JaySpencer Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 Hi, im not a cobbler, but i took my Doc's to my nearest cobbler on Monday and he said DM's can't be repaired, however I've seen Docs online with vibram soles fitted so it must be possible. Ive decided to have a crack it at myself, it'll be a nice project and good to know for the future. I've found some vibram soles on eBay for £15 and I've managed to pull the old Doc sole off nicely, leaving just the welt. My question is how do i go about bonding the vibram soles to the doc welts? I understand that the standard units are heat sealed but I'm guessing the vibrams I've seen online are glued/cemented on, anyone have any experience with this? Thank you in advance to anyone that has any knowledge to pass on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom D Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 (edited) [ content removed for inappropriate language ] - Administrator Edited May 25, 2018 by CitySafe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaySpencer Posted May 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 Why so nasty? Im a cheapskate for wanting to repair my shoes instead of throwing them away? ironplanet uk900 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfman Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 no your a cheapskate for asking how to do them if you do not have a clue then leave it alone ,plus if as you say you have pulled them off then you my wel have done more harm than good ,plus the fact who ever told you they could not be repaired should not be in the trade as they are easy to do kobblers and Gray 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 13 minutes ago, JaySpencer said: Why so nasty? Im a cheapskate for wanting to repair my shoes instead of throwing them away? If you value your doc's best advice is to take them to someone who knows what they are doing. The doc units can be replaced but it's not a job for a D.I.Y. er. kobblers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaySpencer Posted May 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 21 minutes ago, elfman said: no your a cheapskate for asking how to do them if you do not have a clue then leave it alone ,plus if as you say you have pulled them off then you my wel have done more harm than good ,plus the fact who ever told you they could not be repaired should not be in the trade as they are easy to do I don't understand the aggression, how does asking how to do something make me a cheapskate? As i already said, I'm not a cobbler, so if the cobbler tells me they can't be repaired and he won't do them it makes me a cheapskate for deciding to take it into my own hands and acquire the knowledge to do it myself? Maybe its not a job i can do myself, still doesn't make me a cheapskate for trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 I’m guessing the aggression has something to do with alcohol at this time of night. the shoes can be fixed not a problem but without the right materials and equipment you won’t do a decent job. timpson have been banned by doc martins from doing the repairs in their branches now and will only supply timpson main workshop with the soles to do it. They were horrified at the quality of work coming from the shops. These people have been through training and have tools to do the job and even they have been doing a bad job. you need to find another cobbler who can do it properly for you, or drop them off to timpson to have them sent off and repaired to doc martins approved standards Gray and kobblers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaySpencer Posted May 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 I can see from searching around that superglue as a primer and bostik 5050 is recommended, I've already peeled the outer soles off so its a bit late for forewarning, if i screw it up ill be glad i gave it a shot anyhow, ill try this and if i can't get hold of the bostik perhaps a more general contact cement. Im a trainee mechanic, nothing to do with cobbling but I'm used to using my hands. Im not trying to cheapskate anything or avoid paying to have them fixed, as said I visited the cobbler with every intention to pay him for resoling them, I assumed when he said that they can't be fixed it would be the same for all cobblers local to me as even I understand that the way they're constructed is a bit unconventional. If anyone has any actual tips instead of unjustified anger and fear of sharing knowledge of a trade it'd be appreciated, if not i'll try it anyway. I googled shoe repair forum, not the angry cobbler forum, if this isn't a place where an honest guy can come to seek a bit of advice, then whats the point? Might as well be called 'cobblers trade secrets'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaySpencer Posted May 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 8 minutes ago, Count Muppet said: I’m guessing the aggression has something to do with alcohol at this time of night. the shoes can be fixed not a problem but without the right materials and equipment you won’t do a decent job. timpson have been banned by doc martins from doing the repairs in their branches now and will only supply timpson main workshop with the soles to do it. They were horrified at the quality of work coming from the shops. These people have been through training and have tools to do the job and even they have been doing a bad job. you need to find another cobbler who can do it properly for you, or drop them off to timpson to have them sent off and repaired to doc martins approved standards thank you for a reasonable reply, glad to know you're not all dimwitted ass*@les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelCityShoes Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 Jay, where are you based? We might be able to recommend someone near to you who can do them for you. Some guys on here also do postal work. Tom is annoyed, because recently the rise of these eBay sellers trying to cash in selling repair materials and things has contributed to many hardworking guys going out is business. You say you’re a mechanic, I wouldn’t try and fix my own car, I’d leave it to you. There’s a lot more to shoe repair than a bit of glue. You rightly said that in the factory they are heat bonded, don’t try this, the fumes are toxic and won’t work with a vibram sole. While some Vibram soles can go on Docs without an issue, not all of them can. Likewise with glue, it’s not just a case of painting it on and on top of that, one glue won’t bond all materials. For example 5050 won’t stick a Vibram sole to a Doc boot. You are honestly best just taking them to a different shoe repairer. You’ll end up spending a lot more time and money doing it yourself and you may not have success Pulsar, keithm and kobblers 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted May 24, 2018 Report Share Posted May 24, 2018 I'd take them to a reputable repairer. And I'm sorry Steelcityshoes but 50/50 would stick a Vibram unit to a Doc Martin boot with proper preparation. But I'd recommend like for like on Doc Martens. Easy repair with the right units and right adhesive............. Tom D lighten up mate you are doing the trade and yourself no good.....You'll have a stroke or heart attack..... Lighten up fella...........Let the guy try, we all know he'll make a balls of it so what's the problem. I think JaySpencer has fallen foul of something alot of people have ie. cobblers who can't be arsed. I turn very little away, I'll have a go at anything, I like the challenge. OK so I'm 64 but I'm still learning. If you want to send them to me JaySpencer I'll have a look. If you have messed them up I'll tell you. keithm, grahamparker and kobblers 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abababa Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 Jay, Here's a vid... Not Docs but the same idea... Post us some photos of your final work JaySpencer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 I dread to think what customers think when visiting this site and seeing the abuse dished out to someone only wanting advice and help after being given bum information. Tom D why did you just not offer to help the guy out and offer to repair the shoes for him ?. JaySpencer not all repairers are the same Mr Bargy (Gray) will be more than happy to do the job for you in a a skilled and professional manner. JaySpencer and keithm 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 I can partly understand some of the frustration (I wouldn't call it anger) leveled towards you, Jay, as SteelCityShoes is right - people selling stuff on Ebay is contributing to a lot of people on here losing business, not just with repairs but with key cutting, engraving, sundry sales, etc - these people don't offer the correct advice on how to maintain your footwear because they don't have the same (if any) level of skill that a lot of us have spent years, decades even, aquiring. As an aside, how are you going to overcome the problem of getting the new units to fit flush against the welt whilst also keeping the correct shape of the shoe? 5050 WILL stick a Vibram unit to a Doc as Mr Bargy says but you need to know how to use it properly or it will simply fail. NOTE TO MEMBERS: ANY ABUSE TOWARDS ANYONE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, NO MATTER HOW STRONGLY YOU MAY FEEL ABOUT A SUBJECT. WE ARE ALL ADULTS AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES AND OUR LANGUAGE AS SUCH. THANK YOU. Rick. keithm and Mike at Vauxhall 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 29 minutes ago, kobblers said: NOTE TO MEMBERS: ANY ABUSE TOWARDS ANYONE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, NO MATTER HOW STRONGLY YOU MAY FEEL ABOUT A SUBJECT. WE ARE ALL ADULTS AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES AND OUR LANGUAGE AS SUCH. THANK YOU. Absolutely Rick. kobblers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broms Cobb Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 10 minutes ago, grahamparker said: Absolutely Rick. So what is the consequence? Just a telling off? kobblers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 No. A couple of warnings and if ultimately necessary, barring from the forum but we hope it should never have to come to that - it's only ever happened twice since the inception of the forum as we normally all just get along. I get it, at the end of the day people have different opinions, sometimes quite strong ones but that shouldn't preclude us all from being courteous or respectful towards one another. Rick. Mike at Vauxhall and CitySafe 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CitySafe Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 And to back up what Rick says, this is a professional forum to help each other out. We have had many people ask how to do things, and everyone has helped each other out, whether they be the trade or the public. There is no excuse whatsoever to abuse someone who is simply asking for help. Any future abuse like the disgusting language that was used will simply end you up with a lifetime ban. Jay I'm sorry about the language used, and I hope you don't see it as a reflection of the forum as a whole. keithm, kobblers, Gray and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 tell me what style/size of unit you want and ill send you units and glue to do the job, ill pre-solution soles for you as well you can pay me by paypal carry on! grahamparker, keithm, Gray and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 Nice one, Jo - that's more like it. Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 This is what a forum should be like. Gray and kobblers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 This is what it IS like 99.999% of the time Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkybob Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 Iam not a cobbler and so cant help you with the docs, but I can tell you that abusive responses are not normal on this forum. I hope the responce you received has not put you off visiting again. keithm, grahamparker and kobblers 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelCityShoes Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 I’ll hold my hands up then I’m saying 5050 won’t work. I’ve not used it for a long time now. Although it’s not going to be the easiest glue on a DIY job 7 hours ago, hibsjo(SCO) said: tell me what style/size of unit you want and ill send you units and glue to do the job, ill pre-solution soles for you as well you can pay me by paypal carry on! Curse those PayPal sellers, just like the eBay lot kobblers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted May 25, 2018 Report Share Posted May 25, 2018 I don't remember being offensive to anyone, if I have offended anyone I apologise, I just don't believe fitting a pair of Vibram units to a D.M.upper is a very good D.I.Y project. If the D.M. have little value then by all means give it a go. My advice remains the same, if you value your D.M. then seek expert help. keithm and kobblers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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