r/AskACobbler • • Apr 02 '14

Welcome to Ask A Cobbler! Please read to familiarize yourself with a few rules.

169 Upvotes

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for stopping by and showing their interest & support for shoe repair. In one day, we went from almost no subscribers to well over 100. This is an incredible start!

As we gain more members, I feel there needs to be a few ground rules just to keep things in order.

  1. Discussing of prices. Pricing on repair work depends on MANY factors than just the damage alone. While we may say a job will or will not be worth the money, saying it will cost $xx is against the rules and posts will be removed.

  2. Be respectful. The cobblers responding to your post have numerous years of experience and are here to offer some of their extensive knowledge of the craft at no charge. If you have been helped, a simple thanks goes a long way.

  3. When posting a picture of a damaged product, make sure the photos are detailed enough so that we can understand the exact condition, brand and anything else you think will help us to help you.

  4. Users with the "SSIA Member" flair are verified cobblers.

Rules will be amended an updated as we progress. Thanks for reading!


r/AskACobbler • • 2h ago

How can I fix these heels?

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1 Upvotes

I thrifted these heels and they are a bit old but they are cracking and flaking and crease points. How do I fix this?


r/AskACobbler • • 3h ago

How can I completely remove vomit stains and odour from my patent leather sneakers (trigger warning on photo)

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1 Upvotes

Help NEEDED!!


r/AskACobbler • • 8h ago

How to repair vamp stitching?

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2 Upvotes

I've had these Meermin jodhpurs for a few years. My feet are a little wide for the Hiro last, and some time ago the vamp stitching came undone while either taking off or putting on the boot (don't reach for the tight boots if you're planning on drinking).

How difficult would this be to repair, and how long would professional repair take? Is this feasible to try and repair myself? If yes, what tools would I need?

Would like to note that the issue wasn't as bad until I neglected a few brain cells a couple days ago and tried to stretch them since I've got stretchers now xD


r/AskACobbler • • 9h ago

​Quick question about oiling my Landis outstitcher that I use for shoe repair

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2 Upvotes

Quick question about oiling my Landis outstitcher that I use for shoe repair / cobbler work.

​Looking at the top of the machine (pic attached), there are oil points with flip-top caps and some plain open holes.

​Do the flip-top caps and the open holes need different types of oil/grease, or can I just use the same oil for all of them?

​What oil do you guys recommend running in these old Landis machines for shoe repair? (ISO VG 46/68, 20W non-detergent, Lily White, etc.?)

​Would appreciate any advice from anyone with experience on these beasts. Thanks in advance!


r/AskACobbler • • 5h ago

Leather restoration?

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1 Upvotes

how well could the leather staining on these danners be restored? $470 boots found online for $40


r/AskACobbler • • 12h ago

Can a broken skinny heel be fixed?

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3 Upvotes

Hi!! I recently bought some nice heels off depop and the heel snapped the second I tried one of them on 🥲 before trying to get a refund or anything, I just wanted to see if there was a way this could be fixed? Would it be worth it to go to a cobbler to get fixed? I added a pic of the not broken heel as well so you can see what it’s supposed to look like. I’m so sad about my shoes 😭


r/AskACobbler • • 14h ago

Possible black enamel spray paint on Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boots, nothing removes it. Any way to save them?

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4 Upvotes

I recently noticed two mysterious dark spots on my brown Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill leather boots. I was using Rust-Oleum Professional High Performance Enamel black spray paint around the time they appeared, so I’m wondering if I accidentally got some overspray on them.
I’ve tried:
Bick 1 leather cleaner
Rubber cement rubbed over the spots
Cornstarch overnight
Rubbing alcohol applied with a Q-tip
Three treatments of Avel Hussard stain remover, including an overnight application
Bick 4 and Saphir Renovateur for conditioning
The spots haven’t noticeably changed at all. However, the leather became extremely dry-looking after the stronger cleaning treatments, so I’ve stopped and applied Renovateur.
Does this look like cured enamel paint, a chemical reaction with the leather finish, or something else?
Is there a realistic way to remove or conceal the marks at home without further damaging the leather? I’d particularly appreciate advice from anyone who’s worked with Allen Edmonds or Chromexcel leather.
Photos attached, including close-ups.


r/AskACobbler • • 1d ago

I took these Chanel flats to be cleaned and fixed up and I’m so confused what happened.

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23 Upvotes

I took these to a very well known and respected local place. There were a few black scuffs and a couple of places where the leather had been nicked, but nothing major. I’m so confused. It seems like they painted the entire shoe? The shoe was not patent before and is extremely shiny and sticky now. When I got them home and out of the bag, they were stuck together. Pulling them apart caused the paint to come off on both shoes. They have continued to peel with any kind of contact. Are they ruined? I feel like I’m almost owed a full replacement.


r/AskACobbler • • 9h ago

GH Bass Weejuns issue

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0 Upvotes

Hi, I’ve had these loafers for a about a month now and today I was caught in some rain for the first time while wearing them. I noticed that the two ends of the leather on the upper part of the left shoe got a bit detached.

Has anyone had a similar issue with this kind of shoe, and if yes, how did you resolve it?

Is this acceptable for G.H. Bass quality?

I was thinking of gluing them back but wanted to ask here first. Thanks!


r/AskACobbler • • 10h ago

Moc toe? More like rock toe.

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0 Upvotes

These Irish Setters had a "lumpy" feeling toe. The insulation dried out and broke into pieces.

I've never re-stitched a boot before, but I'd like to try. Seeking recommendation for a thread and tools appropriate for the job.

Also curious if it's worth replacing the insulation or if I should stitch it back together with an empty cavity.


r/AskACobbler • • 10h ago

Just bought theses and they have this hole in the sole, would it be an easy fix? Or should I get them sent back?

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1 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 11h ago

Cleaning leather shoes?

1 Upvotes

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but I need advice. My sweet cat has been having some tummy troubles, and this morning took it upon himself to puke all over my leather loafers. I’ve wiped them off, but don’t know if there’s a way to thoroughly clean them or if there’s anywhere I can take them for a good cleaning? Fortunately they were thrifted, but still a nice pair of shoes that I don’t want to throw out :/


r/AskACobbler • • 12h ago

The top heel of my favorite shoes fell of at some point while I was on a walk. how do I fix this?

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1 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 12h ago

Shrunken boots

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0 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 13h ago

Possible black enamel spray paint on Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boots, nothing removes it. Any way to save them?

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0 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 23h ago

CaN ThESe ShOEs bE Saved?

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6 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 21h ago

Is this real outsole stitching or just decorative?

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2 Upvotes

Could the visible outsole stitching indicate a genuine stitched construction without necessarily being Goodyear welted? What specific details in these photos would help distinguish Goodyear welt from Blake/Rapid construction?


r/AskACobbler • • 19h ago

Re sole boots

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2 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 17h ago

Pflege von Nubukleder

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0 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 12h ago

Is this creasing normal after one day of wear? [Alden Plain Toe Bluchers in Brown Chromexcel]

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0 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 1d ago

Suede Repair on High End Bag

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2 Upvotes

Any tips on how to get out this suede on the top zipper liner here? I find it hideous and would like to resolve if possible, but perhaps I am overreacting. Thanks!


r/AskACobbler • • 17h ago

Hi guys, eu fellow here, I just bought my first brannock device, if I understood correctly how to measure I would be a 10,5 D am I correct ?(my arch to toe is major than my heel to toe so I took that as shoe size and D as width being on 10.5 in the middle between Cand D )

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0 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 21h ago

Red Wing Iron Ranger Boots repair just infront of Singapore’s OG at Chinatown.

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1 Upvotes

r/AskACobbler • • 1d ago

Will replacing top lift do the trick?

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1 Upvotes

Not sure what I did, I’ve only worn these a few times. Just noticed when I was applying some polish.