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This 5 Minute Webinar™ Sponsored By

How to Repair Rubber BootsPut an end to leaky boots once and for all.

Presented by Gerald Craft of Gear Aid® by McNett®

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WHAT ISTHE BIG IDEA?

How to Repair Rubber Boots

Time spent outdoors is much more enjoyable when you’re dry and comfortable.

Rubber boots are expensive. Don’t let a small crack or hole ruin your investment.

Keep Your Gear Around for a While

Keep Your Feet Dry

Having trouble locating the leak? Try filling the boots with water. You should see water leaking outside the boot. Mark this spot with a marker. You can also put rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray the rubbing alcohol over the boots. The alcohol evaporates faster where there’s a leak, and that area turns dark. Mark the dark area with a marker.

STEP 1

NUTS &BOLTS

Find the hole or crack where the boot is leaking.

Poor surface prep is the #1 reason for bond failure. Abrading a surface gets rid of surface films and also gives a much better area for the adhesive to "grip." We recommend abrading if practical for the material you are bonding. Use fine grain sand paper (120-200 grit).

STEP 2

NUTS &BOLTS

Once you’ve located the leak, roughen the surface of the repair area with fine-grit sand paper. This will help prep the surface for the adhesive.

Even relatively clean surfaces have oils from fingerprints. Surface oil or grease will get in the way of almost all adhesives and weaken adhesion. Drip a few drops of water on the surface to see if it is clean and degreased. If the water spreads to cover the area with a continuous film, the bond area is clean. If the water beads, that means the surface needs to be degreased further.

STEP 3

NUTS &BOLTS

Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol to remove any dirt, body oils or grease which may prevent a good bond.

If the hole is larger than a ½ inch in diameter, we recommend applying a piece of tape on the opposite side of the repair, which will act as a dam or backing, preventing the adhesive from leaking through the hole. Once the adhesive cures, you can remove the tape backing.

STEP 4

NUTS &BOLTS

Use masking tape to mark off the area around the crack that you will be applying the adhesive to. If the hole goes all the way through the boot, apply a piece of tape over the hole on the inside of the boot to prevent the adhesive from leaking through.

Make sure you are using a urethane adhesive like Freesole or Aquaseal. Urethane adhesives are highly flexible. Many shoe repair adhesives are thermoplastics, which start out flexible but become hard over time. If the adhesive does not remain flexible like Freesole, it will crack and eventually peel off the surface.

STEP 5

NUTS &BOLTS

Apply a permanent, urethane adhesive like Freesole® over the damaged area on your rubber boot. Make sure that the crack/hole is completely covered by the adhesive and that the adhesive extends at least 1 inch around the crack or hole.

If you have a black pair of rubber boots or prefer a black, Freesole is available with a black Color Sync™ option. Just add the Color Sync in a mixing cup before you apply your repair.

STEP 6

NUTS &BOLTS

Allow the rubber boot to dry flat and untouched for 12 hours.

WHY ITMATTERS?

Yard work, fishing, hunting, exploring, etc. is so much better when you’re not worrying about staying warm and dry.

Who wants cold, wet feet?

Rubber boots aren’t cheap. Don’t let leaks or holes ruin your investment.

Outdoor gear is expensive; keep it around for a while

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ThankYou!For more tips on how to repair

or maintain your outdoor gear and footwear visit Gear-

Aid.com

www.Gear-Aid.com