Damned Soles

07/10/2026

Slow trajectory + immutable target (the Gong botanic gardens), more glacial than landslide. I persist. (I also argue w scrub turkeys that my spinach and feta roll is not available for snaking).

18/09/2026

Though I did the certification for FAAFO*, and enjoy the work - I'd much prefer to help you care for your skate boots.

Send me a message and we'll work out the next steps.

* fu**ed around and found out

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30/07/2026

Gluing the heel strap back into these DM "Blaire" sandals: advertised as "made to last" but only 5mm of the strap gets glued under the footbed, with a smidge more (disintegrated) cloth tape. Warranty details v v limited and opaque.

Do people expect their shoes to fall apart within a season? What a waste.

Tools: painters blue tape to block off around the area to be glued, old scratch awl, snips, handy dandy hooknose pliers.

Consumables: trialling Renia Syntic-total (PU the majority component in the footbed and strap, but the quantity of shoes I'm repairing does not warrant purchasing a bottle of PUR primer for CDC, my standard cement).

10/07/2026

These Pendragons were thoroughly thrashed at Brisvegas medieval faires in days of old. BUT. Mostly dead is slighly alive.

07/07/2026

The PVC soles of Docs are notoriously tricky to work with - being vulcanised, they pretty much say "f**k off" to priming::bonding chemicals.

The sole of this pair had separated a smidge at the black::brown line bonding line, and I'm taking this opportunity to test Renia Syntic Total glue before I resole them.

And yes, the leather is v shabby. Not from lack of care, but lack of functional capacity to attend to these sorts of things. I may fill the cracks in, or patch as the leather splits completely. But first, soles.

16/06/2026

Dead Meat's boots were not doing what skate boots were meant to do.

Holes get patched*, rips sewn closed + patched. Sometimes it can be a smallish spot with the patch a smidgen larger than the damage, but leather that's been thrashed requires full area treatment. *(tho sometimes filled, like the red Moonrakers I recently restored.)

1. The whole area is prepared by wiping w acetone
2. I'll make a paper template + check that it fits, then double check that it fits
3. The patch is cut from scrap kangaroo leather, matching leather type as needed (flexibility, weight)
4. Next I'll mask off the boot's surrounding edges with blue painters' tape (bc low tack) + apply a thin coat of Renia Colle de Cologne to both the boot area + the patch (aka CDC, this my fav contact cement as it kinda smells like cloves)
5. After a few minutes for the cement to cure, I'll heat both the boot + patch with my heat gun then gently set + press in place

I have a dwindling stash of roo leather (

14/06/2026

Dead Meat's boots were not doing what skate boots were meant to do.

The first step is always cleaning. ALWAYS. Typically it's homebrand baby wipes from the supermarket, but saddle soap (w warm water + toothbrush) is the best for dirty boots.

1. It destankifies boots (though the stank is usually not that terrible and I've smelt far worse)
2. I can work on the boots without getting grimey
3. It gives me a chance to look closely at the boots + find everything that needs repairing

I know it can feel v cool to roll around in boots that clearly show their use (they are worn + filthy) but not caring about your boots is not cool. Cleaning your boots is v punk. Choose life, choose punk.

10/06/2026

Dead Meat's boots were not doing what skate boots were meant to do.

Broken stitching, massive rips in quarters, delaminated soles... not fantastic, but fixable. I think they came back for a few times of the years (as different stitches would break etc).

07/06/2026

Thinking of having your skates repaired or restored? Are the straps on your knee etc pads a bit fu**ed? Most things can be fixed.

I've simplified the price list and included the "can you fix this" process:

It starts with sending me photos of what needs fixing, we'll work out a price, I'll confirm when I've got the boots in front of me, sending them back within the month.

17/05/2026

Rollerskating warms my little black heart , and I enjoy restoring old Altamuras. It's always a surprise to find how many tacks are still embedded the sole.
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I see red: the enamel took for f-ing ever to remove, but at least now I'm pretty quick at the task. It's a to do while listening to audio books.

Back to black: 2 different dyes, and then leather paint, were applied to achieve this deep black.
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If you're unsure of what the first step in caring for::restoring your Altamuras, send me a message. See less