Mid-soles

[Flash]

What purpose does the mid-sole serve in a pair of reasonable quality gents goodyear welted shoes?.

Is it better removed and a thicker/better quality leather sole fitted?.

Or left in situ and a sole of the same substance fitted?.

[kobblers]

What purpose does the mid-sole serve in a pair of reasonable quality gents goodyear welted shoes?.

Is it better removed and a thicker/better quality leather sole fitted?.

Or left in situ and a sole of the same substance fitted?.

 

 

You'll probably get an answer if you post it in the relevant section.

 

I'll move it for you.

 

Rick.

[Flash]

Thankyou for that.

Useless with computers me.

[k4mrc]

Are you the "Flash" off of 'Ted the movie?

[Flash]

No sorry I'm not.

Appears nobody knows the answer!

I'll just have to keep doing it wrong.

[darren]

i am not 100% but i would think it just makes the shoe stiffer.we double sole a lot of army boots which makes them very stiff.the guys get it done so polish won't crack as it makes sole very stiff.

[Count Muppet]

I'm not sure why to be honest but a few reasons I can think of it being useful are,

The midsole may be used to keep the cork and shank in place before the main sole is stitched on.

They seem to not be the same leather, if they even are leather. Maybe it is used for moisture absorption.

They may help keep the shape of the shoe when they get wet.

I sometimes use a midsole of a material which sticks well to the original shoe to help stick the outer sole better. Eg a resin sole stitched to the shoe then put a vibram unit.

 

Maybe none of these are correct. I really don't know

[St.Am92]

I was told many years ago the midsole or weatherboard was there to help dispel water,mainly found on heavier welted shoes suited to our wetter climate.

[Flash]

Maybe these answers are right, I don't know.

Most I come across are are made of poor quality material and tend to be damaged after removing outsole.

I remove most and fit a heavier outsole to make up the difference.

I am told by a colleague this is out of order.

[Michael]

this is what I use.

[x minit uk]

I think a mid sole is there to give the shoe more insulation from the ground, and help with keeping the shoe sturdy as they only seem to appear on more heavy duty footwear. They do make a difference when using on studded soles and stitched on commandos, if you put these on without a mid sole they wear out a lot quicker and the shoe seems to flimsy.

[Simes]

this is what I use.

 

This is what I use too, or something very similar but would like to know where to get the proper stuff.

[Flash]

I am aware of the various fibre boards available but I would rather remove a 2 iron midsole and 8 iron outsole and replace with a 10 iron outsole. Is this wrong?

[elfman]

if iwas replacing a midsole i certainly would not use the texon as it is for insoles and is only compressed paper for want of a better discription, i would use a 2 or 3mm plain eva micro, if you the details in the link it does say it absorbs moisture so think how it react when it is worn in the wet weather

[Flash]

I would not fit a rubber midsole under a leather outsole.

I would use leather.

Hence the original question, why not just fit a heavier outsole?

[elfman]

i would say that 80% of midsoles are either reconstitued rubber . 2 or 3 mm micro or leather or fibreboard almost none are texon or bontex as it breaks down too fast , just take a close look at some of the insoles on shoes that come in for repair to see how they wear away or split and some apart.gone are the days when it was all leather insoles

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Right in part elfman, but reconstitued is rarely used if ever nowadays.

Most are Rubber type are made from a high density Cellular construction that makes it water resistant.

Leather Particle Board would only be used on lower grade footwear as it disintegrates from the stitching holes with the continual flexing. (lumps can be seen missing from around the edges).

Synthetic Rubbers/Polymers are used for a specific purpose and should not be replaced with Leather. This does not mean that they can't be placed with Leather.

Comfort of the Foot and Flexibilty of the Shoe are the main reasons for the use of the softer components.

If the Midsoles are replaced with Leather the wearer will be aware of the increased stiffness of the shoes and the absence of the cushioned effect that was inbuilt at manufacture.

[TheCustomer]

I'm not sure why to be honest but a few reasons I can think of it being useful are,

The midsole may be used to keep the cork and shank in place before the main sole is stitched on.

They may help keep the shape of the shoe when they get wet.

 

The display information in the Barker shop said something about the midsole helps keep the shoes shape when the main sole is repaired.

I guess when wet too. This fits in well with other threads I have read about leather shoes moulding to ones foot etc - maybe toe prints stay intacked.

 

All of the leather shoes I have that have a midsole, have a leather one, though quality unknown.

 

harry

[Lee]

alter ego

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Naughty Naughty LEE.

 

Mid-Soles differentiate between Casual, Dress, Formal and Stout Walking Shoes.

The latter may also have a sewn in Storm Welt.

Heavy duty Walking Shoes/Boots invariably have Midsoles, these now are becoming more predominant in man made substances for greater comfort.

 

To,

The Customer.

How do you know that your Mid-soles are Leather and not Leather substitute?

When you say "intacked" do you mean "intact" or " in Tacked" as in IVI Lasting Tacks?

How come a "customer" has 86 posts?

Are you deleloping a Leather fetish, mmmmm fastened by ankle and wrist restraints in a cellar wearing nowt but Stout Walking shoes with Leather Mid-Soles? Now where's Miss Whiplash hiding?

 

OH yeh and another thing. is there any chance of getting those IRONMAN ads reduced in size LEE, I cant read the posts for IRONMAN.

Best wishes to all taking part, you are to be commended, it must have taken many weeks if not months of intense training on your part.

I will be in Lanzarote mid summer so I'll keep my eye out for you!!! (my glass one as that's easier to put back in). OH and while you are there get yourselves a Canary Caffeine fix, try the local Barraquito... a concoction of Condensed Milk-Coffee-Regular Milk-Licor 43-Lemon Peel & Cinnamon, very very nice.

[ironplanet uk900]

Welcome back, the Customer and Hugh candoit

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Thanks Planet, nice to see you are keeping up with the fitness routine.

I am a "Customer" nowadays, but not that one.

How can I prove that Hugh & The Customer live 150-180 miles apart.

Lee knows due to his "Cookies"

The reason I came back (never been away really, just watching from the side-lines now) was an article in the "Shoe Repairer" mag by Lee and a PM from The Customer asking if I was still a member.

Ask us both a series of technical questions if you like, send us PMs and do a trace on what area of the country they originate from.

Ask him who your Area Manager was all those years ago. He still lives on the Staffordshire border, but even that link wont give him the answer.

[TheCustomer]

Naughty Naughty LEE.

To,

The Customer.

How do you know that your Mid-soles are Leather and not Leather substitute?

When you say "intacked" do you mean "intact" or " in Tacked" as in IVI Lasting Tacks?

How come a "customer" has 86 posts?

Are you deleloping a Leather fetish, mmmmm fastened by ankle and wrist restraints in a cellar wearing nowt but Stout Walking shoes with Leather Mid-Soles? Now where's Miss Whiplash hiding?

 

Hugh,

 

Intact. typo

If you’re talking about a midsole in terms of the double-sole-double-stitched all leather quality shoes: then you can clearly see how the midsole interacts with scratches and polishing, as well as natural variations in the leather, as you do with the welt or the main sole. Its easy to tell - at least you do with the shoes I own. maybe guys in the trade see some seriously inked-up items where its hard to tell I guess.

 

86 is nothing, most are related to mundane questions, follow up or no doubt dealing with this nonsense business..

checkout some of the handyman, electrician or Auto trade forums and you'll find all sorts of people with many post, endless questions haha - probably because they are lazy to do the searching. I work backwards where many of my questions on this site actually come from previous posts

anyway hugh, good to see your back.

 

Talking of questions, perhaps you can take a look at this one that's been sitting there a month. My question relating to sole/heel guard viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6582&start=60

 

Nobody seems to know the answer. and I don't believe supertap soles are the answer. Thanks in advance

 

Harry

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Hugh,

 

Intact. typo

If you’re talking about a midsole in terms of the double-sole-double-stitched all leather quality shoes: then you can clearly see how the midsole interacts with scratches and polishing, as well as natural variations in the leather, as you do with the welt or the main sole. Its easy to tell - at least you do with the shoes I own. maybe guys in the trade see some seriously inked-up items where its hard to tell I guess.

 

86 is nothing, most are related to mundane questions, follow up or no doubt dealing with this nonsense business..

checkout some of the handyman, electrician or Auto trade forums and you'll find all sorts of people with many post, endless questions haha - probably because they are lazy to do the searching. I work backwards where many of my questions on this site actually come from previous posts

anyway hugh, good to see your back.

 

Talking of questions, perhaps you can take a look at this one that's been sitting there a month. My question relating to sole/heel guard viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6582&start=60

 

Nobody seems to know the answer. and I don't believe supertap soles are the answer. Thanks in advance

 

Harry

 

Harry, this post is akin to something directly translated from a Chinese Instruction Booklet, me no understand!!!!

Midsoles are not double soles or double stitched, methinks you may be mixing this up with the double soles as used by HMForces.

And to Wage slave on this post.....Haha, I see Hugh was online last night. He hasn't posted for a year though. I'm guessing he has more than one account. He couldn't resist poking his nose in and offering some wisdom. And I'm sure he's not the only one.

 

Poking my nose in Eh...is that how you view Contributors/ex Moderators.

Yes I do have 2 accounts but one of them only had one post and that was over 3 years ago so stick that in your Hubble Bubble Pipe and smoke it.

 

Oh and Harry customer, your getting in far too deep, remember the old Chinese proverb....He who walk in deep water get shoe wet.Keep it layman simple, don't try to converse on our trade level as some of your questions/comments, although you try your best, do not make sense. (a little bit like some of my early quotations ).