Recently bought from eBay, they were unused but after I wore them a bit, the rubber heel started disintegrating and I realized they must be old. I took them to a shop and replaced the heel and also added rubber over the leather sole for longevity. After ~2 weeks this happened. Does the whole thing need to be removed and re-glued? Or can I just glue the part that came off myself?
Experienced cobblers and leather workers of Reddit, I plead for your guidance in this matter.
I'm looking to dye Solovair Gaucho Crazy Horse Tassel Loafers – black, but I'm stuck on dye choice.
Does anyone have any insight on how these two compare?
I have found multiple reviews singing high praises of Fiebing's Pro Dye series, and although it is not specifically meant for shoes/boots, it should work without issue. There are no reviews on Saphir Teinture Française, although I have seen it in cobbler workshops on social media, sitting somewhere in the background (mr_bull_and_shine, etc.).
Any input would be much appreciated :)
Additional context:
I know that a lot of people say it’s more important what you do after dyeing, so here is the whole process as I have planned it:
And just for anyone wondering why I didn’t just buy black Solovair Tassel Loafers – there is no black oily leather variant of this style. The only black options are plastic-coated leather, which I hate, as they tend to crack within a year of service in my experience.
Hello! I’m a professional organist, and I have special shoes with which to play the organ that have a 1.5 inch block heel and suede soles. Pictured above are my favorite T strap pair from the brand Tic Tac Toes, which has now gone out of business. (Yes, I have repaired the suede a few times with stick on stuff, the steel shank started poking through.) I have been at a loss for years now trying to find a replacement for these shoes; other brands are too stiff and hurt my bunions, Cuban dance shoes have a tapered heel that gets stuck between the pedals, and men’s shoes don’t have a high enough heel. Character shoes don’t work, the heel is too small. I saw another organist recently who had a cobbler add a small (.5 inch) heel to a pair of flats, but that’s too low for my preference. Is it possible to take a pair of flats like the cross strap knit ones in the later photos above and add a heel and cover the soles either suede? They don’t need to be really functional for walking, I’m just trying to find a new organ shoe!
Alternately, is that T strap old organ shoe the type of shoe a good cobbler could custom make?
TIA for your help! I’ve been on the hunt for these for a while now, my whole career literally depends on having the right shoes!!
I bought these loafers about 6 months ago and noticing tons of cracking on the sole (I probably shouldn’t have been wearing them occasionally in the winter with all these rock salt), in parts I can fully the leather or wood? Sorry for all my ignorance - this is my first pair of loafers.
Wondering if I need to get these resoled already?
Thanks so much in advance!
Photos: https://imgur.com/a/1ceE0Gx
Hi everyone, I received a pair of shoes today that have a surprising amount of the inside lining disintegrating and crumbling everywhere. They are proper leather boots and I want to seal the inside to stop it from getting worse as well as stop it shedding a mess. What should I use?? Glue of sorts?? Does anyone know any good products?
Advice much appreciated thank you 🙏
Also I did go to a repair shop and they can’t replace it so I think to seal is my only option
Just noticed this little cut. I think I must have run over the toe with a door or something. It doesn't seem to go all the way through, just gouged the outer part. I like these boots and I'd like to fill or repair it if I can. Is there a way I should go about doing this?
It would seem obvious to me that I simply used too much polish but even after re-buffing a ton, after I touch the shoes or wear them I notice smudges appearing on points where contact has been made.
Is there anything else I could have done during the polishing process that besides excess product that could be causing this?
Hi, I bought a pair of vintage corcoran boots very recently. I cleaned them with saddle soap, and put leather dressing on them and let them dry out for a day or two.
I wore them for the first time today, and these cracks appeared at side of the toe.
Can anyone help me understand what happened? Was it overconditioned? Also what can I do to prevent further damage to the area? The rest of the shoe is fine, its just this one area. Any guidance is appreciated, I really like these boots and would like to extend its life.
Also, I recently learned that you should be brushing your boots regularly and condition very very sparingly today...which I will now be doing. (Apologies to all my former boots)
Bought these today for $35 and noticed that there’s (what I assume are) custom insoles held in place by this grey goop. It’s soft and gluey; sticks to my fingers and wipes off with a paper towel. I’d love to know if anyone knows what it is and how I can remove it; they seem to be wearable even with the glue but it seems like it’s not meant to be there.
Just got these cowboy boots back from my not really local cobbler about 2 weeks ago. Spent $90 on a full resole and reheel. They reused my old heel as it wasn't leather (I asked for a full new heel) and I didn't notice till I got back home (This cobbler is an hour away). Now 2 weeks later the sole and heel are separating from the rand. What will I use when I have to stick this thing back on when it falls off, cause I'm not going back to this cobbler, even though they are way closer than any others I can go to. Thank you, I'm just pissed that this is happening for an expensive repair.
On my first use (bought second hand) I stained these boots with what appears to be black grease. I have tried saddle soap and lexol, but no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks!