What is the best type of glue or adhesive to use to attach felt back to the soles of my wading boots? Tried Shoe Goo and it didn't seem to work very well. "Burp" Excuse me Bob I really like the sound affects on the chat board!

If you buy a kit, they usually include a tube of glue...lacking that, try anything containing Toluene. I use Freesole, at $5.99 per 1.5 oz. Vital in either case to make sure the soles are completely clean and bone dry...stuff with newspaper and wrap tightly with duct tape.

Oh yeah, and don't inhale!

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts56.html

I put a new pair of felt soles on a pair of boots 2 years ago and they are still holding up great. First, grind off all of the old sole so you have a smooth clean surface. Go to the hardware store and get a good quality contact cement, a foam paint brush and a roll of duct tape. Apply the contact liberally to the bottoms of the boots and to the felt...let them dry for about 15 minutes. Put the felt soles on the boots and wrap the whole boot tightly in duct tape, throw in the corner for a week and let them dry.After a week, untape them and they should be ready to go.

Steelheadman,

I've had my best success for about 30 years now using Weldwood waterproof contact cement. About 15 years ago they started adding an anti-glue-sniffing agent that will make you sick, so use lots of ventilation. I put a coat on the boot and the felt, let it dry, then add a second coat. I use generous coats of cement. I've tried duct tape, but actually had just as good success putting the boots on and walking around in them for 20 - 30 minutes, pressing on all parts of the felt sole. I wait a couple days before wearing them fishing cuz I think the cement smell might either scare the fish away or contaminate them chemically 8^)

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Any good quality contact cement will do the job. Coat both boot and felts,really slather it on, let dry at least 3 hours then just put'em together, simple. I've done mine that way three times and never had any problem at all!. The KEY is to make sure they are completely dry to the touch before you put them together. I used to do all that tape and other crap, but wouldn't even consider it anymore. In fact, the last pair of Hodgemans I bought had the no-felt lug soles, I cut the lugs off and did the process above and have been wearing them for two years now, but will be putting on new felts this month.

Thanks guys. I scraped off the old glue with a knife and cleaned the surfaces with acetone. I found some sealant with toluene and wrapped them with duct tape. I'll let them dry a few days before unwrapping the tape.

Aquaseal thinned out with Cotol (their proprietary accelerant which is mostly toluene)Make sure there is excellent penetration of the felt. I have reapplied old delaminated felts of my 3 year old Simms, and it works great. I rpelaced the lost carbide studs with sheet metal machine screws , just screwed into the felt/sole and these work fine as studs.

Mark