How best to repair the separated sole of a running shoe?

Shoe Goo.

Isn’t acetone the primary ingredient in nail polish remover? Seems an unlikely adhesive, if I’m thinking of the right stuff.

Can you return the Nikes to the store? The construction should last longer than that, I would think.

Never heard of Shoe Goo, @Tropical_Willie.

Yes, @gailcalled, acetone is paint thinner, too. It melts plastic and evaporates quickly. I thought it might perhaps meld the two layers.

Shoe Goo here’s their website. I’ve used it for thirty years.

Thanks, @Tropical_Willie

man, that stuff lasts a long time!

I use to fix my boys’ sneakers, they tended to drag their toes. Fixed a few of mine too.

Well, I finally asked cause these shoes are nearly new (Oh, and they were a gift @gailcalled) and I’ve worn the crap out of another pair that has the whole heel separated.

I’ve used acetone to bond acrylic hearing aids… not sure what it would do to soft porous rubbery compounds, though.

Yeah, I think I’ll try it on the pair with the flappy heel, @hearkat. They’re old, anyway. Basically if I swipe some on and they get gummy, I’m good.

I agree with @Tropical_Willie Shoe goo is the best solution, even contact cement works well. Leather work shops and shoe repair places sell this type of adhesive.

Thanks, @Smitha. I haven’t had or thought of contact cement in years. They sell it at the Dollar Tree, though, I think. I might try that on an old pair, too. I’m certain that @Tropical_Willie‘s Shoe Goo would work, but I hate to pay much for a product that I’ll use only once. I do not drag my toes.

@hearkat: Which parts? How? I can’t imagine applying acetone to a 4k hearing aid.

That’s what @hearkat does, @gailcalled. I just learned that on another thread. Hearing Center.

@ibstubro It doesn’t go bad like milk.

@ibstubro: I know. She has been our resident audiology expert for years. That’s why I asked exactly what she was gluing.

Okay, @gailcalled I mostly was trying to protect your post because we’re in the tricky ”GENERAL” (thunder ensues) section.

@Tropical_Willie Surely it’s a solvent (evaporate) or adhesive (dry up)?

@gailcalled: the custom molded hearing aids are made of acrylic. The faceplate sometimes loses its bond to the moulded part, and we re-adhere it very carefully with acetone or other bonding agents.

^^ That must take some nerve and very steady hands.

@ibstubro It is a resin based adhesive, but it think it uses moisture / H2O for triggering the process. it doesn’t dry up or evaporate.

@gailcalled – Yes; but if the patient doesn’t have warranty coverage, I give them the option:
1) I can send it to the factory for service backed with a 6-mo. or 1-yr. warranty for $250–350; or
2) I could try to fix it in-house and if successful it costs $25 but has no warranty, and if unsuccessful it goes to the factory as in option 1.
Most choose to let me give it a try first. If the edges are too jagged or it otherwise looks too tricky to fix, I won’t even attempt it.

@Tropical_Willie That’s wild. I will definitely look it up.

Stu: Maybe you should let 2heakat have first crack at repairing your sneaks with the ShooGoo.

Shoe Goo is great .i started using it to repair the soles of my Van’s as a teenage skateboarder i have been using it since the mid 1970’s

I will throw in another vote for Shoe Goo . Make sure you clamp the two pieces together well and give ti time to set up. Don’t rush it.

Just another Shoe Goo supporter here. It’s saved many a skate shoe and many a Converse hi-top (and a few grown-up-lady-type shoes, as well). The stuff can be stinky, though, so after you follow @Tropical_Willie‘s and @LuckyGuy‘s advice, put your shoes in the garage or outside while the goo sets.

I would use contact cement if you want a thin bond line. Shoe Goo is good for when you have gaps or worn spots that you need to fill in.