I have a few pairs of old water/kayaking/outdoor shoes that I recently fixed a delaminating sole problem with Sonneborn NP1. This is a urethane adhesive/sealant that adheres to anything and forms a flexible bond. It even smells like milk chocolate! Only downside is a long cure time: About 24hrs.
With all soles now re-attached, I slipped yesterday on smooth concrete. Lucky I caught myself in time, but I began thinking about a method to revive the hardened rubber/vinyl soles.
Recently tried a product called ATP AT-205 (100% glycol ether),which is a non-petroleum-based seal conditioner. See HERE. Thought it may also do its magic here, so I applied it thoroughly to one sole, left it upside to sink in.
Then remembered I still had some Rawn Re-Grip (Methyl Propasol Acetate). This stuff is proven for refurbishing turntable belts, pinch rollers & belts in cassette decks and for making model racing car tires sticky again.
So RG went on the other sole.
Result? RG is the clear winner. Noticeable difference between the two. Feels like newer rubber. The hard, glazed surface is gone. 205 appears to not have done anything. Much better traction from RG'd sole on vinyl flooring than 205.
The rest of my rubber soles are getting Re-Gripped!
I'm going to try RG on wiper blades and some tough rubber suspension pieces just recently removed. Could be that just a yearly squirt of this stuff can greatly extend the life of rubber. Finally, noticed that Rawn makes a product called Re-Grip MIL that comes in 1, 5 & 55 ga. used for treating tires, conveyor belts, etc. in industry.
Don't know much about either ether or acetate chemistry. Perhaps a chemist or MK can chime in?
With all soles now re-attached, I slipped yesterday on smooth concrete. Lucky I caught myself in time, but I began thinking about a method to revive the hardened rubber/vinyl soles.
Recently tried a product called ATP AT-205 (100% glycol ether),which is a non-petroleum-based seal conditioner. See HERE. Thought it may also do its magic here, so I applied it thoroughly to one sole, left it upside to sink in.
Then remembered I still had some Rawn Re-Grip (Methyl Propasol Acetate). This stuff is proven for refurbishing turntable belts, pinch rollers & belts in cassette decks and for making model racing car tires sticky again.
So RG went on the other sole.
Result? RG is the clear winner. Noticeable difference between the two. Feels like newer rubber. The hard, glazed surface is gone. 205 appears to not have done anything. Much better traction from RG'd sole on vinyl flooring than 205.
The rest of my rubber soles are getting Re-Gripped!
I'm going to try RG on wiper blades and some tough rubber suspension pieces just recently removed. Could be that just a yearly squirt of this stuff can greatly extend the life of rubber. Finally, noticed that Rawn makes a product called Re-Grip MIL that comes in 1, 5 & 55 ga. used for treating tires, conveyor belts, etc. in industry.
Don't know much about either ether or acetate chemistry. Perhaps a chemist or MK can chime in?