[Paul R.]

I am very curious as to whether Vulkem Max will function as a super durable, super tenacious adhesive. I plan to give some a test in the most difficult gluing challenge I know of: Re-attaching the soles of hard used work boots or shoes to the rest of the shoe. Tips or experience would be very useful.

In any event, if this adhesive(?) can function and hold up for a long time in the "shoe repair" application, then I figure it should be durable and tenacious in most any "aerobic" (where moisture and air can attack it) usage.

Thanks in advance!

[Clay Moore]

I’ve used 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive (the yellow gorilla snot) but by the time boots get to this point, they are done so you are just buying a short time.

[Deaf Smith]

Caulk is not a adhesive.

For shoes/boots you would want to find an adhesive that is flexible like that used to manufacture Chinese foot wear.

[Paul R.]

I would add that “Through The Roof” sealant appears to be basically the same stuff as “Shoe Goop” (and also E6000), and “Shoe Goop” is IMO pretty marginal in difficult usages. (That includes my “standard test” of repairing shoes or boots with soles coming loose!

Note: Except for quite pricey products, once the shoe and boot industry moved overseas for the most part, I’m not sure whether it is the adhesives or the substrates or both, but shoes and boots just don’t hold up well anymore. I have a pair of light work boots bought from Wally World under their brand of “Brahma” about 30 years ago, and they are still “together”, although I did get them re-heeled many years ago, because the heels had worn so badly! They are just a bit too tight on me now, and the heels and soles are worn smooth, so, traction in them is poor. :-(

Anyway, the point is, even modest price products should be able to not fall apart...

[Repeal The 17th]

Gorilla Glue

[PeterPrinciple]

I am very curious as to whether Vulkem Max

---

Have you considered that it is the same old vulkem with a new label?

Like new and improved Tide for whiter whites?

[PeterPrinciple]

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=shoe+glue+heavy+duty&crid=ZCI7T6VSRSWE&sprefix=shoe+glue%2Caps%2C153&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_9

shoe glue evaluations.

[eyedigress]

I take it you are using FR over AI. Nice

[Deaf Smith]

Or go the Don Johnson route in Harley Davidson And the Marlboro Man and use duct tape “because it is the only thing my old man ever gave me” on his boots.

[Tacrolimus1mg]

If you have a local shoe repair guy, one who does things old school, go speak to them. I have one a few blocks away who’s great, and is putting new soles on my Matterhorns. The rest of the boot is fine, but after a decade, I wore down the treads. I DID buy a new pair, but I wanted to have my old ones as backup.

If you need someone and are willing to ship back and forth, I can recommend him. He routinely repairs my vintage shoes, too (1940-1970), so he does things the old-school way.

For durability, I recommend Matterhorn, but I did initially receive a defective pair of boots and go through a lot of trouble to get them to send me a new pair. At $500+ per pair, there was no excuse for what happened.

[Cold Heart]

My go to is 3M 5200 Marine adhesive

[Governor Dinwiddie]

This is the best adhesive I've used: Fuze It

It works in extreme weather conditions, very strong and not brittle. Better than silicone.

It really depends on your requirements. Fuze-It is made by PPG.

3M Marine adhesive is another good choice.

[Paul R.]

People!

Thanks for the replies, and good information is good information for future reference, but...

I’m not looking for alternatives, I’m asking for info. (experience with) what I have. (A tube of Vulkem Max.)

Like “how far can I push this stuff in the long haul?” :-)

Thanks!

[Governor Dinwiddie]

I see Menards has Vulkem Max and Home Depot too. OK.

[brooklin]

I have used 3M 5200 and gotten good results. There are similar products from other companies. Silicone won’t hold up to the bending of the shoe.

[Gaffer]

I bought a tube of Vulkem Max 116. It was touted as a great driveway crack repair caulk that is self-leveling in the crack.

Had a wide crack (up to 1” in some spots) in my driveway and used it. Found out the Vulkem needed to be really warmed up and the caulk applied on a hot day (not a cold weather caulk). I also bought some poly rope foam of varying diameters to push down in the crack before the Vulkem was applied. Then I applied a light crushed stone coating over that and gently swept it after a bit. It’s been about a year and that one crack is still filled and no voids have opened up.

[cyclotic]

I work in the adhesive industry. In fact, Vulkem is manufactured by a sister company.

That said, most rubber soles are notoriously difficult to bond without specialty adhesives and surface prep.

Buy new boots or see if the manufacturer offers resoling