Skateboarding Reviews - Accessories
Skateboarding Accessory Review:Eclectic Product's Shoe Goo
Manufacturer: Eclectic Products
Released: 1972
Rating: 5 Stars
After paying nearly $100 for a skate shoe, do you really want to repeat this costly exchange as soon as a small hole appears? Me either. BTW - there's no way in Hell I'd pay $100 for a pair of skate shoes (or any other type - cheap-o that I am), but I know someone out there must be. So, what are you to do with your holey shoes? Apply Shoe Goo!
I'll freely admit that the term "Goo" seldom appears outside the confines of pornography - of one sort or another- but this stuff is miraculous... As long as you consider effortless shoe repair to be a miracle of sorts. Maybe if you apply it just right, your repair will take on the effigy of Jesus and you can sell your smelly shoe to some right-wing nut-job. At the very least you can get some extra mileage out of your busted shoe.
Miracle or not, you have to use it correctly - meaning at the right time. When you see a hole appear, place a dab of Shoe Goo on the wound and let it sit. If you wait until the top of your shoe separates from the sole, you'll have to use the tried and true method of the 'duct tape wrapping" which only lasts until you walk-off the tape on the bottom of the shoe and the rest peels away leaving you with a stinking canvas (suede, leather, etc...) mess.
Repairing worn soles
If a worn shoe has a hole that goes all the way through the sole, tape over the hole inside the shoe before applying Shoe GOO to the outer sole. This will help avoid creating a bump. The tape should be removed from the inside and all bumps smoothed out within 2 hours, before the glue is completely hard.
What is Shoe Goo?
It's a goo - but not in the porno sense. It's like an adhesive glue, but when it cures, it remains flexible rather than getting all hard (like in pornography). This lets the repaired area flex with the rest of the shoe, making the repair last a good long time. This is the most important part. It sticks, stays in place and won't make your shoe feel weird or perform differently. It's been referred to it as, "The modeler's all-in-one ‘fixit' compound for assembling packs, repairing Lexan bodies, mounting servos, speed controls or receivers and waterproofing boat hulls". We still don't think it can save a sinking ship.
Eclectic Products, Inc. was founded in 1972 to market Shoe GOO, a rubber compound that doubled the life of shoe soles. Since then, in response to customer demand, the company has expanded its line of products to include adhesives, fillers, and other do-it-yourself products for home and commercial use.
How To Use It
- Surface should be clean, dry and free of dirt. For best results, roughen surface before use. Best when used between 70°F and 85°F.
- Puncture seal at the top of the tube using the pointer cap.
- Always test a small area to ensure proper application technique and dry time. Prolonged exposure to warm water may cause discoloration and possible loss of adhesion when exposed to chemicals used in hot tubs and pools, especially in outdoor locations. May be weakened by contact with certain highly plasticized materials.
- Apply SHOE GOO directly to each surface to be bonded or repaired. Allow SHOE GOO to partially cure, 2-10 minutes, before bringing surfaces together. SHOE GOO hardens by solvent evaporation and forms an immediate bond that is difficult to reposition after both adhesive-coated surfaces are placed in contact with each other and sufficient pressure is exerted to establish full contact.
- Allow the repair to dry for 24 hours. Various materials will require different drying times. Cure time increases with lower temperatures and decreases with higher temperatures. Depending on the materials and the temperature, maximum strength may not be reached for 48 to 72 hours.
- Keep threads at the neck of the tube free of SHOE GOO residue. To ensure easy cap removal, apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly to the threads of the tube before replacing the cap.
- Clean uncured adhesive with small amounts of acetone and paint thinner. The adhesive will ball up and brush off. Cured material may be removed by cutting or scraping.
- Store unused SHOE GOO at room temperature with cap tightened.
You may ask, "What other Sk8 products does Eclectic Products make?"
The answer is none. The reason is that Eclectic Products is in no way connected to the skateboard industry.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
- Comes in clear and black to match yer kicks
- Flexible - won't crust-up or dry-up and crack off
- Waterproof
- Available at most SK8 shops and shoe stores
Cons:
- Not for use as a hair gel - crap!
- Won't save a sinking ship
Overall:
Keep a tube on-hand. You never know when you'll need it.
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