Gluing and product ID
Downdraft glue fume bench
Shoe sole product determines which glue to use
There are basically 2 types of glue, Yellow and Clear. If in doubt use Clear Glue.
I currently use Ortec and Syntic Total. Ortec for heels except PU and TPR. Syntic Total for everything else.
Thickness of Glue
Glue needs to run of the brush, if it is too thick it will go on too thick and will not spread nicely. Glue for patching can be slightly thicker.
Gluing soles
Put plenty of glue onto the brush then start in the middle and lay it on evenly, avoid over brushing (that’s where you brush or try to brush the glue around and its already starting to dry, often as the glue is getting spread too thinly). Always glue shoes then heeling and/or soling products. As the shoes are more likely to need two coats and it reduces the risk of getting glue on the shoe as you get them out of the way sooner. Let glue dry for approx. ½ hour, and then reapply to those surfaces needing two coats. Leave to dry for another ½ hour, before assembling.
Which glue to use.
Here’s the basics, are either of the products synthetic?
If yes, Clear Glue, so now is it TPR? If so use TPR primer on the TPR only, if there is doubt as to what synthetic product it is wipe with solvent, then let dry for 15min then glue with Clear Glue.
How do you tell them apart? It is often easier to think of what it is not, as this will narrow your choices
down. Tricky ones are PU Foam, PVC and TPR.
I currently use Ortec and Syntic Total. Ortec for heels except PU and TPR. Syntic Total for everything else.
Thickness of Glue
Glue needs to run of the brush, if it is too thick it will go on too thick and will not spread nicely. Glue for patching can be slightly thicker.
Gluing soles
Put plenty of glue onto the brush then start in the middle and lay it on evenly, avoid over brushing (that’s where you brush or try to brush the glue around and its already starting to dry, often as the glue is getting spread too thinly). Always glue shoes then heeling and/or soling products. As the shoes are more likely to need two coats and it reduces the risk of getting glue on the shoe as you get them out of the way sooner. Let glue dry for approx. ½ hour, and then reapply to those surfaces needing two coats. Leave to dry for another ½ hour, before assembling.
Which glue to use.
Here’s the basics, are either of the products synthetic?
If yes, Clear Glue, so now is it TPR? If so use TPR primer on the TPR only, if there is doubt as to what synthetic product it is wipe with solvent, then let dry for 15min then glue with Clear Glue.
How do you tell them apart? It is often easier to think of what it is not, as this will narrow your choices
down. Tricky ones are PU Foam, PVC and TPR.
EVA
Soft, the mid sole of a running shoe. Unlikely to be stitched thru the sides. Easily confused with PU Foam.
Generally in NZ, EVA Caster is the firmer better quality product. EVA Asian is the softer poorer quality product. But you can get good and bad soft or hard.
Primer EVA 6 helps if using Clear glue esp. on Asian EVA. Allow to dry min 5min.
ORTEC or Clear 1-2 coats. Depending on how strong it needs to be. For example slipper vs MX boot sole. If all the glue soaks in, add a second coat.
Generally in NZ, EVA Caster is the firmer better quality product. EVA Asian is the softer poorer quality product. But you can get good and bad soft or hard.
Primer EVA 6 helps if using Clear glue esp. on Asian EVA. Allow to dry min 5min.
ORTEC or Clear 1-2 coats. Depending on how strong it needs to be. For example slipper vs MX boot sole. If all the glue soaks in, add a second coat.
Leather/Suede
Fibourous.
Yellow or clear glue. 2 Coats. 1 coat fine on heels.
Yellow or clear glue. 2 Coats. 1 coat fine on heels.
Leather reconstituted
Like chip board but its little bits of leather. Often used as rand/edging.
Clear glue. 2 coats.
Clear glue. 2 coats.
Microcellular Rubber
Soft rubber with air in it. Sort of softish. Dry powdery when ground.
Yellow or clear. 1 coat.
Yellow or clear. 1 coat.
Plastic Rand
Hard, try it with your finger nail.
Clear glue. 1 coat
Clear glue. 1 coat
Polypropylene
Really really hard, shinny.
Yellow or Clear glue seam to stick OK on these insoles. 1 coat.
If its a heel block both seam to work OK.
If its a midsole on a platform shoe, try to leave the leather covering ... otherwise might have issues gluing.
Yellow or Clear glue seam to stick OK on these insoles. 1 coat.
If its a heel block both seam to work OK.
If its a midsole on a platform shoe, try to leave the leather covering ... otherwise might have issues gluing.
Polyurethane Foam PU
Think Rieker and eccos, it rots, it splits, absorbs moisture, grinds powdery when new and
then melts when older, has little air bubbles on the outside which are more visible on sharp
corners/edges. Often has round holes in the heels and maybe shallow grooves across under the fore foot,
you can’t usually see the holes from the bottom of the sole, only once the upper is removed, maybe you
will see the heel holes from the bottom once you have ground a lot away.
Light weight. Has the odd few little air bubbles on the outside.
Melts when rotten otherwise powdery.
Often Circles inside at heel.
Commonly used in moulded soles. Can be stiff or flexible.
Clear glue. 1-2 coats.
then melts when older, has little air bubbles on the outside which are more visible on sharp
corners/edges. Often has round holes in the heels and maybe shallow grooves across under the fore foot,
you can’t usually see the holes from the bottom of the sole, only once the upper is removed, maybe you
will see the heel holes from the bottom once you have ground a lot away.
Light weight. Has the odd few little air bubbles on the outside.
Melts when rotten otherwise powdery.
Often Circles inside at heel.
Commonly used in moulded soles. Can be stiff or flexible.
Clear glue. 1-2 coats.
PVC/Vinyl
Think Doc Martin, (greenish sole with Black randing) it wears smooth and shiny, comes in many densities
Chlorine smell when ground. Smeary/moist look. Often Squares inside at heel. Kinda melts as you grind it.
Clear glue. 1- 2 Coat
Chlorine smell when ground. Smeary/moist look. Often Squares inside at heel. Kinda melts as you grind it.
Clear glue. 1- 2 Coat
Rubber
RubberPowdery when ground, think car tyre.
Yellow or Clear. 1 coat
Yellow or Clear. 1 coat
Sidi Soles - MX
|
Solid rubber with additives
TPR Primer-Yellow Bottle. Leave Primer 5 minutes Clear glue. 2 coats. 
Yes sure we can glue a new set of soles onto your MX Boots, we use the SIDI Soles as they last really well where many others get chewed out by the foot pegs, we can also glue your exiting soles back on if they are still in good condition.
Gluing SIDI, Gaerne, Alpine Star, Fox1. TPR Primer onto Sole and Boot (as long as boot or sole is not porous!) 2. Clear glue then wait at least 2hrs 3. Clear glue then wait at least 30min 4. Assemble as per manual IF the boot or sole is porous DO NOT USE PRIMER you can still rub it with solvent and let dry before gluing if you think it needs it. |
FOX Instinct inserts
|
TPR
TPR/TPU, Thermoplastic Rubber, Thermoplastic Urethane
Smeary when ground. If you put solvent on to a rag and wipe black TPR, the rag will become black. Unlikely to have veneer on outside ... but sometimes does on harder TPR.
Think Budget cheap nasty, but often used on expensive as well. Flicky when ground, often has air bubbles in a bit from the edge, often has square holes in the heels and support lines across at the front, only visible when badly worn or once you have ground a lot off.
Use TPR primer. Renia yellow bottle. Wait 15min. Then 1 coat clear.
Smeary when ground. If you put solvent on to a rag and wipe black TPR, the rag will become black. Unlikely to have veneer on outside ... but sometimes does on harder TPR.
Think Budget cheap nasty, but often used on expensive as well. Flicky when ground, often has air bubbles in a bit from the edge, often has square holes in the heels and support lines across at the front, only visible when badly worn or once you have ground a lot off.
Use TPR primer. Renia yellow bottle. Wait 15min. Then 1 coat clear.
Wood
Splinters, grain, firewood. Not flexible.
Yellow or Clear. 1-2 coats.
Yellow or Clear. 1-2 coats.
Unit Sole - Micro
Dress unit, power unit.
Primer EVA 6 helps if having issues using clear glue.
Yellow or clear. 1-2 coats.
Primer EVA 6 helps if having issues using clear glue.
Yellow or clear. 1-2 coats.
