Yes, edge dressing would work. Fiebings (I think) makes a small vial with a dauber tip, which would be easy to use. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O4VGVI/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_WQH73P6S9M6DRXCPCKWK
Otherwise, I'd use black Angelus Lustre Cream. It's a black dye conditioner, with waxes in it. I'd probably lean towards that path, due to the amount of flex/pressure it will sustain. https://angelusdirect.com/products/lustre-cream-3-oz?_pos=1&_sid=5323b52b7&_ss=r
You could also probably get away with a heavily tinted creme polish as well, but due to possible rub-off by the buckles, I'd do one of the other two options.
Hi, not a cobbler, but like the challenge you present.
As u/DesertKitsuneMarlFox suggests - glue down the flaps.
You could try to form some type of leather on after that.
I think I would experiment with something like this followed by something like this.
Possibly too expensive, but that general direction is where I, personally, would head. Good luck!
Do you know anything about this Saphir Renovating Cream product: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002A962C4/? Supposedly contains resins, which makes it good for filling cuts and gouges. I'm wondering if it has enough adhesive quality to "glue" down the flaps of leather. Comes in many colors, so hopefully easier to blend over.
I use the classic all-purpose but I don’t know if it comes in container smaller than a quart.
You can get the toluene free version in a tube.
I honestly don't notice it much anymore, but we are still masking at work full-time so I smell less smells anyways. I've worked in a shop that had something like this.
Something with beeswax will make them look the same. I wouldn’t use polish.
That was very helpful and explanatory, thank you! I’m probably going to return them as they’re truly too large and the leatherbquality feels like a deal breaker, I do like the boots I got though which say they are goodyear welted, but really cheap. What’s there to look out for with cheap giodyear weltwd boots?
Here’s a link to them by the way https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dockers-Gerli-23da104-Combat-Boots/dp/B09HJWR57Z
I bought some discontinued shoes from eBay and being used ones, I wanted to toss them in a cool wash in the washing machine... Turns out the faux leather material at the front wasn't too keen on all the friction during the wash.
I'm left with this grey fabric material underneath, I was wondering if there's any decent way of getting that back to white? I was looking at white paint markers but I'm not sure if they'd actually be any good, or if they'd just dry and start cracking through normal wear.
Thanks!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideamats.colormixer
I use the colormixer app above 👆🏻
Can scan colors with your camera and it will tell you exactly what ratio of what colors to use to achieve that
Yeah, you could dye now. In fact it’s better to, to repair the effects of the acetone.
Acetone is quite hardcore, some people use it but many don’t because it is too harsh and can damage the leather. There are gentler ways to strip the color that are better for the leather.
You could dye as is, or you could use a dye prep product like this one first. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009RSZ1UU/
The noise is only from one heal and it stopped for a brief time after I gave the boot a good whack, flat against a wall one time.
The boots are these if that helps: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074N5QCR3
Would a neutral polish such as this hide minor cracking?
You can’t really repair it. What you can do is minimize the appearance of the cracks with white sneaker paints or colorants.
https://www.amazon.com/Saphir-White-Novelys-Restorer-applicator/dp/B0090ADXUU
I would say to turn this into a beautiful custom piece! I would say, technically what had happened was very similar to the first step someone would do to custom a pair of boots (usually they gotta rough up the leather first to create a grip). I’d say sand it down, and glue or stitch pieces over it. My idea is something like this: custom gucci docs but ofc you dont have to do gucci per se. You can do some play on textures. You can buy faux leather with different embosses on them for a fair price on amazonfaux leather set— i would say you have earned yourself an opportunity to make a really cool custom boots 😊
I replaced my own with this kit. You should be able to find the same color as yours. Raydodo 140 Sets Reinforced Grommet Kit, 1/4 Inch Metal Brass Eyelet Kit with 3 Pieces Grommet Tool Boot Eyelet Repair Kit and Grommets for Fabric, Tarps, Leather, Belt with Storage Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QJC3FB4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YA9GABG8GFS1HRDSYKYV?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I work in the prosthetics industry, you'll want to look at something called boa laces or boa shoes. Looks like this https://www.amazon.com/ergou-Shoelaces-Automatic-Rotating-Revolving/dp/B09J1236QM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=boa+laces&qid=1645855641&sr=8-3
Here’s an example of a cork backed leather insole I recommend.
https://www.amazon.com/Saphir-Leather-Cork-Insoles-38-US/dp/B07DTWF3W5
You may have to search a bit to find your size. They also back insoles with a thin foam backing which are also fine.
Keep in mind either if these will make the boot more snug, effectively shrinking them down 1/2 size..roughly
You should check out Be my eyes which lets blind people (and presumably people with color blindness too) call a random stranger who will then help them out, choosing the right shirt, finding the thing that was dropped on the floor.
If your budget is 200, why not buy another pair? Also - rockport has a fantastic warranty. If you send them an email with photos of your shoe they will either replace it or give you a gift card with the amount you purchased them for. or you can try something like this using some contact cement or shoe glue
I use shoe trees to avoid creases in my dress shoes.
Not sure if you can easily add a pair to your kit, but they do the trick for me.
So, I bought these a few days ago and they fit perfectly, except that it felt like the right one was bending easier when walking around. Turns out the sole is fucked. Some friend recommended me this
https://www.amazon.de/Innotec-Adheseal-Dichtmasse-schwarz-Kartusche/dp/B0057QZ6R4
but I'd rather ask a cobbler first - before that I'd like to know if I am not wasting their time if this is not salvageable.
Leather Max Complete Leather Refinish, Restore, Recolor & Repair Kit/Now with 3 Color Shades to Blend with/Leather & Vinyl Refinish (Bold Brown) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D0OMS9I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_92RSM79PMCA6AMYMWWMM
Thanks for the reply! Yes, I took less damage than the boots on a trip down the stairs, fortunately. :) They are discontinued Seychelles Confidential boots (here on Amazon for about $150, though I bought new at a boutique several years ago for a higher priceamazon). Genuine leather with a stretchy fabric panel on the back calf. They were IMMENSELY comfortable as heeled boots go, and I loved them to death, so was hoping to save them. But, if your assessment is correct (I know nothing about shoe repair!), then it sounds like I oughta say my goodbyes and hunt for a new pair. :-/ I appreciate you taking the time!
Hey, not a cobbler, but I do repairs on my own footwear.
I would just start out saying that you could make it worse trying what I do and the correct answer is "that's part of the patina of your workwear", but I totally get that this, so here goes:
My procedure on this is to open up the gap as much as I can, acetone with a toothpick in the cut, wipe it away with a microfiber cloth, let it dry.
Then I use this applied with a toothpick also.
(Note: that is an amazon product link that is not an affiliate link.)
Press from the inside and outside until cut stays closed.
Let dry overnight. Check that it worked.
Clean off excess with acetone. Don't worry too much about it debonding what you just fixed, but also don't soak it with acetone.
Repair finish as needed, normally your regular conditioner is good enough.
It's not going to be invisible, but it definitely closes the cut.
I've done this before on White's Foreman boots and it come out nearly invisible. I've also done it on Wolverine boots and it worked very well, but you could tell it was done. On dark leather you can go crazy. I did some deep cuts on some beat up White's that were black and it blended in perfectly.
Buy some of these heel liners And some qwik set JB weld ( the adhesive it comes with sucks). Rough out the contact points with some light sand paper, apply the jb weld and then then use a clamp (or get creative) to apply pressure while it's curing. Leave for a few hours to 24 hrs depending how humid your climate is.
Re-doing the stitching here wouldn't be too tough. YMMV as cobblers prices vary a lot depending on where you go but if this came to me I'd charge under a tenner.
It would be fairly tough to do it by hand if you've got one of those little sewing kits meant for clothes. However, you can pick up a kit like this off amazon for a tenner which has some really handy bits in for stitching/patching leather and tougher materials. It's not a particularly tough job to do so a youtube vid would show you fairly easily and the kit would be handy to have around for future jobs like this. Obviously it won't be top tier quality tools but it would be more than enough for your needs!
If you can find a similarly priced kit somewhere that isn't amazon that would be great!
Hope this is helpful
Not a cobbler, but Ive used this before with good results.
/u/PM-me-Shibas, am a cobbler and this is how we'd do it. The old one gets sanded off, new one is glued on. As far as price comparison, it just depends. All cobblers make up their own pricing and often it's based on what jobs the cobbler likes and dislikes doing. So some will charge more for this than a leather resole - and some will charge less. 🤷♀️
The Vibram 61AGS Retro or the Vibram Elvis would both work well, as they are similar profile (a thin, flat sole) and available in similar colour to current, so it would stand out as noticeable much.
Hand rasps also work pretty well (I'm 100% not a cobbler or a cordwainer and have never made a shoe but have done some vaguely similar stacked leather work for handles and the like.. ymmv).
While technically for wood, this would be my first weapon of choice from currently available tools I know of..
https://www.amazon.com/Iwasaki-File-200mm-Flat-Extreme-Fine/dp/B003EU3JOW/
The drawknife would give arguably cleaner cut results.
Throwing another product into the mix, I use Kelly's Cork Renew. Does the same thing as the other two products linked, and works great.
If more pieces fall out, to a point where you are missing large sections of cork, a cobbler can re-fill the cork at that area and sand it to look new again. So you have some options. 👍
I have multiple pairs of these for my boots. They’re cedar, they have a split toe that adjusts to just the right size, and a built in handle. Can’t beat the price either. https://www.amazon.com/STRATTON-MENS-ADJUSTABLE-SPLIT-CEDAR/dp/B082MSC7NG
If it is the leather footbed of a sandal, some renovating creme might work, but it will be difficult to match the color; you could also try a little dye.
I would use small scissors to cut away the loose leather, sand someone smooth with sand paper getting progressively finer (800-2500), Strip the finish/ dye with acetone, patch any deep gouges with renovating cream, after it dries/ hardens sand so it’s uniform (this can take multiple applications). Lightly sand any small scratches with fine grit sandpaper. Then re-dye the shoes, treat with cream polish then a couple coats of wax. Edit: Here’s the stuff I mentioned.
Saphir Renovating Cream Leather Repair - Recolorant for Shoes, Boots and Furniture https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002A962C4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fzoDFbRMEJ6GB
Saphir Liquid Dye Teinture Francaise – Recolor Smooth Leather, Suede & Nubuck https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GC758O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sGoDFbFP7ZH40
That link looks like the low-VOC version, which I’ve heard isn’t as good.
I’ve read that the Barges that comes in a yellow tub/tin is much better. But... probably use it in a well ventilated room? I have not used this myself yet, bc I’m still working thru a couple tubes of AquaSeal, although I’ll probably justify buying the more expensive tub soon enough. My lovely husband is horrendous on his hiking boots!
https://www.amazon.com/Barge-All-Purpose-Cement-O22721/dp/B0032YYOFS
Is this the Barges Cement you're talking about or is it different?
OK so, foot stank is caused by bacteria. You need to kill the bacteria, prevent it from regrowing, and do this without damaging the GoreTex lining. GoreTex is both strong/durable and also a fragile little butterfly that needs to be babied.
On Your Toes Foot Bactericide... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ML8J8C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Just adding to /u/aka_Jack's list, but I have this textbook which was often used in school programs to teach shoe repair (which many trade schools had, pre-1980s). I bought it cheap off Ebay, so you can ignore the Amazon pricing, but I think you'd find it immensely helpful.
110 included the leather heel rebuild then topped with a new rubber sole. The fix was to be inclusive of a new rubber sole for the rest of the shoe too. Also, there was a couple of cracks in the leather sole that needed to be glued before the new rubber applied. Cobbler showed me a Vibram Kletterlift Full Sole Replacement which looked like it would work.
There are a couple more cobblers around town and may try one outside of the downtown core.