Wader Repair

[Pete]

I have a 20+ year old set of boot foot waders that are still in excellent shape. Yesterday. I noticed that the felt soles are coming off. I'm going to stop fishing for a few days to dry the felt prior to reattching the soles.

Is Barge Cement still considered the best adhesive, for this purpose, or are there any new cements that should be considered?

For instance: I saw something called Shoe Goo in a hardware store. It appears to be made by the same people that produce Goop.

Are there any tricks for removing the old adhesive that I should know about?

 

[Big_Spinner]

Strip off the old felt and tke a wood rasp to the bottoms. Barge cement is still a good one. There are some companies repackaging barge cement as a felt sole wader repair, that will also work. You should be able to find a whole kit.

If you are going to try to reattch the loose areas, use the rasp to get the boot as clean as possible.

Shoo Goo may work, but I do not think it is as much as an adhesive. It is really more like a patching material.

 

[fcch]

Pete,

Could be worth your while to put on new felt. That way, you know it is really dry. Most shops fave replacement kits including the contact cement.

Clean the underside of the boot well. I like to use the contact cement in the kit, then I seal the whole mess 24 hrs later with Marine Goop.


My 0.02$

 

[Pete]

Thanks guys:

A new set of soles may be worth considering. It looks like the cement held up. There are felt fibers still sticking to the cement and there's very little cement on the felt.... It was probably the felt that failed.

I was just wondering if there was some new superior cement that I hadn't heard of yet.

 

[Fly Tier]

Pete,
Why not just retire the waders and buy yourself a new pair. One with a lifetime warranty, or as Dan Baileys says, the warranty is good until you think you got all your use out of their waders. If you spend $50 in cements, felt, new soles or whatever, you are about 1/3 the price of a new pair.

just my 2¢

 

[Big_Spinner]

Wow, fly tier we agree!!! Good idea, the new stuff is so comfortable!!

 

[Pete]

Actually, the cost of cement is considerably lower than $30.00 ($5.99 locally), and waders of equal (or better) quality run over $150.00.

However, there's a potential for "other" expenses. A wood rasp didn't even begin to remove the old cement. A grinder or wire wheel, just melts it and makes a sticky mess. So far I've only stabbed myself once with a scraper. If it went a little deeper, I could easily have paid a Doctor the equilivent of new waders.

Considering how much work this is turning out to be, I think I'll spring for an extra ten bucks and get new felt. The old ones are worn down to about 1/4".

 

[Pete]

Felt Sole Follow-Up

I checked two local shops Britt's and Ramsey Outdoor Stores. Neither one appeared to stock Barge brand cement. Both of them carried kits by Compleat Angler.

I got the less expensive kit containing woven soles and a 4 oz tube of a one-part cement (there was also a kit with two-part cement). I took the advise offered by fcch and sealed the edges with Goop after the cement had cured.

Within a week, it was obvious that the soles were coming loose. After a month they were flopping in the breeze. The cement had adhered to the felt but had come completely loose from the rubber. The Goop was the only reason they hadn't fallen off.

I went back to Ramsey Outdoor to inquire about alternatives. After some discussion, the clerk in the fishing department took me to the shoe department. The shoe department had Barge Cement in two oz tubes. Two tubes were sufficient to reattach the soles. After four months, they're still holding up with no signs of failure.

Conclusion: The single part cement by Angler's doesn't hold up as well as Barge. IMHO - Unsatisfactory

Moral of the Story: Before you settle for what's readily available, check the shoe department.

 

[Johnw]

Pete or anyone else. I also have a 20 year pair of bootfoot waders that after years of use and abuse finally sprung a leak this weekend. The leak is at the top of the boot where it joins the wader material and seems that it will be simple to repair but am wondering what is the best product to use. Haven't fixed a leak in 20 years fortunately. I am going to buy a new pair but would like to repair these for use in the salt.

 

[fcch]

Marine Goop.

Flexible, lasts, salt proof.

 

[Pete]

I can't be much help on this...The last time I patched a leak was just before I got my current waders, over 20 years ago.

I used a Converse patch kit. After the cement cured, I covered the patch with Goop. It held until I bought the current pair about a year later. About 18 years ago, my stepson borrowed them and reported no leaks. They haven't been used since.

 

[Johnw]

Fcch - took your advice but couldn't find Marine Goop so got Sportsman Goop and repaired the leak. Tried them out last weekend - perfect. Maybe I'll get a couple more years out of the 20 year old waders. Thanks

 

[Green Butted Skunk]

Cheap Wadders

Call The Orvis Outlet in Lake George NY. You can get a pair of Silver Lables (new not refurbs) for around $40. Best part is they carry the Orvis Grntee. I personally hate Orvis Rods but swear by the clothing,wadders and reels etc and most of all they ALWAYS replace their broke stuff for free.

GBS

 

[Fly Tier]

GBS,
Do you know what orvis'new guarantee is? I heard they changed it recently but not sure what they changed to. I know it is NOT a replacement anymore without some cash up front.

If you know, please let us know. Thanks

Larry

 

[Green Butted Skunk]

GAAAAAAAAARunte

Well you are correct that they are trying to gouge you for $40 or something like that. And most Jamokes will actually pay it. Ive even heard crap like "Well we don't make that type anymore so well upgrade you for ONLY $40." Well what if I don't want an upgrade? Then what?

I brought back a pair of SL wadders just two weeks ago and they tried their song and dance routine but I wasn't bitting. He asked how long had I had the wadders and I said "AAAA not to long." He answered me by saying they hadn't made those type wadders in 5yrs (he was right) and they were not grnteed for that long. I politely informed the guy that I would be happy to stand out front of the door all day and tell every customer that Orvis doesn't stand by their stuff. He stared at me with a kooky look in his eye then sent his grunt in the back to get my new pair of SL.


STAND YOUR GROUND! Dont let these fishing giants try to charge you anything. It costs them pennies and us hundreds.....

GBS

 

[Pete]

Emergency Felt sole repair

Thought I'd share this....
The felt was coming loose from my bootfoot waders, the felt was wet.

I didn't want to wait until the felt dried so I could use Barge Cement (or any other cement that requires "clean and dry" surfaces).

I used Gorilla Glue. It still needs a clean surface, but it's water activated. As per the directions I actually added water to get both surfaces wet. During the cure, I supported the boot upsidedown and used weights to hold the felt in place. It cured overnight.

I've only used the waders twice since then, so I don't know how long it's going to last. At this time I can recommend it for a temporary emergency repair with wet felt.