Best adhesive to glue shoe soles back on?

[Skylark]

I have a pair of rather nice shoes where the sole is coming off, typically you only get one shot at getting a nice neat strong joint so what is the best glue to glue shoe soles back on?

 

Pratley Wonda Fix seems like a good bet but I have never use it before, normally I use Contact adhesive or super glue, mixed results on either.

[DieselnDust]

shooGoo

or

Hitec Solesaver

 

available at SportsmansWarehouse

[PSYCHOsmurfZA]

Its luck of the draw when it comes to glues lately, i always use bostik clear/ shoe glue but doesnt always work out.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

clean extremely well  - benzyne works best.  Evenly spread contact adhesive to both surfaces and I suggest gemkem.  Once its dry to the touch get even pressure so try and fill the shoe with something like newspaper and then clamp it in a vice with 2 peices of wood or old books on either side for an hour or so.  Leave it for a day and you should be good to go

 

Prep is everything

[TNT1]

Sticks Like ****. I swear that stuff is more adhesive than dried pronutro.

 

(Really, sticks like **** is a glue. Think it's made by Glue Devil. I get it a Leroy Merlin)

I actually have a older pair of Scott shoes repaired with sticks like ****. It works cause the carbon sole doesn't flex.

Edited November 16, 2020 by TNT1

[NC_lurker]

If you're talking about cycling shoes, I fixed my Gaerne's with epoxy and it seems to have worked.

If you're talking running type shoes then you need to go for a flexible type adhesive.

[Zebra]

I had great results with a glue gun ( so, hot-melt glue...) and then lightly clamped them in the vice overnight - solid (stiffish sole cycling shoe)

 

Cheers

Chris

Edited November 16, 2020 by Zebra

[Martin PJ]

I have used M3 brass screws with small brass nuts. Glue the shoe, then drill a small hole push screw through, tighten it up so the screw head pulls into the inner of the shoe. You need two screws per area where the shoe is pulling apart. Cut off the end of the screw, paint it black.

[Kranswurm]

clean extremely well  - benzyne works best.  Evenly spread contact adhesive to both surfaces and I suggest gemkem.  Once its dry to the touch get even pressure so try and fill the shoe with something like newspaper and then clamp it in a vice with 2 peices of wood or old books on either side for an hour or so.  Leave it for a day and you should be good to go

 

Prep is everything

And it will out last the shoe

[Skylark]

clean extremely well - benzyne works best. Evenly spread contact adhesive to both surfaces and I suggest gemkem. Once its dry to the touch get even pressure so try and fill the shoe with something like newspaper and then clamp it in a vice with 2 peices of wood or old books on either side for an hour or so. Leave it for a day and you should be good to go

 

Prep is everything

I have used Genkem contact adhesive extensively and where there is a good even gap to repair then it works well but on shoes repairs that's often not the case which means a glue that's not pressure sensitive and has gap filling properties is a better option Edited November 16, 2020 by Skylark

[Shaun Green]

I've used Pratley WondaFix a few times on various pairs.

​It is strong, and slightly flexible.

Shoes continued to provide good service.

The soles outlasted the uppers.

 

My "Method Statement":

1. Clean well (Benzine sounds like a good idea), and allow to dry fully.
2. ​Collect a pair of old large socks (will probably be sacrificed), lots of newspaper and lots of wide cable ties. Do this before mixing the WondaFix.
3. Decide now where you are going to leave the shoe.
4. Do one shoe at a time.
5. Stuff the shoe solid with the newspaper.
6. Mix the two parts WondaFix in a generous quantity.
7. Apply quickly, feeding the Wondafix into the gap as deeply as possible.
8. Remove excess WondaFix.
9. Tighten laces (or whatever fastening the shoe has). Just firmly - Not too tight.
10. Pull a sock tightly over the fully stuffed shoe. Just firmly - Not too tight.
11. Strap lots of cable ties over the sock. Just firmly - Not too tight.
12. Leave the shoe alone for at least a day. Don't even look at it.

[Skylark]

Thanks Shaun, that's a good technique you outlined and proof that wondafix is a suitable glue.

 

I only recently heard about it, it's a hybrid epoxy urethane so strong and flexible, it's the same stuff that Pratley uses in their "it can hold the weight of a bulldozer" marketing thing. Pity I didn't know about it before because a flexible glue that's as strong as epoxy isn't easy to find.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

I have used Genkem contact adhesive extensively and where there is a good even gap to repair then it works well but on shoes repairs that's often not the case which means a glue that's not pressure sensitive and has gap filling properties is a better option

I have successfully glued about 10 million sandals like this but you’re absolutely right - it would work better if you separated the sole and got a nice even layer on both surfaces

[ivan888]

Epoxy Glue. Works like a charm.

 

https://www.pattex.co.za/en/products/pattex-epoxies/epoxy-clear-tube-5min-and-60min.html

 

You can get it at builders warehouse. Just make sure you use gloves when applying. Follow the instructions on box.

Edited November 17, 2020 by ivan888

[BMXER]

Flexible epoxy.

Best option is a new pair of shoes.

[Headshot]

The thickish - 305 Superglue works well. It isn't an instant set (for that you need the runny 105 which is not great if the fit is not perfect and extremely messy), so you need to clamp or hold the parts together for a bit. I have used it successfully to keep a 15 year old pair of Spesh XC shoes going.