How would you repair the sole coming off a pair of boots?

My wife’s boots are coming apart. They’ve done good service and this is their fifteenth winter.



A) Take to a professional - wife’s choice
B) Use epoxy - my old way of doing things
C) Search online, get annoyed at youtube, Ask Permies - my new way of doing things

So how would a permie fix these boots?

Here are a couple of threads you might find interesting:

https://permies.com/t/154527/ungarbage/glue-leather-naturally

https://permies.com/t/168463/ungarbage/Cam-Boot-Repair-extending-life

Personally, I'd go unnatural. I use contact cement or epoxy for boots like that.
Never said I was a perfect permie :D

Anne Miller wrote:Here are a couple of threads you might find interesting:

https://permies.com/t/154527/ungarbage/glue-leather-naturally

https://permies.com/t/168463/ungarbage/Cam-Boot-Repair-extending-life

Fascinating first thread. It sounds like gelatine based glue wouldn’t be a good idea as it dissolves when wet. I’m going to read up on cheese glue. As for zip ties, a smart repair but I’m not going to be able to sell that idea!

Pearl Sutton wrote:Personally, I'd go unnatural. I use contact cement or epoxy for boots like that.
Never said I was a perfect permie :D

Epoxy is awesome stuff. I’ll settle for being 80% permie any day.

Are the soles still perfect? After 15 years I would expect rather a lot of wear. If not take them to a professional and get them resoled then they should be good for the next 15 winters.

Epoxy is my first choice for shoe repair

Hi,

Yeah epoxy will work, also your very strong super glues!


So I gained 20kg during UNI, stress eating. So in my break I walked during day light, got up walked, I went to the bathroom, and ate if I was hungry and drank when I was thirsty, When I was tired I slept.
over that month I went through 8 pairs of shoes, and believe it or not there are Shoes that cost more per wear than others, A good pair of boots will run you about 4 cents per wear. A bad pair of shoes 34 cents.

I used hardwood glue but this just melted during my walking, I tried hot glue gunning and that was not effective, I tried taping them, the tape wore off.
the soles wear off.

Also with leather shoes if you do not wear them for a long time they will get wrecked,
But with shoes if you wear the same pair over and over every day, your going to wear them faster than if you wear them on of. because the shoes do not breath.

Unfortunately with those shoes they are rubber on the sole, which is not really able to replace to soles. so your going to have to use glue,
but you want to also clamp the sole down and spread the glue so it does not harden into an uncomfortable mess,

I recommend removing the whole sole then reattaching it, your going to have to be extremely careful about this.

Bellow is a link to ians shoe laces, this is a site where you can learn amazing skills with shoe laces and also learn to repair laces,

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm

Edward Norton wrote:
So how would a permie fix these boots?

Hi Edward,
when it comes to things like that I would use a good shoemakers glue. I don't know how "permie" that is. But it's the most permanent. I treid a couple of options and fianlly commited to getting the professional solution. I found out that I can do just as well as the shoemakers do here (in Germany) with that stuff. They also only glue it. The stuff is called "Kövolufix" here.
Taking off the whole sole might be a complicated. The clamping (or applying enough pressure somehow) is important as Alex mentioned.
Good luck with the fix!

Shoe Goo. It's a brand name. widely available.

To be clear, I am considering the trade offs between a tube of epoxy and a new pair of shoes.

fred beat me to the punch - shoe goo - srlsy that stuff is awesome for all kinds of footwear - totally flex when cured.. easy to apply - really good stuff..

in teh case you present there - i would glue it back and then sew in a few loops along the separation with stout thread (or braded fishing lien) use the existing holes... then dab the new loops with shoe goo again..

i am assuming this is a case of function over form

cheers!

oh yeah - leather like regular coatings of mink oil to keep supple and free of cracks

First, contact the manufacturer - they may even replace them; at the very least they may offer some advise.

Second, they look like the soles are sewn on; use thick waxed thread (even dental floss to 'resew' that seam.

IF waterproofing is reqired, gowith a ShooGoo type product but stuff the shoe well with news paper or fabric so the it retains it's proper shape. Ideally, use a wooden shoe form so it can be properly clamped as the glue dries.

I recommend bees wax or Bees wax with a hint of lanolin over oils or sprays. Heat the leather, (oven,hair dryer or a sunny window) rub in. It turns liquid and is absorbed into pores opened by heat. Commercially available in CAN under the brand name Sno-Seal; an oldie, but a goodie, around since 1933n made in Orangeburg, S.C. USA by ATSCO Inc. I have personally used it since ski boots were made from leather, we're 'laced up' like a shoe; it was a twice annual ritual when we were kids: ski gear and hiking gear every spring and fall (before the season AND after each 'season'.