Cobbler

[SBecker]

I’ve got two pairs of Orvis boots that, within the last month, have started doing the floppy-felt dance. Naturally, I’ve been making them talk to my clients in silly voices, but I think it’s time to retire the puppet show. 😂

Has anyone taken their wading boots to a local cobbler to have the felt replaced? What did they charge, and how did the repair hold up?

For anyone in the Lehigh Valley who’s had it done, who did you use? We’ve got a few local options, so I’d love to hear your experiences.

 

[jifigz]

Can't you just pull the old felt off and use barge cement to glue new felt on? I know barge cement is popular for this use, and I am assuming it works quite well since it has been used for a long time.

But to answer your question directly - no, I have never taken my wading boots to a cobbler to have felts re-glued. Has anyone ever taken a wading boot to a cobbler? Probably.......

 

[rancid waders]

Barge cement has always worked well for me. Duct tape to apply pressure till it cures

 

[laszlo]

Man I was hoping for a new dessert recipe from the thread title.

 

[jifigz]

Man I was hoping for a new dessert recipe from the thread title.

Actually, that's where my mind went, too.

 

[TimMurphy]

Barge cement has always worked well for me. Duct tape to apply pressure till it cures

Barge cement has worked for me as well. Three other things to be mindful of; 1) make sure the boots are 100% dry, 2) stuff the boots with old newspaper and/or rags until you can't put anything else in them, and 3) be sure to rough up the surface of the boot so the Barge cement can get a good grip before you tape them up.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[SBecker]

I have used an epoxy before and it failed as well. Was thinking they would stitch the felt in possibly and reglue at the cobbler.

 

[RLeep2]

Another thing that I've always found worth doing as part of these Barge salvage projects is to apply more glue to the felts than you might think you're gonna need. Maybe as much as 50-70% more. The felts suck the glue up and your bond can suffer accordingly. That and the duct tape and creating a newspaper/old rags last have always worked for me.

 

[TheDuke44]

Actually, that's where my mind went, too.

Glad I wasn't the only one.

 

[troutbert]

I've done it myself. I've had a shoe repair shop do it.

And I've had it done at one of those Amish shoe stores.

If you can find felt with spikes, go with that. Spiked felt lasts much longer than regular felt, and the grip is excellent.

 

[FisherOfMen]

Actually, that's where my mind went, too.

And mine 😂

 

[jrmyln]

I have used a Simms recommended cobbler in Philly for wading boots as well as boot foot waders. Today's cost is about the same as a new pair. I just redid mine myself... only time will tell.

 

[lars]

use this regularly to glue new felts on. it's contact cement so you have to coat both sides, let them
dry and you can put a second coat on if the glue looks too sparse. once dry press them together, i have a shoe anvil so i hammer them real good with a dead blow hammer. they will not come apart.

 

[jifigz]

use this regularly to glue new felts on. it's contact cement so you have to coat both sides, let them
dry and you can put a second coat on if the glue looks too sparse. once dry press them together, i have a shoe anvil so i hammer them real good with a dead blow hammer. they will not come apart.
View attachment 1641254625

When I recommended barge cement, I was thinking of you. You're the guy who told me about it.

Now, cobbler..... Does anyone have a good recipe they'd like to share?