Never Throw A Good Pair Of Leather Shoes Away Again: The Best Shoemaker Reveals His Trade Secrets – NewsFinale

A good pair of shoes can last you a lifetime. But too often, we simply throw away shoes with worn soles, holes, or broken heels and replace them with a new pair.

Repairing worn-out shoes is relatively simple and can be done with equipment costing just a few pounds, saving hundreds if you restore many beloved pairs, rather than simply buying new ones. Or, for expert help, a shoe rack can really pay off.

Antony Frith, at the family shoemaker Shoe Healer in Doncaster, South Yorks, has worked in the industry for 40 years, picking up the skills of his father and great-uncle, who started repairing shoes just after the Second World War.

He says, “Resolaring shoes is like putting a new set of tires on your car to keep it running in top condition for years to come.”

Repairs usually cost around £45. You can also look for the Society of Master Shoe Repairers logo as a quality mark that offers a high standard of work.

Antony says: ‘If you have an expensive or well-loved pair of shoes that you want to be able to wear for years to come, hiring an experienced shoemaker can be a wise investment.

“Initially you should try a DIY solution on a cheaper pair only, just in case it goes wrong.”

Here, in five easy steps, Antony shows me how to spruce up my favorite pair of old leather boots (it won’t work with sneakers or shoes with cloth uppers).

Click here to read our Make Do & Mend installment on how to repair your old petrol lawn mower

1. Find a new pair of soles

You can buy a pair of rubber soles for around £5 or leather soles for £20 at a shoemaker, hardware store or online from marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, or internet retailers like eCobbler and Shoe Repair Supplies Direct.

2. Remove the old ones

I use a decent pair of pliers to remove the old rubber sole and heel. These cost around £10.

You need a strong grip to separate the sole from the upper and a work vise can help, if you have one.

Place the shoe on a shoe tree with a cloth around it to protect the leather.

Alternatively, you can purchase a traditional shoe repair anvil to hold the shoe in place.

These are available from online retail stores such as the Etsy craft market and will set you back around £16.

3. Prepare for sanding

Next, I sand the exposed bottom of the shoe, as well as the side of the new sole that it will be glued to.

Both sides need to be rough for the adhesive to stick, Antony says. A 5lb pack of 40 grit coarse sandpaper should do the job.

4. Use glue to be able to stick

Use a polyurethane based glue designed specifically for shoe repair such as Klebfest £7.95 or Everbuild Stick2 £5.95.

Rub the glue sparingly into both the sole of the old shoe and the new sole and heel, using a sponge pad.

Make sure you cover the entire surface and leave it for about 20 minutes for the glue to get tacky.

“You have to use the glue carefully,” Antony warns me. “If you miss a bit, later you might start bubbling.”

I have to press the sole or heel firmly and evenly on the shoe.

To keep it in place, you can wrap the elastic bands tightly around the shoe.

Let the glue dry for at least 12 hours. Shoemakers use a hot ‘activator’ grill to speed up drying time.

5. Trim the edges for a perfect fit

If the new sole or heel is wider than the shoe, you can trim it to fit snugly against the edge of the old shoe. A £10 craft knife will give you a clean finish.

I then use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges and finish with a good polish and a new pair of laces.

Finally my favorite old boots look like new!

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