Glue for Heel Protectors

[Dancebug]

I am sure that some of you know this. Supadance makes only contour heels for 1008 now. And they make only plastic heel protectors without suede bottom for those shoes for the time being. Heel protectors without suede bottom last me only one practice session. So I decided to put suede on the bottom myself. What kind of glue would you recommend? I tried to glue suede directly on my shoe heels once. They did not last long. I used super glue at that time.

[and123]

I've used Gem-tac and it works.

[Dancebug]

and123,

Did you directly put Gem-Tac on the protectors or suede or both?

[and123]

I glue the suede directly to the heel tips on the shoe (no additional protectors). I should clarify that I cut pieces of suede like this:
----------------------
|______........______|
........../........\
..........|........|
..........|........|
..........--------

(ignore elipses -- I had to use them as place holders).
The long strip is wrapped around and glued to each side of the heel tip. Wrapping it like this leaves no glued seam on the back of the heel to potentially get caught on the floor and peel up when pulling the heel backwards.

[Mawmaw]

I suggest Fast Fix. It is the best glue I have ever used on shoes. It is a bit pricey but it lasts forever! Here is what Sure-Foot sites says about it:
Fast Fix™ Adhesive
When time is money for you and your customers…Do it Fast but Do it Right! Fast Fix™ is a superior grade cyanoacrylate and the best solution to working on today’s “Tough to Bond” plastic, vinyl, and urethane bottom shoes. Do jobs you were never able to do before! Bond vinyl, plastic, urethane and rubber in one to two minutes. Fix plastic heels, unit soles and athletic shoes in seconds. Fast Fix™ has a longer open time compared to other cyanoacrylates and is specially formulated for more flexibility and less crystallization. It also provides superior strength that is unmatched by other adhesives, and is available in a 2 oz and 4 oz bottle.

The Fast Fix Adhesive has many features.
• Bonds in 1-2 minutes
• Actually fuses materials together
• No need for primers, hardeners, or thinners
• No waiting for heat activating
• Works on 99.9% of all soles
• Longer Open Time of 2 to 3 minutes
• Top Shoe Repair and Orthopedic facilities throughout the country currently use the Fast Fix™ system

Hope this helps,
Mawmaw

[Dancebug]

Please tell me where you got Fast Fix. It sounds great.

[samina]

I glue the suede directly to the heel tips on the shoe (no additional protectors). I should clarify that I cut pieces of suede like this:
----------------------
|______........______|
........../........\
..........|........|
..........|........|
..........--------

(ignore elipses -- I had to use them as place holders).
The long strip is wrapped around and glued to each side of the heel tip. Wrapping it like this leaves no glued seam on the back of the heel to potentially get caught on the floor and peel up when pulling the heel backwards.

i will try this, and123. i attempted to glue black suede in a cross-pattern on my heels this weekend. bad glue didn't stick (something from michael's crafts saying it was "the only glue i'd ever need"... tch!).

have you ever glued your suede heel protectors on OVER plastic heel protectors?

[and123]

have you ever glued your suede heel protectors on OVER plastic heel protectors?

I think I may have a long time ago, but IIRC it didn't stick as well to that plastic as it does to the naked heel tip. First I glue the heel tip part, and once that dries (Gem-tac sets relatively quickly), I glue the sides and tape in place until they dry. Originally I did use something called Leather Cement, but it looked and behaved remarkably like Gem-tac, so when I ran out of it and couldn't find another source, I just used Gem-tac. I'll try to get a pic of my shoe heel later. Hard to draw the thing in ascii form....