manufacturers realised the growing number of cheap people (sorry) –  Ecologists around – and decided to make their products un-repairable.

Initial cost doesn't seem to be a factor in boot longevity – so I'm afraid I now assume boots to be disposable items and buy any that combine the key elements of being cheap and comfortable. The Brand name doesn't cut any ice at all.

Regards,

IanT

 

Edited By IanT on 17/04/2020 15:19:51

[David CauntParticipant @davidcaunt67674]

Simon, This works well for me.

[clogsParticipant @clogs]

have repaired most of my work /walking boots with Polyurethane glue…..Comes in a tube a bit like Silicone……

IT's my go to heavy glue these days…….flexable and totaly w/poof…..

apply the glue, then put gentle weight on the item to hold the parts together ……

24hours and hey presto job done…..

My work boots regardless of make always has the soles peeling off at the toes…..(scrubbing around on floors)

the rest of the boot falls aparts before the toes go again….

Available in all colours and not so expensive anymore……

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

I've had good results with a product called ShooGoo on running shoes and women's fashion shoes.

[Grizzly bearParticipant @grizzlybear]

Simon,

" So not sure how much wear and strain they get digging over the veg patch or chopping logs".

Try an axe for the logs, just saying, before Neil beats me to it.

Bear..

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by John Rutzen on 17/04/2020 14:55:35:

I've always found that cyanoacrylate [super glue] works best for shoe repairs where the rubber sole has come away from the leather . I mend all the family;s shoes this way and they stay stuck. You have to hold the join together until the glue sets.

+1 for this, because of a condition in my feet I have to have shoes that support the whole foot, the inner parts of the shoes are made from a mould of my feet. The shoes have flat soles and after 6 months constant use, I virtually live in them, the soles come unstuck at the heel and toe, I've tried Evostick, which works short term but I find super glue lasts indefinitely, I do clamp the shoe at the repair and leave for a while.

Martin P

[AdrianRParticipant @adrianr18614]

One way to solve the problem of the glue not sticking the sole to the boot is to; first fully remove the sole. Clean it up well, liberally coat with super glue then stand barefoot on the soles.

[Noel MurphyParticipant @noelmurphy40921]

I've had excellent results with Gorilla Glue Clear recently. It gave an invisible water tight repair when the sole on my shoe came away. It's lasted a month of constant use and is still good

[Simon Robinson 4Participant @simonrobinson4]

Posted by David Caunt on 17/04/2020 15:41:44:

Simon, This works well for me.

Thanks. Should a 30 ml tube be enough to stick the whole sole back on a size 12 shoe or is that a bit on the small side bearing in mind both surfaces need coating in the glue?

[David CauntParticipant @davidcaunt67674]

Simon,

Yes. Don't spread it too thick. Use some form of spatula, a lollipop stick will do the trick

Dave

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Aquasure its a glue used to make or repair wet suits, sticks like nothing else and remains flexible, 100% waterproof, it comes in 2 versions standard — takes 12 hours to cure or Rapid -cures in around 1 hour, IMO the standard is better ! PM me if you are stuck and cannot find locally to you.

John

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Well, my gorilla glue and gaffer tape repair to my slippers has lasted all day, including a spell machining in the garage.

Can't believe it'll make it to the 28th, though, when my new slippers are due…

[Andy StopfordParticipant @andystopford50521]

I've used hot glue (the cheap Parkside sticks from Lidl) very successfully, but you have to work fast. I found judicious pre-heating with a hot air gun gives you a bit of extra time, and being generous with the amount of glue increases the thermal mass and slows setting. Also give the glue-gun plenty of time to get really hot – that stuff sticks practically anything if its hot enough.

It's good to prepare some sort of clamping arrangement first, especially for the area at the front, which seems to be the point at which unsuccessful gluing attempts fail.

Like IanT, I used to stick rubber repair soles onto new leather-soled shoes – it made them less lethally slippery too.

[Simon Robinson 4Participant @simonrobinson4]

Posted by Andy Stopford on 17/04/2020 20:02:11:

I've used hot glue (the cheap Parkside sticks from Lidl) very successfully, but you have to work fast. I found judicious pre-heating with a hot air gun gives you a bit of extra time, and being generous with the amount of glue increases the thermal mass and slows setting. Also give the glue-gun plenty of time to get really hot – that stuff sticks practically anything if its hot enough.

It's good to prepare some sort of clamping arrangement first, especially for the area at the front, which seems to be the point at which unsuccessful gluing attempts fail.

Like IanT, I used to stick rubber repair soles onto new leather-soled shoes – it made them less lethally slippery too.

I tried the parkside glue gun method it sticks really well to the foam bottom of the shoe but just peeled off the rubber sole. Maybe not hot enough?

[peak4Participant @peak4]

So far, the best I've found is an American product, Shoe Goo, available in black or clear.
There's a supposed EU equivalent available from some skateboard shops, but it really doesn't work as well.
I actually use it for building up worn patches on the soles of my favourite shoes, before they wear through completely, also US made but no longer available (Teva Oraibi).

Last time I looked Repair Products were about the cheapest, with a pretty quick service, though that pre-dated the present issues.

Bill

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

I have always found that bog standard Bostik, the smelly brown stuff, works well for shoe repairs and soles, as long as you let it go tacky before assembling and clamp well for a good, long time.

James.

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

Another satisfied user of Shoe Goo. It remains flexible, sticks like something nasty to a blanket and will fill large gaps, as well as being able to build up surfaces, as has been said. Also, it smells wonderful. Super-glue, although adhering well, and wicking into small gaps, cures to be too brittle, even the 'shock-resistant' and rubber-containing types. Where it gets deformed a lot, it eventually fails because it crumbles.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Like other here I like to keep old shoes going for the garden/workshop, long after they should be sealed in a concrete sarcophagus for the good of humanity.

I've heard other positive reports on shoo goo.

I've had very patchy success using contact adhesives on things like trainers where the soles peel off or split into layers. I think the big problem is how quickly the splits get full of dust and grime.

I have a pair of manky crocs I keep just in the (covered) space between the back door, my workshop and the garden door.

Very nearly worm through replacement is unlikely right now and a split became huge. I fixed it with Gorilla clear, which stays flexible, using lots of sellotape to keep things in place a for a few hours. To my surprise it's worked really well.

neil

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