The best ways to quickly repair the soles of your shoes if they are cracked
Despite careful wearing and proper maintenance of shoes, they sometimes require repair. Small repairs are not difficult, they can be easily done at home. Few know how to properly repair the sole of a shoe if it breaks. But even such work can be done on your own, if you study ways to solve the problem using the necessary tools and materials.
What you might need to work
The process of repairing a sole that has cracked unexpectedly is quite laborious. Work is carried out in a well-ventilated room, preferably with ventilation, choose a place without heat sources.
The shoes to be repaired must be dry and clean. As materials and tools, you need to prepare:
- shoe glue;
- shoe knife;
- Sandpaper;
- punch;
- marker pen;
- strong nylon threads;
- shoe hook;
- lighter;
- acetone or petrol to degrease the surface;
- cargo to be used as a press.
Adhesive Selection
There are several nuances to consider when choosing an adhesive:
- the material of the sole that broke;
- the durability of the proposed connection;
- moisture resistance;
- UV resistance;
- elasticity of curable glue;
- correspondence of the price to the quality of the composition.
Nairite
The basis of nairite glue for shoe repair is rubber resin, synthetic additives, solvents. Its waterproofness is quite high. When working with the composition, two methods are used - cold and hot.
Each of the methods provides a secure fit and is applied based on the heat resistance of the sole to be repaired.
The industry produces glue in small tubes or cans. The former are most often used at home, the latter in specialized repair shops.
Polyurethane
Glue is prepared on the basis of polyurethane and is used for shoe repair in workshops, factories and at home.
The advantages of the composition include:
- impermeability;
- transparency and discretion of frozen glue;
- heat resistance;
- durability of the fastener.
The adhesive is used for rubber and polyurethane soles. It is able to increase in volume during application and reliably bind materials with a porous structure.
artificial rubber
Rubber-based glue is called rubber. It has a viscous consistency, beige, white or yellowish in color. The translucent appearance of the composition is obtained after mixing its two components. Hardening occurs by evaporation of the solvent. Wet bonding technology and contact, under pressure of a press are used. The compound is moisture resistant, but inferior in strength to compositions on a synthetic basis.
Synthetic rubber adhesive creates a stronger bond through the vulcanization process.
Review of the best brands
Today, the choice of glue for shoe repair is very wide. There are domestic and foreign brands with high technical characteristics. The most famous are several of them.
"Marathon of the moment"
This type of glue is specially designed for shoemaking. It is resistant to moisture, low temperatures, aggressive environmental actions. "Moment Marathon" has the consistency of a gel, so it does not spread. The tube is equipped with a thin spout, which makes it easy and simple to apply. After 24 hours, the shoes are used for wearing. The composition is not recommended for gluing polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene products. Ideal for repairing soles made of leather, cork, felt and other materials.
Benefits of “Moment” include:
- Efficiency;
- consumption saving;
- the ability to purchase in a package of different sizes.
"Nairit"
Many experts recommend Nairit glue for shoe repair. It is suitable for various materials - leather, rubber, wood, textiles, leatherette. When using glue, a strong, moisture-resistant seam is formed, which is characterized by its elasticity. The hot application technology involves the use of shoes after 5 hours, the cold one requires waiting 2 days after the repair.
When applying "Nairit" complexity can be caused by the increased viscosity of the composition, which is reduced with the help of gasoline or acetone.
"Eva"
Eva glue has been sold in the domestic market for more than 10 years, and during this time it has proven itself. It is water resistant, retains its properties at low and high temperatures, leaves no residue after use and is transparent.The seam formed by "Eva" is strong and durable. The bottle has a dispenser, thanks to which consumption is economical. The manufacturer warns that Eva is not intended for bonding polyurethane or vinyl products.
Kenda Farben
Glue is universal and is able to make a combination of natural and artificial leather, textiles, polymer surfaces, polyurethane, rubber. Hardening and hardening are fast. The result is a durable seam. Repaired shoes are used no earlier than two days later.
Among the advantages of Kenda Farben glue:
- the possibility of using at home;
- temperature resistance of the mixture;
- no unpleasant odor.
"Contact"
The special shoe glue "Contact" is based on synthetic elastomers. It is used for polystyrene, leather, rubber, polyvinyl chloride. Not intended for fixing polystyrene, polyethylene. "Contact" glue has the following properties:
- high strength;
- elasticity;
- wear resistance;
- optimal fluidity.
To maximize the effect, it is worth using the press. After repair by "Contact" the product is used after 24 hours.
UHU Schuh & Leder
Glue is most often used for shoes. After applying to the surface, it dries quickly. The advantages of the composition include:
- resistance to moisture, alcoholic, acidic and alkaline solutions;
- when wearing shoes, the seam does not lose its elasticity, does not dry out and does not crack;
- does not leave stains after application;
- the repaired shoes can be used in the temperature range from -30 C to +100 C.
Among the minuses of UHU Schuh & Leder glue, users note an unpleasant, pungent odor and an uncomfortable tube.
Cracked sole repair methods
The sole repair option depends on the shape and material of its manufacture, the depth of the fracture and the nature of the damage. Most often, they use several methods:
- by gluing and subsequent sewing;
- use a piece of rubber from a bicycle tube;
- using a soldering iron and nylon;
- using special shoe glue.
No protector
If the broken sole does not have a protector, it can be repaired at home by the express method, after which the shoes are put on after a few hours. It needs:
- Sand the base with sandpaper.
- Fold it in half so that the crack opens as wide as possible.
- Degrease the repair site with acetone.
- Apply quick-drying glue to the fracture and glue firmly.
- Make shallow cuts through the seam with a starter knife for zigzag seams.
- Sew the sole with a crochet hook, placing seams and knots in the slit.
With protector
When repairing a sole with a protector, it is necessary to apply an additional outsole, which experts call "prevention".
The procedure in this case is as follows:
- Clean and dry the sole.
- To facilitate access to the crack, carefully cut the protector.
- Treat the repair site with acetone.
- Glue parts of the crack with a quick-drying compound.
- Suture the fracture.
- Create an outsole pattern by choosing a material that is the thickness of a cut tread.
- Degrease the sole and outsole.
- Cover them with glue and wait 15 minutes.
- Apply a second coat and wait 20 minutes.
- Warm up (activate) the glue with a hair dryer.
- Connect the sole and "prevention" and put under the press.
How to seal small cracks
If during the maintenance of shoes small cracks are found on the sole, it is worth repairing, even if so far they do not cause discomfort, they do not leak. On the grooved sole, the cracks after degreasing are poured with glue using a small brush or a dispenser nose, after which the composition is left to dry for a day.
On a flat sole, small cracks are removed with a hot soldering iron, melting the edges and quickly joining them.
Sealing sneakers in a toe
Damage to the toe box on sneakers is quite common. In order to repair sports shoes, perform the following algorithm of actions:
- The damaged area is cleaned, degreased, treated with sandpaper.
- A patch is cut from rubber or polyurethane in the form of a sole, having a different thickness.
- Apply glue and press with a press. The thicker part is applied to the site of injury, less to the sole.
Rules of care
In order for the shoes to serve for a long time and not require repair, it is necessary to properly care for them:
- every evening (so that it dries until morning), clean your shoes with cold water;
- treat it regularly with cream, having its own brush for each shade;
- be sure to polish your shoes after cleaning;
- do not dry near an open heat source;
- to dry and remove an unpleasant smell, the shoes are well stuffed with newspapers;
- before sending the shoes for storage until the next season, they are completely put in order - cleaned, dried.
Subject to the rules of maintenance, timely repair, your favorite shoes will remain comfortable for a long time and will last more than one season.