Chaco frame-off

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Godwin

Godwin

Resident Herpetologist
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I've had these Chacos for a couple or three years and a year ago the soles began to separate. I took them into a shoe store where an old guy slapped some glue into the splits and this seemed to do the trick, until this year. Since the shoes were getting some age on them but still in reasonably good condition and I decided to try to do my own repair. The separations were initially small sections. I first tried white Gorilla Glue but this lasted only about a week. Next I tried Loctite's Stik 'n Seal but once again this was only slapping a band aid on it. I finally got serious.
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I began by completely pulling the soles off the shoes. I then scraped off the old glues followed by a sanding of both surfaces with 60 grit paper. 70% isopropyl alcohol was used as a wash to rid the surfaces of any leftover stuff. To hold the soles on I went with a Permatex epoxy. Mixing and applying this stuff before it set was a real chore and I found that I had to start at one end of the shoe, do a small portion, press halves together and work forward. So far this fix has been holding together for about 3 weeks and I've been putting them through some nasty stuff so I think the soles will hold this time.
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I love my Chacos, but my shallow grooves have been worn out!

They re-sole them for you if you send them in, don't they?
I think I've looked into it, but was not as cheap as I was/am.:hillbilly:

I want a new pair with the deeper groove next time! ;)
 
Nice write up, thanks.

Used to work for REI, saw quite a few delaminated Tevas, never a Chaco. Maybe the assembler was daydreaming about Land Cruisers.... :p
 
The only change I would make with this technique would be to use the epoxy that sets in 20 - 30 minutes instead of this 5 minute stuff. I went with the quicker setting epoxy because it has a holding strength of something like 3400 psi as opposed to 2800 and I was tired of regluing with inferior glues.
 
My repair of delam Tevas is similar to Godwin's. Peel back as far as you dare, I scrub with a brass brush and acetone or laquer thinner. This roughens up the surface, cleans them and hopefully acts as an adhesion promoter. Then I use contact cement. Clamp overnight if possible.
 
I bought my first pair of Chaco’s in about 2003. My water shoe progression had been Teva, Alps and Chacos. Still wearing the original Chacos but got new soles on them a couple of years ago. They replace the traps as well. The newer straps arent as thick. I ended up buying a new pair last black Friday because I’m getting cracks on the top near the straps. But I’m still wearing them. Great Sandle. I wear the he’ll out of them and have put them through kayaking in saltwater, numerous beaches etc. I still have my old Alps but like the Chacos any day of the week.
 
Try Shoe Goo. I think you'll have better long term results with that versus the epoxy, since it stays quite flexible so it won't crack apart over time.
 
EastTN01LX470 said:
How did the epoxy hold up over time? I need to reattach loose soles on a mine and am trying to determine the best adhesive.
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Can't say because these shoes are long gone. What I did with these was before I knew that Chaco would resole. I've since sent a pair or two back for resoling and they have done one or two pair at no cost.
 
Josey1972 said:
I bought my first pair of Chaco’s in about 2003. My water shoe progression had been Teva, Alps and Chacos. Still wearing the original Chacos but got new soles on them a couple of years ago. They replace the traps as well. The newer straps arent as thick. I ended up buying a new pair last black Friday because I’m getting cracks on the top near the straps. But I’m still wearing them. Great Sandle. I wear the he’ll out of them and have put them through kayaking in saltwater, numerous beaches etc. I still have my old Alps but like the Chacos any day of the week.
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Having Chaco resole also opens the possibility to have a different type of outsole applied. Guess the thinner straps will be just as good as the originals but I prefer the thicker straps.
 
Godwin said:
Having Chaco resole also opens the possibility to have a different type of outsole applied. Guess the thinner straps will be just as good as the originals but I prefer the thicker straps.
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You and me both. For the $25.00 it saved I decided I wont resolve again. When they diE they die. The thicker straps made the sandal feel more solid for some reason. Lamenting. Like original Alps and Teva Alps....
 
I would be pleasantly surprised if epoxy would be good for this type of repair. I'm thinking epoxy always ends up hard and brittle and here we have something that needs to flex all the time. But maybe it just cracks sideways so to speak and still holds up in between?
 
Josey1972 said:
You and me both. For the $25.00 it saved I decided I wont resolve again. When they diE they die. The thicker straps made the sandal feel more solid for some reason. Lamenting. Like original Alps and Teva Alps....
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e9999 said:
I would be pleasantly surprised if epoxy would be good for this type of repair. I'm thinking epoxy always ends up hard and brittle and here we have something that needs to flex all the time. But maybe it just cracks sideways so to speak and still holds up in between?
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I've always had good luck with Shoe Goo, and Barge cement works pretty well too.
 
Eyedaho said:
I've always had good luck with Shoe Goo, and Barge cement works pretty well too.
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I never had luck with Shoe Goo. I’m happy for you! I found a new pair of Chaco’s on Black Friday for $70.00 They are lying in wait if and when the 15 year old go to their maker.
 
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