shoe glue

[ballroomdancertoo]

Anyone do their own shoe resoling? I'm trying to find out what type of glue works best for this type of job.

[etp777]

We use super glue when edges come lose, but I'm guessing youd' want something with some more flex if you were doing whole sole. I used to use various types of barge cement (think that was name ) when i was doing leather work for knives. Messy and smells bad though, see if you can find something else more modern and less of a pain. :)

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Resoling Shoes (http://dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=4265)

I've been satisfied with Shoe Goo for regluing loose edges (thank you, Laura and Joe for the idea).

[Joe]

Really, any kind of contact cement will do. Super glue is good for temporary fixes, but it's brittle and repeated flexure will bust it up.

[LindyKeya]

I agree that Shoe Goo is the best option. I'm actually in need of some at the moment, but can't find it anywhere. Does anyone know of a common/chain retailer that carries it? (And where in the store it usually is? The last time I bought some, I had a very difficult time finding it.)

[ballroomdancertoo]

Shoe Goo? Does it come off easy?

[elisedance]

I use velcro glue - its one where you let it dry on both surfaces and then press together and its made to be flexible. I use it to glue little bits of sole that I cut out of replacement soles onto my heels (2" flares) and they last for months (saves me a fortune on heel protectors by the way) - goes to show how well it sticks. There is an English glue that I was told was the absolute best (is that the shoe goo stuff? Somehow I think not...).

[etp777]

If you apply it to both surfaces like that ED, sounds like it's a contact cement too, like Joe said. They definitely work well for stuff like this.

[elisedance]

Yup, thats what it is. However, I find the first time it may come off - the glue needs to saturate the leather which is a bit porous. The second time, however, it works like a dream.

[etp777]

Ah yeah. Some cements, esp if they're really not designed for leather, or if you don't apply enough, won't work right. Some can be thinned with acetone or something similar, but that tends to be a bit of trial and error to be able to get it right, as if you use too much, the glue wil just break down and not stick at all. not enough, and it still won't be fluid enough to soak in right.

[Dancebug]

There is an English glue that I was told was the absolute best (is that the shoe goo stuff? Somehow I think not...).
Is it called Phillips glue? When I inquired Supadance, that is what they told me to use, but I don't know where I can get one.

[elisedance]

It might be phillips, but still does not sound right. Where are all the Anglos when we need them :)

[LindyKeya]

Shoe Goo? Does it come off easy?

I've never tried to get it off. I did suede a pair of sneakers for swing dancing using Shoo Goo, and I've danced in them for several years. The suede starting pealing the first time I wore them, because that was about a day or two after I did it. It needs longer to really dry, probably at least 3 or 4 days. After that, no problems, still firmly attached.

[DennisBeach]

Anyone do their own shoe resoling? I'm trying to find out what type of glue works best for this type of job.

Barge cement is what I use and that works well. It needs to be a glue that is flexible when it dries, rubber cement at Hobby Lobby would also probably work. Write-up on one of the dance sites, explained how to do the process and it has worked well for me.

[ballroomdancertoo]

Hey guys, dumb question but is everyone taking off the original suede and going directly to the leather? I have been putting my replacement directly on the old suede. I think if I pull off the old suede the whole sole might come off, I never looked......

[Joe]

Well, the chrome leather on my shoes is glued to a layer of what appears to be some kind of expanded cardboard. The upper of the shoe is glued to that. When the sole is peeled off, the upper comes off the intermediate layer, so it's not really feasible to remove the sole that way to replace it.

Anyway, I find that the uppers on my shoes wear out long before the soles--otherwise I wouldn't be cutting them up for heel tips for my partner's shoes.

If you are wearing out the soles of your shoes quickly, I suggest not brushing them--you're probably brushing off all the nap. If you say you need to brush them because you slip, I say you need to learn to make better use of your standing foot.

[elisedance]

If you say you need to brush them because you slip, I say you need to learn to make better use of your standing foot.

thats probably true 9/10 but some dance floors are not swept regularly and build up a layer of dust that can be lethal. Still, your point is, I think, a good one. [I hardly ever scratch - but I hand on to DP for dear life :p]

[JoepiE]

For emergency fixes on comps I use nail glue (for the fake nails). I used to use that instantly drying stuff, but that brittle and will break. Nail glue is strong enough, yet flexible enough to hold under stress.

[DennisBeach]

Hey guys, dumb question but is everyone taking off the original suede and going directly to the leather? I have been putting my replacement directly on the old suede. I think if I pull off the old suede the whole sole might come off, I never looked......

The shoe repair person we use to have do this, always left the original suede on. So I do the same thing, since I started doing it myself. The added layer I do replace, when that goes bad. The shoes my wife likes, are rather flimsy in the soles, so I am considering putting another layer on them, to see if that is effective. They would have the original, plus 2 more layers.

I use cowhide splits on my shoes and thich suede on my wifes, because of the need to strengthen them.

[DennisBeach]

thats probably true 9/10 but some dance floors are not swept regularly and build up a layer of dust that can be lethal. Still, your point is, I think, a good one. [I hardly ever scratch - but I hand on to DP for dear life :p]

My experience is most social dancing venues, really take a tool on soles. Also you need more tecture in your soles to dance on many floors, because of dust and dirt. We occasionally go to dances at studios, I really notice a difference when I clean the soles after a dance. After the studio, it's a quick brushing with a soft brush. At other venues it is a lot of work to get the soles ready for the next dance. Sometimes they are completely packed down and take a lot of brushing with a metal brush. People also spill liquids, which causes the soles to get packed down very badly.