
How to Repair a Shoe Sole
- Method 1 Replacing a Worn-Out Sole. Pull the old sole off with pliers. Even if the sole is starting to come loose, you...
- Method 2 Reattaching a Loose Sole. Clean the shoe and sole with water and alcohol. Use a rag to rub some warm water and...
- Method 3 Filling Holes. Clean the area around the hole with water and alcohol. Use a rag to rub warm...
How to fix a shoe sole that is coming off?
Shoe Sole Repair Steps
- Clean the Repair Area. The first thing we need to do is to clean the area that is being glued. ...
- Preparation. Remove the insoles if you can and stuff some paper in the shoes. ...
- The Glue. We will be using Shoe Goo to glue the shoes back together. ...
- Apply the Glue to the Sole. ...
- Clamping the Shoe. ...
- Glue the Toe Cap. ...
- Trimming the Squeeze-Out. ...
- Sneaker Repair is Complete! ...
What is the best glue for shoe sole repair?
“Simply put, the polyurethane that Gorilla Glue is comprised of is the most effective form of shoe repair. One of the most important aspects in choosing a glue is that it creates a flexible bend. Without this feature, the glue will be entirely ineffective in creating a bond that is able to bend and stretch, which is precisely what shoes do.”
How to reattach shoe sole?
Weldwood Contact Cement
- Start by peeling back as much of the sole as you can. ...
- Use 800 grit sandpaper to remove any debris, including any of the leftover glue.
- Apply the contact cement or your glue of choice on both sides, the sole and the shoe it is supposed to be glued to.
How to fix a hole in the sole of a shoe?
- Clean the area around the hole with water and alcohol. ...
- Roughen up the edges of the hole with 120-grit sandpaper. This will help the glue adhere to the rubber.
- Put duct tape over the inside of the shoe above the hole. ...
- Fill the hole with shoe sole adhesive. Being careful not to touch the adhesive with your bare hands, gently squeeze it into the hole.
- Use an ice cube to smooth the surface of the adhesive. The ice cube will allow you to smooth the surface of the glue without sticking to it.
- Let the shoe dry for 24 hours with the sole turned up. Set the shoe so that the sole is facing upwards.
- Sand down any dried adhesive that overflowed from the hole. Check to see if there is dried glue protruding from the hole or spilling out over the edges.

Can I glue the sole of my shoe back on?
The cyanoacrylate shoe glue is ideal for fixing holes in the soles of your shoes and repairing broken parts of the shoe, and it has been made with a specifically formulated viscosity that is ideal for reattaching the sole to the bottom of the shoe. The bond formed by this shoe glue is clear, strong, and waterproof.
Why does my shoe sole come off?
What happens when soles age? PU consists of long polymer chains that are gradually split apart due to the effect of moisture. As a consequence, PU loses flexibility over time and gradually becomes brittle. As the shoes reach an advanced age, this can lead to signs of disintegration in the soles.
How do you fix separated soles?
Generously apply glue to both surfaces of the separated shoe. Wait for about 2 minutes to allow the glue to set before reconnecting the sole. When the glue application is done, press and hold the sole and the separated surface together in order for the glue to dry.
How do you fix shoe soles without glue?
Use 120-grit sandpaper to scratch up the bottom of the shoe and the top of the sole until their textures appear rougher. Shoe Goo is a common and effective shoe sole adhesive, and is available in many shoe shops, sports supply outlets, and department stores.
Can you use Gorilla Glue on shoes?
Another top pick for DIY shoe repair is Gorilla Glue. This ultra-versatile product is waterproof and temperature-resistant. It's also a good choice for harder shoe materials like wood and metal.
Can rubber soles be repaired?
Shoes that use a cup sole typically can't be resoled. The rubber cup outsole is permanently bonded to the leather uppers using cement, and removing it usually destroys the leather, making replacement impossible.
Which is the best glue for shoes?
A quality product like Loctite Shoe Glue is best for any shoe because its flexible formulation bonds a variety of materials. In fact, it's the glue of choice for many repair shops. Since it bonds, seals, and repairs, it saves you time and money.
How do you fix peeling shoes?
Use sandpaper, a permanent marker, and shoe polish. Fill in the cracks with a permanent marker that closely matches the color of your shoes. Then rub shoe polish that matches the color of your shoes over the peeling area and let it dry.
How do you reattach a rubber sole?
No parts specified.Step 1 How to Reattach Shoe Sole. Pull the separated sole away from the bottom of the shoe. ... Clean the top of the sole. ... Apply a thin bead of glue along the top edge of the sole and across the interior surface of the sole. ... Push the sole back to its original position on the bottom of the shoe.
How can I resole my shoes at home?
Resole ShoesStep 1: Flatten Your Soles. We'll be gluing a half inch or so of foam onto the bottom of each shoe. ... Step 2: Trace Onto Sole Material. ... Step 3: Cut Out the Soles. ... Step 4: Contact Cement. ... Step 5: Apply Glue. ... Step 6: Sole Mates. ... Step 7: RiverDance. ... Step 8: Trim the Edges.More items...
Is Shoe glue the same as rubber cement?
Shoe Goo is a specialized type of rubber cement that contains a cleaning/degreasing solvent and an abrasion-resistant synthetic rubber (see § Composition, below).
How do you fix peeling shoes?
Use sandpaper, a permanent marker, and shoe polish. Fill in the cracks with a permanent marker that closely matches the color of your shoes. Then rub shoe polish that matches the color of your shoes over the peeling area and let it dry.
Why do shoes peel in storage?
Gravity, humidity, and aridity can all take their toll on shoes. Over time, the folds and creases that naturally form in worn shoes become permanent deformations of structural elements.
How to remove a shoe sole that is loose?
1. Pull the old sole off with pliers. Even if the sole is starting to come loose, you will probably need pliers to pull it off the shoe entirely. Hold the shoe firmly and pull on the edge of the sole with pliers, moving the sole away from the bottom of the shoe.
How to get rid of loose sole on shoes?
Clean the shoe and sole with water and alcohol. Use a rag to rub some warm water and isopropyl alcohol over the area around the loose part of the sole. If you can do so without pulling it off further, clean inside where the sole has become loose as well.
How to put adhesive on shoes?
Apply shoe sole adhesive between the shoe and the sole. Use a toothpick or cotton swab to apply a layer of adhesive inside where the sole has come apart from the shoe. Make the layer fairly thick, as it’s better to put in too much and have it overflow than to not have enough.
How to fix a shoe that has a hole in the inside?
Put duct tape over the inside of the shoe above the hole. Remove the insole of the shoe and place a piece of duct tape inside the shoe where the hole is. If the hole does not go all the way through the inside of the shoe, put your finger in the hole and push up to see where the hole is and cover that part with duct tape.
How to keep a shoe sole in place?
Keep the sole in place with rubber bands, duct tape, or weights. The sole should be pressed tightly against the shoe for the entire time it dries. Secure it using rubber bands or duct tape, or set weights on top of the shoe in the area where the glue is drying.
How to secure a shoe sole?
Secure the sole in place by wrapping rubber bands or duct tape around the shoe, or by placing it on the ground and setting weights on top of it to press the shoe into the sole.
How to fill a hole in a shoe sole?
Fill the hole with shoe sole adhesive. Being careful not to touch the adhesive with your bare hands, gently squeeze it into the hole. Make sure the entire hole is filled, and don’t worry if there is some overflow.
What to clean soles with?
Clean the sole and upper with alcohol.
What is used to hold a shoe together?
Bricks are used to hold the shoe together as the glue cures.
How to apply shoe goo?
Use a toothpick to apply the Shoe Goo into small areas. For larger areas, you can just squeeze the glue directly where it needs to go. Then you can spread it around with a cotton swab.
Why do I put wax paper between my toe cap and wood block?
If I do this again, I will put some wax paper between the toe cap and the wood block to prevent the glue from sticking to the wood block.
How long does it take for glue to cure?
Let the glue cure for about 2 minutes before mating the surfaces. After 2 minutes you can places some weights on the shoes to hold the sole and the upper together. I used brick pavers as my weights. Put the heel of the sneaker on a block of wood as shown. This process will need to be done in two steps.
What tool to use to remove glue squeeze out?
You will most likely have some glue squeeze-out that needs to be trimmed off. The best tool for removing this is a pair of Xuron Micro-Shears. I have been using Xuron cutters for many years and I feel that every workshop should have a pair of the Micro-Shears and also the Maxi-Shears.
What is the best way to clean adhesive?
The manufacturer’s instructions recommend acetone or citrus-based solvent to clean up the adhesive. I was afraid that acetone would melt the soles, so I used a citrus-based solvent for cleaning.
Introduction
When the sole detaches from a shoe, it drastically shortens the lifespan and renders the pair of shoes immediately unwearable. Securely re-attaching the soles will help you get the full value out of a pair of shoes.
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How long does it take for glue to cure on shoes?
After the sole is sealed correctly (usual glue curing time is 24 hrs.), you can start wearing these shoes without any issues. However, if there is still some part of the sole which lacks proper contact with the shoe’s bottom, you'll need to add more glue to areas that were missed.
How to open shoe glue?
Once you’ve purchased a suitable shoe glue, open it up by piercing a hole through its bottle with the help of a pin (often built into the tube's cap) or nail. Make sure that you’ve created a large enough hole to allow this viscous material to come out without any hindrance.
Can you repair a rubber sole?
However, instead of purchasing a new pair, or paying a hefty price to the shoemaker for repairing them, it might come in handy if you could just perform the shoe sole repair yourself. Especially if it's the rubber sole which has come apart, you can do it – even without prior knowledge – in a very short amount of time.
Can you fix a broken shoe sole?
Especially at the start of the day, when you’re preparing for the office, a broken sole can ruin your mood. At that time, there's no way you can visit your nearby retail store or a professional shoe cobbler to get it fixed.
Do dress shoes fall apart?
When it comes to dress shoes, no one wants to see them falling apart after a long day at work or a night on the dance floor. Regardless of the price you might have paid for them, even some ultra-expensive dress shoes can come apart after a bit of constant use.
Can you fix a broken sole on a dress shoe?
For repairing the sole of a dress shoe, all you need is some glue and a broken sole. When purchasing glue for this purpose, you should consider buying shoe sole glue for achieving the best possible adhesion results. Even though it might be a bit more expensive as compared to other types of glue, it's worth the money to do this dress shoe repair properly.
