Believe it or not, every element of your muscular, back, and neck health can be linked to what kind of shoes or boots you wear at work.
Once you’ve invested in the perfect, safest, and most comfortable pair of boots, you’re better prepared to contend with the elements set out to destroy them. If you’re wondering how much work boot repair you can manage on your own, you might be surprised by how easy it is to repair them.
Here are some solutions to get you started.
1. Repairing Work Boot Soles
If you’re a hard-working person who seriously wears through your boots, you probably struggle with soles that come apart. While many people usually toss out their boots when they get to this point, if you’ve invested in high-quality work boots, there’s no point in ditching them. Thankfully, there are simple fixes for repairing soles on boots that have worn through.
If you’re sure it’s time for a new sole, buy one for your boots. Check if the boot’s original manufacturer makes soles to replace the originals. This is the best way to make your boots look brand new after resolving boots, as the manufacturers intended them to look.
It would be best to have high-quality shoe glue from brands like Tuff Toe. Tuff Toe is a specially formulated adhesive glue for more than just repairing boots and shoes. It will resist getting wet and coming apart when you put it under stress or losing adhesion when exposed to chemicals and heat.
Sole repair is familiar and straightforward if the fix seems easy enough. If your boot is otherwise intact and in good shape, remove the old sole once you have a new one. Then, apply glue around the worn heel and press the sole into it.
Once the heel is in place, work glue around the rest of the sole and make sure it’s firmly secure. You may want to stand in your boots until the glue has dried or, if they’re hearty enough, place weights to evenly press the boot into the sole.
2. Repairing Small Holes
Work boots can become dry, cracked, and have small holes. This is common if you spend a lot of time on your feet and put a lot of pressure on them. If you notice small holes starting to appear, they can be fixed before they become too much of a problem.
Start by cleaning the small holes with alcohol. This will remove any debris or impurities that may be impacting the adhesive’s ability to stick. Use cotton balls and plain rubbing alcohol.
Then, wait for the area to dry and apply a waterproof sealant around the hole. Press the pieces together and hold them together until the sealant dries sufficiently.
If your holes are slightly bigger, apply contact or rubber cement to the area and then add a small piece of duct tape. Once that is dry, add sealant over it to ensure that it remains waterproof and holds a little bit longer.
3. Repairing Large Holes
While large holes might make you want to give in and get rid of your boots, you can still repair and save them. All you need to do is obtain some leather that matches your boots to make the whole boot repair move look seamless.
Next, get some waterproof leather glue and rubbing alcohol. A little sandpaper might be necessary to help the two pieces adhere to one another.
Clean the area around the hole with rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls. Then, let the boot dry entirely before working.
Rub the sandpaper around the area where you’ll be patching your boot. There is only sand in this small region. Then, cut the leather to cover the hole and around the edge.
Apply some glue all around the area and along the edges. Now press the leather patch over the hole and rub off any extra glue. Press the piece firmly until the glue feels sufficiently dry. Let it continue to dry overnight.
Now, apply sealant or waterproofing to the repaired patch to ensure that the patch stays in place and that the glue isn’t exposed to the elements.
Fixing a Worn Steel Toe Boot
Probably the most useful innovation in work boots has been the steel toe. People worked in dangerous industries for years and struggled to keep their toes clear of falling metal or dangerous tools.
The first safety toes were wooden, called sabots. The Sabot is the typical shoe we associate with Holland in the US.
The US Congress passed the OSHA Act (Occupational Safety and Health Act) in 1970 and nominated a governing body to ensure that OSHA workplace safety standards were enforced. You can read more about it on OSHA’s website.
When your sole shows a sign of wearing out, especially around the toe, some adhesive and material can help you do the trick. If the sole is coming up, add adhesive and wait for it to dry overnight.
If you’re using electrical or metatarsal boots, the same trick applies to repairing them. Just a little bit of adhesive will go a long way in sustaining the life of your boots, which are essential to workplace safety.
If you’re dealing with waterproof boots, drying and waterproofing with mink oil might be helpful after the glue has dried. Waterproof your boots regularly so that they’re safe from any elements that might try to come their way.
Not All Work Boot Repair Can Be Done At Home
If you’re dealing with a busted or dented work boot toe, for example, you might not have all the cobbling tools on hand to fix your favorite work boots by yourself. Seeking out some work boot repair specialists might be necessary for safely repairing your favorite work boots. If you’re struggling to fix them on your own, thankfully, there are plenty of resources for fixing them.
If you need to have your work boot toe replaced, contact us today for help.
