Lower Cost Shoes

[Fifty150]

I had to re-do it every year

Here's another look at how they prep the surface, before they glue on soles.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

I've followed directions to a T on the respective containers. Various types of solvents to clean u surfaces. Fine sandpaper to rough up contact areas. I've tried it all.

How are you doing that? Are you just adding glue between the shoe and the sole? Or are you taking the entire sole off, prepping the surfaces, then reattaching? I see those videos where they have a pneumatic press, and I'm sure that really helps bond the surfaces as the contact cement cures.

tried acetone, paint thinner, 91% rubbing alcohol. tried sandpaper, metal files. also have tried a couple different vices that max out at 400LBs of pressure. I don't think it's the tools or my process. I think it is the contact cements I've tried. that's why I was curious if you had a favorite.

 

[Fifty150]

I'd really appreciate a recommendation.

I've used Masters and Barge. Both have worked okay for me.

 

[Fifty150]

I've seen the YouTube videos where they use these brands:

 

[大馬伕]

It seems like when you spend less, the expectations are less. The bar is lowered. You get a lesser grade of product, but that's okay. When you buy Wal-Mart shoes, you don't expect Horween leather.

You expect more with increased pricing. What happens when you spend more, and still get less? When shoes price over $300, $500, or even $1,000? In what world are $2,000 worth it?

We all have our own ideas. I have a hard time with buying a luxury car. But I don't drive a Kia either.



What shoe is "worth it"? You actually get your money's worth?

 

[Fifty150]

It may come as a surprise to some around here that not everyone can pay $350+ for a pair of shoes

When you spend more, it does not mean that you get more.

 

[Fifty150]

I got these for $25.

For some of us, when we are wearing suits, we could still get into a little action.

And while it's nice to own better quality, and to be able to walk around in expensive shoes......... I need shoes that I can run, climb a ladder, climb a fence, and fight in. The first consideration is comfort. My feet cannot hurt on long shifts. The second consideration is traction. I cannot slip and slide on leather soles when my life depends on it. Then I think about cost. How much should I spend on shoes that will get ripped, torn, cut up, etc.? Not to mention chewing gum, spilled drinks, broken glass, urine, blood, and other bodily fluids.

 

[Fifty150]

Right or wrong? The price was right. About $41. I glued on a rubber sole protector. It's ready, in case a political dignitary orders Panda Express, and the dishwasher, me, has to make the delivery.

 

[Fifty150]

Allen Edmonds and other high-end dress shoes

The idea is that "high end" quality is better leather, and recraftability. Not just a resole. The entire shoe could be recrafted. Toe counter, heel counter, toe cap, insole lasting boards, welt, midsole, outsole....... all the parts are replaceable.

Can "low end" shoes be recrafted? Sometimes yes. There are lower priced shoes which can be resoled, and recrafted. And in today's market, there are shoes from other countries which are also recraftable. You no longer have to pay a premium price to get something which can be repaired.


The caveat being that the shoe upper is good enough that it will be worth recrafting the shoe. If the leather used for the uppers is not very good, would it be worth adding a new sole?



The biggest drawback to rebuilding footwear is the price. How much are you willing to spend, to keep wearing your old shoes? Is the repair bill worth it? As opposed to just buying new shoes? Maybe 100 years ago, people actually did own 1 pair of shoes, and with a different economy, their shoes were rebuilt. With modern technology, a lot of cheap shoes are good, will last for a long time, and you simply replace them. It is cheaper to buy $100 shoes every 5 years, than to buy $400 shoes, and spend $150 on a rebuild.



As for the cheap shoes that I own, I own them because I like them. The cheap shoes which I own are every bit as comfortable as the higher priced shoes. Are they nicer? No. Are they as well built? No. But I'm okay with cheap shoes that feel good on my feet. I fully expect to get my money's worth with a $41 pair of cheap shoes.

 

[Fifty150]

I am wearing the cheap shoes today. My feet can't tell the difference. These are comfortable.

These are a dozen years old. Will I resole them? I don't know. Goodyear welted. I could resole them. The inside, leather sock liner and Texon lasting board are in great condition. Funny thing is that the sole protector and heels are also in great condition.

 

[Fifty150]

How many years ago? I don't remember. An online shill job shows that the boot was available around 2011. What did it cost? I don't remember. What I do remember, was that it was when I didn't have good shoes. These were on sale. My fuzzy memory is that they were discounted by half price. Maybe listed for a couple of Benjamins, and sold to me at a handful of Jacksons. It was what I could afford back then.

At that point in time, what appealed to me was the Vibram lug soles. I didn't know anything about welted construction, stitch down construction, or cemented shoes. And that's what they are. Glued shoes. Looking carefully, I can actually see the glue.

I wear them when it rains. We get storms called "atmospheric rivers". The soles have been perfect on wet pavement and uneven terrain. I sparingly oiled the vamp and the heel counter only. In my mind, which is often wrong, the shaft of the boot will be under my jeans. The inside of the boot is leather lined. There's a leather like footbed insert.

I wore them today. They did great in the rain. My feet were dry and cozy. Traction was excellent. Pretty good for a cheap boot.


Timberland makes "low tier" quality. Albeit, better than a boot from Target or Wal*Mart. This would be something that you find at the mall, or in a department store. It is a cheap shoe. But there is value in some cheap shoes. Not a heritage quality shoe, or a Pacific Northwest boot. It's just a boot. For people who only need a boot to wear on the street when the weather is bad. Not everyone needs, nor can they afford, a $600 boot. At $100, they have held up for a decade's worth of winter storms.