How to Resole Boots? Step-by-Step Guide
Do you want to know that how to resole boots? Either your boots’ soles are broken, or you want to replace them with comfortable ones. You may find this method a bit challenging at the start, but if you follow the step by step guidelines, it will be really simple for you. This article will share that method. However, it will take some time, but you will be happy with the final result in the end.
Resoling boots yourself can save a lot of your money because if you ask a cobbler to do it for you, he/she may charge a lot of money for it. There is no need to ask a cobbler if you can do it at your home easily. Just follow the method that we will share in this article. You don’t need to be a professional to follow this method, just follow the instructions and get surprised with the result.
Items Require to Resole Boots
- Blade or thin knife
- Nail puller or plier
- New outsoles
- New Midsoles
- Nails
- Hammer
- Glue
- Sandpaper
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Few Tips to Keep in Mind Before You Start to Resole Your Boots
- Always buy bigger new soles than the older ones because you can cut them off later. However, if you buy the soles smaller than the older ones, you won’t be able to fix them.
- Always use a professional cobbler kit if you wish to resole boots yourself. A low-quality kit or the unavailability of any item can damage your boots.
- Don’t sew the soles with your hand. Always use a good quality sewing machine, as it will ensure that the soles are stick permanently.
- Read the above-mentioned items list thoroughly, make sure you have all those items.
- If you have already replaced the half sole of your boots one time, don’t replace the half sole again. Instead, remove the whole sole and replace it with a new whole sole.
Step by Step Guidelines to Resole Boots
1- Remove outsoles
First of all, you need to remove the older outsole of your boots that you want to remove. For this purpose, Grab the one end of the outsole’s base with the nail puller or plier and then remove it with the blade. Do it gently. The outsole base is attached with the glue, or it is sewed. The purpose of using a blade and a nail puller is to detach that outer part from the glue.
If the outsole is attached with the glue, you will find two layers; the fixed layer and then the outer sole. If it is sewed, you will find three layers, the fixed one, midsole, and then the outer sole. In both cases, you have to remove the outer sole. You have to keep pulling the outsole’s base with a nail puller and then, at the same time, keep scratching with the blade. You will notice that the outsole’s base is removing. Keep doing this step until the whole outsole’ bases of both boots are completely removed.
2- Clean the soles
Use acetone to clean the midsoles, fixed soles, and outsoles of boots. If your boots have already midsole, you can clean them, and if you want to add a new midsole layer to the boots, clean the new midsole with acetone. If neither your boots have midsole nor want to add a new midsole, simply clean your boots’ fixed sole and outsole with acetone.
3- Prepare new soles
Bring the new outsoles and midsoles. Apply glue on the new outsoles and midsoles. Make sure to apply the strong adhesive glue as it will keep your boots’ layers attached together.
4- Apply glue on fixed sole
Now apply the same glue on the fixed sole as well. Apply gently, make sure not even a single part of that fixed sole is left dry.
5- Attach the midsole with the outsole
If you want to add a new midsole layer to your boots, attach the midsole with the outsole. Make sure they are perfectly attached together.
6- Make the inner part of the midsole rough
Now you may notice that the inner part of the midsole is very smooth, so you have to make it rough. The purpose of making it rough is to increase its adhesiveness. If you keep the surface smooth, it will not stick strongly with the boots’ fixed sole.
You can use sandpaper to make the surface rough. Keep rubbing on the midsole’s inner part ( which you will attach with the fixed sole) until it becomes rough.
7- Apply glue on the midsole’s inner part
After the surface has become rough, you can apply glue to it. Now, gently apply the glue to that part.
8- Attach the fixed sole with the mid and outer soles
After applying the glue, attach the mid and outer soles with the boots’ fixed sole. Apply pressure on it so that they stick together perfectly. You can hit with the hammer to put extra pressure. Use the plier to press the boundary area of soles, make sure they have attached perfectly.
9- Cut the extra outsoles in the process to resole boots
Now you may notice that the outsoles and the midsoles are bigger than your boots. Don’t worry; they always come in a bigger size. Now use the blade to cut the extra part of the outer and middle soles. Make a cut anywhere on the outsole, and then keep moving your blade or knife along with the boundary of the outsole, as shown in the picture. Moving the blade along with the boundary will help you cut the exact size of the outsoles.
10- Rub outsole’s boundary with sandpaper or sander
Now rub the outsole’s boundary with the sandpaper or machine. It will help to make the perfect finishing. Also, it will remove any extra glue attached outside of the outsole.
11- Sew the soles together
Now sew the soles together so that the soles stick together permanently. Use Special thread that is made for sewing boots and the sewing machine to sew the soles together. Don’t use a cheap quality thread; otherwise, it will not last long. Start sewing from heels, then complete one round. Make sure to sew the whole boundaries of both boots perfectly.
12- Apply glue on heel’s area
Now it’s time to attach the heels of both boots. For this purpose, clean the outsole, measure the heel’ area and then draw a boundary on the outsole with a lead pencil. Then gently apply glue on the outsole, where you will attach the heel.
13- Attach heel with the leather piece
Take a think leather piece, same as the size of the heel. Now apply glue on both the leather piece and the heel’s inner side. Stick them together. Apply pressure or hit with the hammer, so they stick perfectly. If the leather piece is bigger than the heel, you can simply cut it with the blade, in the same way as we did earlier.
14- Attach the heel with the outsole to resole boots completely
Now, place the heel on the outsole, where you have applied the glue earlier. Put pressure or hit with the hammer, so it sticks perfectly. Now insert nails and hit with the hammer, so the nails perfectly insert in the heel and attach it with the outsole
Congratulations, your boots have been resoled. Now you can clean the boots to give them a brand new look. For this purpose, you can follow the guide to clean boots.
Alternative Method to Resole Boots – Get the Service of A Cobbler
If you don’t have extra time or you hesitate to resole your boots yourself, you can get the service of a cobbler. Cobblers do professional work. If you ask them to resole your boots, they will completely satisfy you with their work, as it’s their daily routine job. Moreover, you will also get peace of mind. However, they will charge money. So, keep in mind that you have to spend some money on it if you want their service. If you don’t want to spend extra money, then simply follow the guide mentioned above, and do the job yourself.
Why it’s a Good Idea to Resole Boots at Home?
Because you can save a lot of money if you resole boots at home, as an outsole can cost between $10 to $30, depending upon the outsole’s brand and quality, even a Vibram sole can cost around $31. On the other hand, if you ask a professional cobbler to resole boots, he/she may charge you around $80 to $100. We understand, the process is a bit complicated, and it may take 1 to 2 hours as well, but you can save money here. However, if you don’t care about the money and want to relax, you can get a cobbler’s service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can you resole boots?
It depends upon the boot’s condition. Many manufacturers limit to resole boots 2-3 times if you want to resole your boots from them. However, if the boots are still in good condition, you can resole them yourself or from a professional cobbler. It’s better to consult with a professional or a cobbler; he can guide you better by looking at the boot’s condition.
How much does it cost to resole boots?
If you resole boots at your home, you can buy the outsole within the price range of $10 to $30, depending upon the sole’s brand and quality. However, if you go to a cobbler and ask him to resole, he may take around $80 to $100 from you.
Is it worth getting boots resoled?
Definitely, if your boot’s outsole is broken, or if you feel that the moisture is getting in your boots through the sole or you notice the loose grip, then it’s time to resole boots. New boots can cost a lot. If the rest of the boots are fine, only soles are needed to be replaced, then why spend money on whole boots. Just resole the boots, and everything is fine.
Can walking boots be resoled?
Yes, you can resole walking boots. You just have to follow the method as we discussed above.
How often to resole boots?
To be honest, there is no hard and fast rule to say that how often you should resole your boots. But, there are some signs that you can notice to see if your boots need resoling or not. Check the holes in the sole, if the heels are uneven, soles are damaged by water, or the sole splits. All these signs indicate that you have to resole boots.
Can I resole my boots?
Yes, you can resole your boots by simply following the method mentioned above. There is no need to go to a cobbler unless you have a time issue. The method may seem a bit complicated, but you can easily resole your boots if you follow the step-by-step guidelines.
How to tell if your boots need resoling?
Just check the wrinkles across the outsole’s boundary with your finger. If you feel any softness, wrinkles, it means you have to resole boots. Moreover, if you see any holes in the outsole or if you notice that the welt stitching is exposed, it means your boots need resoling.
The Bottom Line
If the soles are broken, or you want to replace them with comfortable soles, you need to resole your boots. The process to resole boots may seem a bit difficult, but if you follow the step-by-step guide, it will become really easy for you. You don’t need to be a professional to resole your boots. You just need few items and an attentive mind. Follow the steps replace your broken sole with the new comfortable one.
