DIY rubber boot sole repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of the soles of rubber boots from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

How and with what can you glue rubber boots along the seam at home? Is it possible to glue the sole of these boots?

Image - DIY rubber boots sole repair

Glue up rubber boots at home it can be very difficult. This can be confirmed by everyone who has ever tried to do it. The fact is that the usual glue that we use to glue ordinary shoes will not work for rubber boots. It doesn't matter if do you want to glue the seam, sole or any other part of the boot... Of course, the easiest way would be to simply take the shoes for repair, having laid out a tidy sum, but here we also face a problem: not all shoe shops undertake to glue rubber boots, because they themselves do not know how to do it. Here we can only rely on ourselves and glue the boots on our own, or ruthlessly throw them into a landfill. But before you sigh in sorrow trying to shove the rubber boots into the trash bag, let's try to seal them up on our own.

To effectively glue rubber boots, you need to find out where the damage is. Rubber is a material that is very easy to pierce with a sharp object. You can simply step on glass or sharp bricks to create a hole in the sole. This is a very unpleasant phenomenon, since water will rapidly accumulate into the shoes. But having found damage, we can glue it at home. For this we need:

special glue for rubber;

You can find glue for rubber in fishing shops, but before that, you should make sure that the boots are really made of rubber only. Otherwise, the glue may not work.

Video (click to play).

The adhesive used by cyclists is usually sold in either stationery shops or specialized places where you can find bicycle parts.

You can find car glue in stores car parts, surprisingly. Your best bet is to ask your salesperson which product is best for sealing your rubber boots.

Image - DIY rubber boots sole repair

And there are several methods by which this can be done. Let's take a closer look at how to glue rubber boots.

To seal rubber boots with bicycle glue, you need to carefully read the instructions that you can find on the tube. After that, you need to degrease the place that you are going to seal with acetone. Then take a small piece of fine-grained sandpaper, run it over the surface several times, after which you can start gluing. To do this, you need to smear the part of the boot that you are going to glue, and then get one rubber patch from the pack that comes with the glue. Peel off the tape, grease the sticky side of the patch with glue, then attach it to the rubber boot. Wait about five minutes for the glue to dry a little, then press down firmly on the patch. In this position, it must be held for several minutes, after which send the boots to a warm place to dry.
The only disadvantage of this method is that after gluing the boots do not look very presentable. This option is only suitable for old shoes that are not used for going out in people.

Gumboots can be glued with rubber glue in the same way as with bicycle glue. Only in this case you you will have to cut the patch yourself... For this, old boots, old bicycle cameras, or any other rubber products are suitable.

You can use car glue to glue the smart rubber boots on which the patch will look unacceptable. It hits even the deepest cracks and freezes there, blocking moisture from entering your boots. To do this, first wash the rubber boots thoroughly, dry them thoroughly, and then degrease the surface with acetone. Then you can apply glue: this must be done with a thin layer so as not to disturb the shape of the boots. The boots can be worn right after you tap them and the glue will dry.

Long gone are the days when rubber boots were used only for hiking in the forest or mountains. Today, even in the most prestigious shoe stores, you can find a huge variety of rubber boots. There are boots with soles and heels. There are also hiking options. And now, if you become the proud owner of these beautiful boots, no puddles and rains are terrible for you.

Image - DIY rubber boots sole repair

But, given that the order on the streets today is far from ideal, you can easily stand on broken glass, a nail or an ordinary pushpin. And it's pretty easy to puncture the rubber!

So what now, because of a small hole, to throw out practically new rubber boots?

Not at all! And today we will teach you how to properly glue your favorite boots and extend their life for a long time.

“Why glue it yourself, if you can take them to a shoemaker,” you ask. Unfortunately, in most cases you will be refused. The only thing that the shoe-makers can advise you in this case is to visit the auto repair shop, where the tires are vulcanized.

But here, too, a catch awaits us: recently, almost all motorists have switched to modern wheels, where vulcanization is not needed. This means that finding a car service with such an option, where they would agree to glue your boots, is quite problematic. So let's think about how to glue our boots yourself.

And before we start to study the methods of gluing rubber boots, it is worth noting that in this case it is not worth using ordinary PVA glue or "Moment", because at best you will not achieve any effect, and at worst - the boots will be hopelessly ruined !

If you decide to glue rubber shoes yourself, you can look for a special adhesive in stores with fishing tackle. Attention! Boots can be made not only from rubber, but also from EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or polyurethane. And the glue for these materials will be different.

So take a close look at your boots before heading to the store. And if you have problems with determining the material, then it is better to take the shoes with you, and in the store, experts will quickly determine what they are made of.

You can also buy special adhesive for boots in motorist stores. In this case, you should pay attention to the adhesive sealant. So you not only get rid of the hole, but you can also protect the place where the glue is applied from the ingress of excess liquid.

In order for your shoes to be as good as new, you need to determine the exact puncture site. To do this, you will need the boot itself and a small bowl of water. We take our shoes in our hands and roll up the bootleg according to the same principle as a tube of toothpaste, when there is practically no more of it left there.

And when the bootleg is rolled up quite tightly, we lower the sole into the water. Air bubbles will emerge from those places where there is a crack or puncture.

After the problem area is found, you can start restoring your shoes.

There are several methods:

Using these fairly simple methods, you can quickly and efficiently get your boots back in order, and they will serve you for quite a long time.

As a conclusion, here are some care tips that will help you keep your boots in good working order for much longer. For example, in order for your boots to look as good as new for as long as possible, you should periodically wipe them with a soft cloth dipped in water with the addition of glycerin.

And if you had to walk through puddles and you want to dry such shoes a little on a battery, then we hasten to inform you that this is not recommended. Here the fact is that under the influence of hot air, the glue with which some elements are glued can become porous.

This means that water will enter the inside of the boot. So it's best to just wipe the boots with a cloth and leave to dry naturally.

So, today we have found out how you can glue rubber boots with your own hands at home. As you can see, your shoes can still be given new life! The main thing is to do everything strictly following the instructions, and your rubber boots will delight you for a long time on rainy days!

Rubber boots are footwear necessary not only for summer cottages, but also for the city. They protect against bad weather and dirt. But it has one drawback - any nail or piece of glass is enough to make the shoes unusable. You won't be able to give such boots to the workshop, but it's a pity to throw them away. Therefore, many people prefer to repair their favorite shoes on their own.

The rubber boot must be properly cared for. And then you will not have to resort to their frequent repairs. After all, even the high quality that the manufacturer guarantees does not always mean the safety of the shoes.

Rubber boots must be properly cleaned. They are best washed with a solution of glycerin and water. In this case, the boots must be wiped with a soft cloth and dried often to prevent fungus from appearing. Wet rubber boots must not be dried with a hair dryer or battery. It is necessary that the shoes dry naturally.

In order for the repair of boots to be successful, and the shoes to serve a very long time, you need to know the following:

  1. Rubber shoes must be very thoroughly cleaned, washed and dried before being repaired.
  2. The patch can be cut from a tire or old rubber boots.
  3. It is better to carefully process the patch from the wrong side with sandpaper or a file to make the surface rough for better glue adhesion.
  4. It is best to degrease the surface of shoes with acetone and solvent.
  5. You need to choose a special glue, on which it is necessarily indicated, for example, "shoe" or "rubber".
  6. Before repairing rubber boots, be sure to read the instructions from the manufacturer of the glue in order to do everything right.
  7. It is best to smear the patch and the place of gluing with special glue several times, having previously waited until the first layer dries a little.
  8. When gluing, the surfaces must be pressed very strongly against each other or knocked on the gluing site with a hammer.
  9. The patch on the boot can be easily masked with sandpaper.

Method 1. You can glue the boots with special glue. It can be purchased at hunting and fishing stores. But in order to get the right glue, you need to know what the shoes are made of. The fact is that for shoes made of EVA or polyurethane, different adhesive compounds are needed.

The seller can help you purchase the necessary glue by giving advice. Then everything is simple - you need to sand and degrease a part of the boot and stick a patch. If the shoes are made of a porous material, then you can glue them without using a patch. The edges at the cut site just need to be turned out, generously greased with glue and pressed against each other.

Image - DIY rubber boots sole repair

Method 2. This method requires a regular bicycle repair kit. It contains patches on special protective films, sandpaper and, of course, glue. Sand the right place on the shoes with sandpaper and degrease thoroughly.Further, having previously removed the film from the bookmark, it is necessary to apply glue to it and press the patch to the gap. You can use the shoes almost immediately, but it is better to wait at least 12 hours. The only drawback of this method is the unaesthetic appearance of the shoes after repair.

If the hole appears not on the bootleg, but on the sole, the gluing technology does not change. You just need to make the surface smooth and even, because usually the sole on such shoes is quite embossed. This is possible with a sharpening machine. And only then stick a patch on this place.

But it is important to know that such a patch will not last long, especially if the sole of the boots will very often come into contact with a rough and hard surface. Therefore, such boots are best worn, for example, when fishing. Well, if the sole breaks again, the gluing procedure will need to be repeated.

Method 3. In order to glue women's boots without using patches, etc., it is necessary to purchase a glue-sealant. This can be done at any store for car enthusiasts. First you need to degrease the gluing site, and then grease the torn edges with glue and press them together. If done carefully, the boots will look like new.

Method 4. This method of repairing rubber shoes is also called the "hot" method. It is not difficult, but it requires certain skills and, most importantly, a vulcanizer. Rubber soaked in gasoline is used as a patch. It is placed on the hole in the boot and clamped with a vulcanizer. The device must be turned on for 20-30 minutes, then turned off and cooled. Only after it has cooled down can the press be removed.

Do not despair if your favorite rubber boots are suddenly torn. It is enough to put in a little effort and the repaired boots will be no different from new shoes. You can use the sealed boots one day after the patch was applied. But if there is no time to wait, then you can walk in them in an hour.

A crack in the sole of a shoe is not such a rare occurrence. This situation is especially unpleasant when the product warranty has expired. And although it will not be possible to carry out high-quality repairs at home, it is possible to partially revive the shoes. Sometimes repaired boots or boots can be carried in for a few more months.

Next, we will discuss the methods for self-repairing a cracked sole.

To repair a cracked sole, prepare:

  • shoe knife;
  • sandpaper;
  • a degreasing agent such as acetone;
  • instant glue that sets quickly;
  • hook;
  • threads.

Repair technology:

  1. Sand the sole surface with sandpaper.
  2. Bend the sole to open the crack. From there, you will need to remove all the dirt, the remnants of the old factory glue, using a boot knife.
  3. Degrease the fracture site with acetone or gasoline, apply instant glue and press the walls together. Note: shoemakers advise using Desmakol or Nairit glue. To repair the sole, you can also take Moment rubber glue, Crazy Handles epoxy sealant.
  4. The crack was sealed, but the repair is not over yet. In order for the shoes to be worn, the bursting sole must also be stitched. Using a pencil, draw zigzag lines across the entire crack. Using a manual grinder or a boot knife, make shallow grooves along the entire marking, about 2.5 mm. Now, using your crochet hook, sew the break, placing the stitches in the grooves you made. It is advisable to sew several rows of stitches: this will be more reliable, and the top layer will protect the lower threads from abrasion.

For work, you will need the following materials:

  • boot knife;
  • sandpaper;
  • acetone or gasoline;
  • a piece of a camera from a bicycle;
  • rubber glue.
  1. As in the first case, the cracked sole must be cleaned and degreased. Use a boot knife to remove part of the sole: cut 5 mm along each edge of the crack. Maintain a cutting depth of approx. 1 mm.
  2. The next step is to measure the depth of the fracture at the bottom. Add 15 mm to the resulting value - this will be the width of the strip that needs to be cut from the camera.
  3. Clean the cut strip, degrease well, apply rubber glue to it. Completely coat one side with glue, on the other leave 5 mm of the edges of the dry surface.
  4. Take your damaged shoes, bend them so as to reveal the crack as much as possible. Holding in this position and not closing for 10 minutes, coat the damaged area with glue.
  5. Bend the prepared strip from the chamber in half and push it into the crack. The sole can now be straightened. Press down on the edges of the strip protruding from the crack against the sole surface. Place your shoes under something heavy for 24 hours.

To restore the sole, you will need a soldering iron and a piece of nylon.

  1. First of all, remove the dirt from the shoes, clean and degrease the cracked surface.
  2. Run a heated soldering iron inside the damaged area. The outsole material will begin to bubble and become sticky.
  3. Next, you will need to rub the melted nylon into the damaged surface. To do this, place a piece of nylon on the burst place and press it down with a soldering iron. The nylon will melt, you just have to fill the crack with it until it completely disappears.

On a note: in order to straighten the melted nylon, during operation, use not the hot tip of the soldering iron, but the handle.

For winter shoes, you can repair a thick, cracked sole like this:

  1. Clean and dry your shoes well. Clean and degrease the crack itself.
  2. On the inner side of the break, apply a layer of Desmokol glue, let the product stand for 10 minutes.
  3. Smear the crack again, as usually the material from which the sole is made is porous and easily absorbs various substances. Wait 10 minutes, during this time a glossy film forms on the surface.
  4. Preheat the adhesive using a hot air gun and press down firmly on the sides to be glued.

Note: when using Desmokol glue, the gluing quality depends on the pressure on the surface.

Repair of winter shoes with a one-component, rubber-based polyurethane adhesive. You can take the Monument PVC glue. It is also often used to repair PVC boats.

  1. Clean and dry well the surfaces to be bonded.
  2. Bend the sole and walk with coarse sandpaper inside the crack, degrease.
  3. Apply glue to both sides of the defective area. Wait 15 minutes and apply another layer of adhesive. Note: all the time while the glue is applied and dries, the crack must be open.
  4. After 5 minutes, straighten the sole, dock the surface to be repaired.
  5. Next, to fix the sole, take a round stick, place it along and secure with a string. Place the shoes on the table, with the soles facing you, and warm them up with a hairdryer for 30 minutes. The heating temperature should be 60 ° C.

If you repair shoes in the evening, then in the morning you can already go outside in it.