Shoe leather scrape…help!

[Canadave]

Shoe dudes,

I scuffed my favourite pair of AEs today, kicking a curb (accidentally). A small flap has lifted from the leather. The only ways I can figure to fix it would be either cutting it off with an X-acto knife, or "sanding" it off with a metal nail file.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

David

 

[jake_fink]

Pictures?

Depending on the extent of the damage a good cobbler should be able to do something. If you are still in Toronto Novelty Shoe repair on Yonge has vintage/retro appeal, while Kaners on Bloor - under the Nike store - can often work magic.

 

[Canadave]

Pictures?

Depending on the extent of the damage a good cobbler should be able to do something. If you are still in Toronto Novelty Shoe repair on Yonge has vintage/retro appeal, while Kaners on Bloor - under the Nike store - can often work magic.

It's really minor, and I'm hoping to do it myself.

Ahhh...Novelty Shoe Rebuilders. Depending on your age, you might not remember the fire they had there over 20 years ago. I had two pairs of shoes there at the time...one of my father's, and my favourite pair. Of course, mine were lost in the blaze. They gave me a cheque for 50 bucks. Still not over it.

David

 

[Undertow]

DON'T CUT IT!

I have had a similar experience with a good pair of shoes I owned. If it's a very small flap, or even a moderately sized flap, take it into a cobbler and they can put glue underneath and on top.

I know you might think this will affect the shine, but it doesn't. At least it didn't for me.

After all was said and done, and after I had him give it a nice polish, it looked like a small blemish, like a tiny cut rather than a big missing flap.

 

[Paisley]

I have some cracks in my shoes. Can a cobbler fix that, too?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Shoe dudes,

I scuffed my favourite pair of AEs today, kicking a curb (accidentally). A small flap has lifted from the leather. The only ways I can figure to fix it would be either cutting it off with an X-acto knife, or "sanding" it off with a metal nail file.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

David

Super glue it. Carefully, that is. A good cyanoacrylate, (SP?) or so called super glue applied sparingly should do the trick. Leather is skin afterall, and super glue bonds skin better than anything else. Once the cut flap is bonded down, you can touch up the spot with leather dye and/or polish.

 

[Undertow]

Super glue it. Carefully, that is. A good cyanoacrylate, (SP?) or so called super glue applied sparingly should do the trick. Leather is skin afterall, and super glue bonds skin better than anything else. Once the cut flap is bonded down, you can touch up the spot with leather dye and/or polish.

You can try this or the cobbler. I only mention that again because my shoe guy did it for free and it took him two minutes (not counting the polish I had him do as well). I think most cobblers would do it for free. But then again, with the price of gas anymore, you may want to d i y...

 

[Teacher]

There is glue especially made for leather, and I would use that. Unlike SuperGlue, leather glue is flexible, so it will (in all likelihood) last longer. Leather glue can be had at just about any shoe repair or leather goods shop.

I have some cracks in my shoes. Can a cobbler fix that, too?

In all likelihood, no. Cracks are different from cuts. Sorry.

 

[Mike K.]

Listen to the Teacher!!

Superglue is not the right stuff to use. It dries hard. You want to use a flexible shoe glue (it's urethane if I remember correctly). If you can't find it at your local shoe repair store, go to any outdoor/camping outfitter. Don't get the liquid stuff meant for sealing seams; get the tube of gel meant for footwear. Dab a little bit under the torn leather using a toothpick, press the torn leather down gently, use your finger to smear a small amount of glue over the cut (use the stuff that oozed out from under the tear), leave to dry for at least one day. Don't wear the shoes until the glue has dried AND cured. Cover with polish and you're set!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I stand corrected.

Mine was an old school fix for the problem, an improvisation I have used a few times with good results, provided that the area of leather to be repaired was not one that would be flexed, and was not very large. Now I know there is something better.