shoerepairer

That’s kind off the reasoning behind my own ramblings! It doesn’t matter how many shoe repairers there are in the world there will always be someone willing to “give it a go”

I hope that with my advice slightly less damage will be done with a little better knowledge & understanding & that maybe just maybe along the way I might convert one or two DIY’ers to walk through the doors of the local cobblers safe in the knowledge that an experienced, expert is standing behind the counter.

If you read the topic “10 ways to clear a stiletto heel” you will see that with all the techniques shown, NONE use a see-saw action as this can lead to damage to the plastic heel block or the tube coming out unnecessarily.

Araldite is OK, if & when I replace a barrel I actually use a pair of electric pliers & heat the tube from the inside out, this heating of the heel ensures a firm hold “within” no glue is needed.

This comment, in 90% of cases is correct, however it’s the 10% where the problems escalate with each incorrect repair meaning after a couple of attempts a professional repair is needed. Rendering all previous repairs uneconomical.

isn’t that what you have just done, added to the discussion whilst (in my opinion) mentioned one such “bodge”

For our American or International cousins Timpson is a national chain of repairers here in the UK, as for keeping replacement 5” heels in stock, few repairers keep them in stock, why? Because millions of stilettos have been sold over the years, with tens of thousands of variants in many different heights. Virtually all repairers except a few order the closest design in for each individual repair. The infrastructure here in the UK is good enough to get them sent overnight so a day or two to maybe a week shouldn’t be a problem. I think this is more than reasonable for such a repair.

As for Timpson, they actually DO keep many designs in stock, but in one of their Central workshops of excellence. These are dedicated workshops for specific repairs so with a time delay for shoe transportation the time scale I would imagine (don’t know, having never needed to use them!) is a week or two.

Lee

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Repair Reuse Recycle.

fastfreddy2

Lee:

I've had a look at your site, and read with interest (looked at pictures) at the work you do.

The only comment I'll make, is that the methods described and shown will make every trained engineer wince. That doesn't mean you don't do a great job, or aren't a great fellow, but the methods you use do look a bit, well, primitive.

As far as the remark about 'bodge' were concerned, I was supporting your comment actually. So if you don't now agree with me......?

Getting back to removing a heel tip from the sprung tube..... A task you believe should only be carried out by rocket scientists, or a cobbler ....


The heel tip is splined. Why? To ensure there isn't full contact with the tube, which is made of a material that (a) oxidises (b) can produce electrolytic transfer of material. Ideally, heel tip removal is through a direct in-line pull central to the centre line of the tube. If the heel tip is oversize, or has welded itself to the tube, (as above) the tube will be pulled out of the heel. [As happened in my case.] There is tolerance in the 'spline within tube' design for the heel tip to be rotated in a circular motion with the tube centre being the centreline to the rotation. As the spline has edges, continuous single direction movement can cut material, and make the tube large enough to make the tube too large to hold a replacement tip. A way to avoid this, is a see-saw action. Imagine turning the minute hand on a clock from 5 past, to ten past, then back to 5 past again. The technique can alllow the spline to free itself just enough to remove the tip. If it remains 'welded' to the tube (as in my case) minimal amounts of rotation of the tube in the heel shouldn't cause further damage.

If pulling the tip pulls the spring tube out, this isn't a problem, provided the tube can be returned to it's original position and locked back into place. There is an 'opening pin' fitted at the other end of the sprung tube that increases the outside diameter of the tube deep inside the heel.

In my case, I had to use a slightly slimmer pin to knock out the welded-in heel tips. I've cleaned up both tubes and reinserted them with their respective locking pins. If they subsequently show signs of loosening, I'll araldite the base of the tube in place. The value of the shoes isn't so great I would replace the tube, or replace the heel. Replacing the whole shoe would be cheaper, and I'd get the 'new shoe' look included.


That's the story of my boots, now back 'on thread'.


As Lee has already suggested, it might be prudent to show your heels to a quality cobbler. They are hard to find, I can tell you.

Only last year, I had my friends boots re-heeled at one of the local "cobblers". The first had said the tip on her plastic [blade] heel wasn't refurbishable, and wouldn't take on the job. The one in the next town had no such problem. However, the next time the boots were worn, one of the staples used for the re-heeling broke out of the heel. It produced a dangerous and terminal split that thankfully occurred close to home. Timpson could replace the heels, [at a cost of £18 each or £30 pair] but that cost is more than replacement boots. [The style is not worth much commercially, so are sold very cheaply these days.]


I have this morning asked at a local Timpson what the chances are of them acquiring 5" (or higher) heels. They weren't at all sure, and the shoes would have to be sent away for a week or two, to the company that does their heel replacements to "see what they could do". The inferance was, possibly their supplier might find something suitable, possibly they wouldn't.

So we are back to making good what's already available. As I've said, the heel tip spline seems too small, and that's rather obvious if the tip falls out. A cobbler will know if it's the tip spline that is under size, and installing the correctly sized heel tip is the easiest/cheapest solution. If the spring tube is over sized (worn or mistreated) it's also replaceable, but at slightly higher cost, obviously.

As Lee has said, both jobs can [and in this case should] be carried out by a 'competant' cobbler. And given the probable value of the items needing repair, I too think it prudent you go down that route. As I said before.



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shoerepairer

Blimey fastfreddy2 I think I may have touched a nerve! Perhaps that because you are looking at the problem far to “technically” there is NO correct when it comes to the repair of stilettos, this is because although there is a rule of thumb, with sizes there are quite literally hundreds of sizes, many different materials (ie, sprung steel, alloy, stainless tubes) & more importantly varying degrees of wear prior to repair. Watching an engineer over complicate a task would also make ME wince & I’m sure you will agree that engineering in itself is about problem solving.
Wikipidia Engineer: Engineers are concerned with developing economical and safe solutions to practical problems
The methods employed by repairers may at first hand appear primitive to the untrained eye, but take a closer look at your local cobblers,

• how much investment in machinery do you think he has made?
• How many years training do you think it took to reach the standards he sets?

If your good at something it looks easy, that’s why today I have already repaired around 30 pairs of shoes all with out a hitch.
This is NOT what I said, but it doesn’t take an rocket scientist to realise that!

Lee

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Repair Reuse Recycle.

fastfreddy2

Hi Lee.

Great response.


Guess I may over-complicate things, but I was never questioning your ability or skill level.

I've seen many attempts made by unqualified people doing craftsmen grade jobs. [Shopfitting in the East End of London being a good example.] And for that reason fully understand (and supported) your advice on taking something broken, to get fixed by the 'right person'. But you'll have to agree, some craftsmen are better than others, and the only way of knowing is experience or a trusted recommendation.

Looking at your web-site, and the advice given here, suggests you are someone up there with the best of them. And while changing heel tips might be 'bread and butter' income to you fellas, changing a tip should be within the grasp of someone used to using tools (and I don't mean hammer and chisel ).

So I fully support your advise to get work done on shoes by a competant professional like yourself, especially if the shoes are worth anything at all. The shoes I mentioned, were £20 from New Look. They've been used since mid-January and had been re-tipped several times at £4-80 a pop. Once, after only a week. [Plastic tips.] I'm at the stage now, where the cost of re-tipping is beyond the initial cost of the shoe. It was time I had-a-go, even though re-tipping myself isn't free. Hence 'my experience'.

Yesterday, I manged to be in the right place at the right time. Got a pair of HH shoes for £5. Made in China of course, but it supports my remark about repairing cheap shoes. Not that I agree with our 'disposable' attitude to everything these days, but that's another story.

Cheers!

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Bubba136

fastfredy2 wrote:
I'm glad you cleared that up. For a minute there.........

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Being mentally comfortable in your own mind is the key to wearing heels in public.

fastfreddy2

Well, you only need to read what I write, rather than (possibly) what you think I may have written.


I'm nothing if not courteous, even to those who seem to be undeserving.


Looks like this is another thread I'd better leave alone.

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shoerepairer

Funny you should mention that! I refitted my shop last year!
http://www.cobb-lees.com/plugins/p2001_image_gallery/images/4.jpg
Including, walls ceiling, floors & signage!
As your reply continues
It supports what both off us are saying, I’m realistic about what goes on, as my very first post commented
I can only reply using my “professional” experience. I’m also an avid DIYer & know what can & can’t be achieved in the average garage.
Rant over! A nice little exchange fastfreddy2, the very essence of what forums are all about. please don't leave the thread alone on my account!

Sorry for going “Off topic”

Lee

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Repair Reuse Recycle.

fastfreddy2

As an example of the "quality" I've seen ......

See the edge veneer covering on your counter? It either comes ready bonded, or you "iron" on additional stripping to a sawn edge? Not in some of the shops I've seen. Nailed on, if you can believe it. With pins (pins!) that 'work out' of the woodchip. And snag my clothes while I'm working there!

No problems with debate from you Lee. It's just that I'm starting to feel like I've got a stalker.


Anyway, I've already reported the sum total of my experience with 'fixing' shoes. I didn't enjoy it (the tube withdrawning had me in 'panic' mode), and have little or no expection of repeating the exercise.

"Keep up the good work".


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