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Sound Footing:  Everything You Should Know About Shoe Glue

Shoe glue can revive broken footwear from heel to toe. How exactly does it work? Walk this way to find out…

What Is The Best Glue For Shoes?

Even the best shoe occasionally breaks, rips, or tears. It’s a fact of life. The question is, are you going to take it to a shoe or leather repair shop or are you going to fix it yourself? There are great solutions to help you do it on your own. With the right shoe adhesive, you are able to seal rips or tears in any type of shoe.

A quality product like LePage 100% Glue Repair Gel is best for most shoes because its special formulation bonds a variety of materials and can withstand harsh conditions and extreme temperature. Since it bonds, seals, repairs, and is highly flexible, it saves you time and money.  

Step-By-Step Instructions For Using Shoe Sole Glue

If you’ve decided to do it yourself, gluing shoes is easy and quick. Whatever your shoes are made of, a quality shoe glue is right for you. To prepare:

Make sure you have a clean surface, with no grease, dust, or other dirt. It’s best to work at room temperature. Also, you should roughen smooth surfaces — such as hard plastic or metal commonly found in leather work boots — with a fine grit sandpaper.

Now you’re ready to go:

  1. Ensure your work area is outside or in a well-ventilated area.
  2. Apply a thin layer of shoe repair adhesive to one surface. For example, if you want to fix a flapping sole, apply the shoe glue to the bottom half.
  3. Now press the torn parts together. Do this quickly after applying the shoe adhesive, for maximum effect. To ensure that the glued sides are held fast, we recommend using simple rubber bands, tape, or clamps.
  4. Once you are certain the surfaces are bonding, leave the material alone for 24 to 48 hours.

Once the bonding has taken hold, almost nothing will break it; most shoe glues are designed to resist hot and cold temperatures. Choose a shoe glue that is also resistant to water and impact.

Shoe Repair Glue: More Than One Use!

Sometimes the problem is a gap between sections of your shoes. In that case, the procedure is a little different:

  1. You will want to use a thicker-than-normal layer of adhesive, up to approximately 0.5 cm (0.2 inches).
  2. Clamp the sections together and make sure they hold firm for 1 to 3 hours. 
  3. In about 24 hours, you will achieve 70% of full adhesion. 36 hours after that the glue will be fully cured.

Check out this video to see just how tough a shoe glue can be!

QUESTIONS ABOUT SHOE GLUE

  • Concerned about making a gluey mess? Don’t be. Many shoe glue adhesives, like those from LePage, dry clear. 
  • Is shoe glue adhesive really that effective? Absolutely! It is ideal for areas where constant flexing is a problem. So, no matter what position your feet are put in, LePage 100% Glue Repair Gel won’t let you down!
  • Does shoe glue work in bad weather, on tough terrain, or poor conditions? Yes, yes, and yes! A good shoe glue bond provides excellent resistance to vibration, impact, moisture, and extreme seasonal temperatures.