Boot Rehab

[Niederlander]

Gentlemen,
      I thought I'd share this rehab project to show what can be done to rehab footwear.  With the skirmish format we do now, good footwear is essential if you don't want sore feet.  Sore feet, knees, back, etc. make it pretty hard to enjoy yourself, and a lot of that starts with a good pair of boots.  Unfortunately, a lot of the reproduction stuff isn't real comfortable, so I recommend getting a good pair of Red Wing, or comparable, boots if you can.  I got this pair of Red Wing boots off e-bay pretty cheap, largely because of what they look like.  They came out quite good enough for field boots.  First I had to scrape off some drops of green paint, then wash them.  The boots were then dyed with British Tan dye, with Obenauf's oil applied afterwards.  They were then polished with Kiwi polish.

[Quick Fire]

They cleaned up pretty nice, and it is hard to beat a pair of Redwings for comfort.

Quick Fire

[Major 2]

I had that very idea, have a pair , but the oil resistant sole literately rotted away, pulled off in chunks.
I used a wire wheel to buff the last crumbs, and wanted a shoe shop to replace the sole & heels, that became a search in futility.

Shoe Repair is a profession lost to modern disposable shoes & athletic types...
One boot repair place offered to glue on Vribrum soles @ $65 ....

Some day I may find a place.... 
 

[Niederlander]

Where are you at?  I know at least one, maybe two, places that could probably do the work for you.

[Delmonico]

Obenhaufs, I love it, I use the LP but for those the oil would be better, that is what Charles Issac used on that holster in 2009.  Rick and I had dry feet and most everyone else didn't and I was telling about the stuff and showing my can.   

I use it on hat bands also, makes a good hand lotion and lip balm and though I've never tried it I bet it would make a good black powder lube.

Here is a good revue of it, by the people it was developed for.   

http://wildfirenews.com/fire/articles/obenauf.html

[Texas Lawdog]

Ned, Roger lives in St. Cloud, Florida.

[pony express]

I got a pair almost the same, except they're the cap toe version.(Redwing Iron Rangers) Saw them in a discount shoe store near here, and they didn't fit so well, but I liked them. Seemed very different than most of the other boots on the shelf. So I looked them up online, when I saw what they were SUPPOSED to cost, I went back the next week and bought them. Took a couple months of part time wear to get them broken in, but since they got there, I never had a pair of boots that fit like that. Wish I could find some more, for the price I paid, under $100! List is around $300.

[Drydock]

Most Red Wing stores will ship old boots back to Red Wing for resole and repair.  I've got an old pair of Pecos I've had resoled thru them.

[Major 2]

That is interesting info ...but I wonder if they would want to resole them in the same oil resistant stuff they came in   
the stuff would leave black marks on floors when it stared to break down.

I suppose I need to look into it again

[cpt dan blodgett]

Cost me $100 but got whole soles and heels put on a pair of cowboy boots here in Phoenix.  Tony's shoe repair.  Second Generation fix it place in Phoenix.  They have a satellite store in Metro Center little over a half mile from my moms house.  Black guy my age or older does the work there.  Tony Jr does the work in the central Phoenix Location.

If your are really in a hurt to get boots repaired, may be worth the postage to send to me and I take them for you.

[Major 2]

'preciate it,  Capt...  I seem to remember, I only paid a bit over a hundred when they were new...
I wore 'em enough to break them in, and recall the black marks ....
Uppers are in really good shape, but I wrestle with spending large coin and then the shipping, too  for rebuilding them.

I was certainly surprised , Castle Boots (old established local boot & shoe repair ) only would re -glue on Vribrum soles @ $65
I wanted smooth soles and a walking heel.  

[G.W. Strong]

I had that very idea, have a pair , but the oil resistant sole literately rotted away, pulled off in chunks.
I used a wire wheel to buff the last crumbs, and wanted a shoe shop to replace the sole & heels, that became a search in futility.

Shoe Repair is a profession lost to modern disposable shoes & athletic types...
One boot repair place offered to glue on Vribrum soles @ $65 ....

Some day I may find a place.... 
 

I am 100% able to do shoe and boot repairs. I do them on a regular basis. http://talbotsfineaccessories.com/Schuster.html

[Major 2]

Sir, I hadn't a clue  

my boots are just like these, Ariat the vibrum sole is completely removed but the sub sole is in great condition/
the were lighty worn and the old sole just turned sorta soft and loose and came off.
I walk righ out of the heel on one  

I have removed the tassel thing and would redye them  they seem to have tighten across the width
and are to snug I need that stretched  

What  do you think worth the effort ?

[G.W. Strong]

Sir, I hadn't a clue  

my boots are just like these, Ariat the vibrum sole is completely removed but the sub sole is in great condition/
the were lighty worn and the old sole just turned sorta soft and loose and came off.
I walk righ out of the heel on one  

I have removed the tassel thing and would redye them  they seem to have tighten across the width
and are to snug I need that stretched  

What  do you think worth the effort ?

I would need to see pics but they should be salvageable

iT WOULD

[pony express]

M-2, do those have any leather to sew to in the sole? The boots I used to like had leather, but the edge where it was sewed was a kind of plastic. Local boot man said he could re-sole them if that plastic strip wasn't broken or cracked, but of course the plastic was always one of the first things to go. I did usually get one or two sets of heels on them before they "blew out" on the sides, or wore completely through the sole.

For what it's worth, Justin makes a similar style boot, but with leather sole and hard rubber heel, but their version of "EE" and mine aren't exactly the same thing.

Right now I have a pair of Redwing Iron Rangers, and a pair of Chippewas that are both re-soleable, should I ever wear them out.

[Major 2]

PE..  I think its plastic or vinyl composite akin to same...I have them at my office, I'll double check   


Redwing , and Chippewas may well be a better quality boot...using a leather subsoles
these Ariat's (purchased 20 years ago @ Tractor Supply for about $100) may not be re-sole-able...
because of that !
 

[Dalton Masterson]

I don't think Chippewa boots can be beaten for comfort. I've been wearing them for years and in several varieties.

Picked up a pair of the lace up packer/cowboy style Chippewa's though, and the heel is too tall. Think it would work to have it shortened?
DM

[pony express]

I had a pair of those once too, not sure if it could be shortened much, I think the rest of the sole is pretty stiff and is shaped to go with the heel height. Not sure if that makes sense, but I don't know how to explain it better.

When I wore those boots, seemed like I was about 6'5"!

[Dalton Masterson]

I was thinking that too, Pony. I might just be better off to sell them off to reinvest in another pair. And you're right, they make you feel 8' tall.
DM

[Pitspitr]

And you're right, they make you feel 8' tall.

Do they make you feel bullet proof too?