Gluing Vibram soles On Doc Martens

[kobblers]

On 11/15/2020 at 12:51 PM, cre said:

There are quite a few cobblers familiar with this type of work on here and I'm sure some accept mail ins if you can't find one local to you. I do a fair bit of work on docs up here in north Yorkshire as Timpsons don't seem interested or are unable to and refer their customers to me. 

Please feel free to look at my Facebook page as a reference point, I use original pvc dm units which come in a couple of tread varieties or sometimes vibram rubber units, depending on customer requirements. I hope you find a good cobbler you can work with going forwards and it's always worth seeking a second opinion. Good luck. 

https://www.facebook.com/last.co.uk/

 

Just checked your page - quality work!!!

How do you achieve such a deep, consistent colour on your leather soles?

Rick.

[Count Muppet]

I just had a look too. Fantastic work.

I don’t know why you’re doing it so cheap though. Your prices are literally half of what timpson charge.

[cre]

On 11/21/2020 at 3:41 PM, kobblers said:

Just checked your page - quality work!!!

How do you achieve such a deep, consistent colour on your leather soles?

Rick.

Thank you. I use multiple layers of leather stain and take it as far as it needs to go before shining up. I hand sand the soles before staining but I imagine a 240+ grit on a knaum keg would give similar results. 

Thank you for looking at the page.

[cre]

On 11/21/2020 at 4:48 PM, Count Muppet said:

I just had a look too. Fantastic work.

I don’t know why you’re doing it so cheap though. Your prices are literally half of what timpson charge.

Timpsons are my only competitor here so I want to come in under their prices while using quality products. The A board I made when I opened up has become essentially irrelevant over the last 2 years as I've built a consistent customer base. My prices now could best be described as reassuringly expensive. 

Thanks for checking out the page.

[keithm]

11 hours ago, cre said:

Thank you. I use multiple layers of leather stain and take it as far as it needs to go before shining up. I hand sand the soles before staining but I imagine a 240+ grit on a knaum keg would give similar results. 

Thank you for looking at the page.

A Birki wheel with 150grit paper would be ideal for this type of finishing.  If you have a 700 finisher, it could be fitted to your brush section.

 

PM me if you require more detail.

[cre]

On 11/24/2020 at 9:00 AM, keithm said:

A Birki wheel with 150grit paper would be ideal for this type of finishing.  If you have a 700 finisher, it could be fitted to your brush section.

 

PM me if you require more detail.

I do have a 700 micro finisher but I fear its days are almost numbered, Keith. I'll probably be in touch about some abrasives for the brush section though. Do you still sell the 80grit spira bands? 

Thanks. 

Chad 

[keithm]

On 11/27/2020 at 8:25 PM, cre said:

I do have a 700 micro finisher 

 

Really?  Don't know that machine.  you either have a 700 or a 750 (Micro)

 

do you mean Spira bands as in Mini Roll on the cutter section?

[cre]

35 minutes ago, keithm said:

Really?  Don't know that machine.  you either have a 700 or a 750 (Micro)

 

do you mean Spira bands as in Mini Roll on the cutter section?

Sorry I did mean the 750 micro finisher. I'm after the the larger finishing band that comes as part of the brush section of the machine, Keith. 

[keithm]

We have those a plenty CRE, our part number is:

WA16995   PKT 10 @ £24.40 p[us carriage plus VAT

[Nan]

Wow! I thought this site could guide me to a good repair professional or say ditch your boots. Grumpy never brings happy or more customers 

[x minit uk]

12 hours ago, Nan said:

Wow! I thought this site could guide me to a good repair professional or say ditch your boots. Grumpy never brings happy or more customers 

I blame the glue.

[Mike at Vauxhall]

14 hours ago, Nan said:

 Grumpy never brings happy

Why, aren't they friends anymore. 

[petercoulson]

10 hours ago, cowers lane 583 said:

Why, aren't they friends anymore. 

Didn't you hear? There's a restraining order between them

[cre]

There are some really good cobblers around mate, but after a while the glue sniffing does take a toll and people get grumpy. Be sure to research your chosen shop thoroughly because some of us are more familiar with certain types of work. Lots of us offer mail in services so a lack of someone local shouldn't hinder you. 

Best of luck. 

[Brennanski]

I can see this thread is a few years old now but in my opinion, you should probably delete it. Even with the deleted comment it makes the members of the forum sound whiney and unhelpful. The guy asking for help and advice is a mechanic - do you not think he is used to people working on their own cars? Buying second rate parts off eBay? do you not think he loses trade to DIYers? It's the same with every profession. No good comes from calling anyone a 'cheapskate:

I'm looking to revamp an old pair of docs that were headed for the bin. They aren't precious, and I don't mind if I botch. I don't have a lot of money to send them to a cobbler to be repaired (£40/£50 is a lot of money, in fact it's the price of a new pair of boots...). As a repairer/restorer, what I do have is a full workshop and some common sense.

DM's have awful soles with barely any tread - they wear flat so quickly. In case you hadn't noticed, they have also rocketed in price and a new pair of 1460s will set you back £159. I can get hold of a decentish rubber soles relatively cheap, and the correct contact cement is something I will use again and again. This should give them another year or 2 wear. I can build clamping jigs to hold boots etc and have a nice curved belt sander for prep. Is there anything to consider other than already mentioned in this thread? I've looked into the suggested glues. I don't see why it's an issue for this to be a DIY job unless I'm missing something... 

[grahamparker]

6 hours ago, Brennanski said:

I can see this thread is a few years old now but in my opinion, you should probably delete it. Even with the deleted comment it makes the members of the forum sound whiney and unhelpful. The guy asking for help and advice is a mechanic - do you not think he is used to people working on their own cars? Buying second rate parts off eBay? do you not think he loses trade to DIYers? It's the same with every profession. No good comes from calling anyone a 'cheapskate:

I'm looking to revamp an old pair of docs that were headed for the bin. They aren't precious, and I don't mind if I botch. I don't have a lot of money to send them to a cobbler to be repaired (£40/£50 is a lot of money, in fact it's the price of a new pair of boots...). As a repairer/restorer, what I do have is a full workshop and some common sense.

DM's have awful soles with barely any tread - they wear flat so quickly. In case you hadn't noticed, they have also rocketed in price and a new pair of 1460s will set you back £159. I can get hold of a decentish rubber soles relatively cheap, and the correct contact cement is something I will use again and again. This should give them another year or 2 wear. I can build clamping jigs to hold boots etc and have a nice curved belt sander for prep. Is there anything to consider other than already mentioned in this thread? I've looked into the suggested glues. I don't see why it's an issue for this to be a DIY job unless I'm missing something... 

Great way to join a forum and your first post. Not even in the trade.

If you want D.I.Y then go for it but don't come on a TRADE forum telling us in the trade what we should say or do.

[drewk]

i know this is an old post and i'm definitely not a cobbler, but......

could you just glue and sew a piece of thick veg tan leather onto the original welts and then glue a vibram sole to that?

 

i have a similar problem and since modern doc marten soles only last me a year, it doesn't make sense to put new ones on of the same.

 

 

[Count Muppet]

That’s how the Americans seem to do it.

not really a doc marten boot though once you do that