Suitable Mastic For Shoe Repair.

[Cuban]

I'm posting this here as I think the regular visitors to this forum have the practical experience and skills to comment if nothing else.

(It's not a 'General' topic, nor Issan as I don't seek a location, but need to draw upon those with practical experiances of mastics etc. hence DIY forum.)

I have a great pair of Camel shoes (boaters I think is the correct term?), that have provided many years service and are currently on their third replacement soles. Out here in the wilds of Issan I don't have the shoe repair options of Pattaya or Bangkok where the last replacement was carried out. So DIY cobbling is my best route I think.

The uppers are in good condition, the thick leather has moulded to my feet over the past ten years. I want to keep them going rather than retire them just yet. I have some strong needles and a fine drill that I can use to sew the upper and sole together with rot-proof twine, but as you can see from the attached picture. There is a void on the top of the sole that I would like to fill and seal against the ingress of water, dust or mud etc. around the edges. There are traces of a contact adhesive used by the last cobbler, but to achieve a long lasting bond I'm wondering just what I could use. Something like "No More Nails" or other flexible compound? It needs to fill the voids, be flexible around the edges as well as bond to leather and rubber/plastic.

Ideas welcome.

[aitch52]

3 M marine grade or sikaflex would do the job as long as the surfaces are clean and dust free, not cheap at 450-600 baht a tube but the best quality

[Beardog]

I usually buy a couple of tubes of shoo goo from the U.S. each year for sandal repairs. 2 years ago I used silka oil based adhesive in a caulking gun & it works as well just a bit more expensive. Get the gray the white looks like <deleted>. Clean well before & after if your a bit messy. I think the tube costs 260-280 baht from Home Pro. & if you seal it airtight when done it will last almost a year.

Edited February 11, 2010 by Beardog

[thatguy]

If you can find BARGE, shoemakers use it. The Pattex contact cement seems close.