Quick, Cheap & Easy fix for frayed laces / Broken aglets

OK, there are probably more than 10 different ways to repair frayed laces due to wear and tear.  This is just another way. In my opinion most simplest & quickest method that I could think of using minimal requirements. Just two actually. (well If you skip the glue, just one.)

So you need

1. Thread (Preferably cotton, as it soaks in lot of glue and grips better)
2. Any glue used for crafts, leather repair, furniture repair will do  But NOT superglue! I used craft glue 'Fevicol'
3. Toothpaste (Optional)

Step 1: Apply some glue on the frayed end.

Dab the frayed end on tiny amout of glue. Take in the glue like a paintbrush.

Comments

[cptully]

I suggest learning a knot called Whipping:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_whipping

[lllshreelll]

Thanks! :)

[Carteacher]

I've used electrical heat shrink tube. Worked great.

[hyperphreak]

Heat shrink tubing my friends, you're welcome ;)

[hyperphreak]

Darn, I thought I might make a similar 'ible with the heat shrink, but then I found out one of the side links was on that exactly :(

[lllshreelll]

Well, you can try and use different materials. There are so many ways I can think of. I got some more ideas, but i will have to intentionally break one of the aglets to demonstrate it. :))

[augur45]

I tried heat shrink, and it slid off after awhile. I even tried craft glue and superglue on lace and heat shrink tubing while glue wet. Didn't stay on much longer.

[lllshreelll]

Nice idea. I have never tried it. How do you heat it? a hair dryer? Also, is there some alternative in case we don't get the tubing?

[hyperphreak]

Augur, i usually leave a little bit of lace on the "outside" of the tubing, then i use a lighter to melt that into a half-sphere, which is slightly too large to slip through the tube. (I only have nylon laces).

IIIshreeIII, I just use a lighter or a hot soldering iron, i don't have a heat gun and a hair-dryer is too weak, at least for my heat shrink tubing...
i don't really have any alternatives for the tubing, but dealextreme dot com has it very cheaply, I think I paid 3$ with shipping for a total of 15 metres (5 difterent sizes of 3 metres)

I don't remember if links are all-right in the comments, if not, I'll delete the post.

Cheers, Poul.

[hyperphreak]

Oh, I also use some superglue under the heat shrink to prevent it slipping the other way -.-

I need an edit button...

[A P3RS0N]

I find that for polyester-sheathed cotton laces (the kind you find on tennis shoes and the like - they're round not flat), one only needs to grab a wet paper towel, put the frayed end into a small flame (a gas stove on medium heat should do) until the cotton burns away, then pulling on it with the wet paper towel to smooth the melted polyester into a sealed end works very well.

[bullfrogs]

I use heat shrink for electronic wire and walla instant repair
Ray

[lemuzz]

Try heat shrink tube

[lemuzz]

Try heat shrink tube

[chelma1]

If you are in a hurry and aren't going for looks, a small piece of scotch tape wrapped around the fray works to get it through the eyelets. not permanent as this tho.

[lllshreelll]

That might be the quickest fix ever :) Cellophane tapes. They fix every thing :D

[danny6114]

Wrap the tape 3 or 4 times then lightly pass over a lighter to soften then rool between fingers to tighten and bond, carefully, of course.

[augur45]

Excellent 'ible. Also good for customizing lace lengths or making laces from cord... such as kevlar -- for work boots. (I once needed 50" laces and all I could find locally were 30" and 72" - and no kevlar. So I bought some 72" kevlar laces on-line and "fixed" them. Kevlar lasted years instead of months, or weeks.)

I've done similar method. Didn't apply glue first. Jjust wrapped end with nylon upholstery thread (or woven dacron fishing line, 10 or 20 lb test). Had to leave about 1/2" past wrapping to end of lace for handling purposes. Cut the tag end off then just coat with clear nail polish (or any other color that suits your fantasy.) Dipping end into nail polish works just fine. Paint would probably work just as well. (But not "white-out.")

May as well do the "good" end of shoelace while you're at it. Its remaining life expectancy is less than your "repair."

[danderson1]

How about some shrink tubing? just get some for wires just a bit smaller than the actual lace and put it on and heat shrink it down! My father in law does it all the time for my kids shoe laces when they screw them up at his house.

[jwhyman]

I like to use hot wax, dies quick and can be applied in a thick layer. Using thread is a great way to make the lace tight.

[lllshreelll]

Oh yeah! wax.. which makes me wonder what if one used lac?

[MrPumpernickel]

Basically the same method as I explained in my instructable almost five years ago, albeit I used superglue and a thin plastic filament, lasts for a heck of a lot longer: http://www.instructables.com/id/Aglet--Shoelace-Repair/

[lllshreelll]

Oh yea I remember this. Very nice Instructable. I had checked it out once, because I wanted to know if anybody has already made a similar instructable. After seeing that, I almost cancelled my upload, but then I thought, I have already taken pictures, might a well upload them.

Good to have as many ways as possible to fix something. That way people can fix stuff depending on what they have in their home at that moment.

[hellmaster993]

what does the toothpast do.

[lllshreelll]

Well, on the lace, first It gets deep inside and when you brush it off, the dirt comes off with it. Then If you apply some again, it holds everything together and makes it bright white.

On shoes: It's also used on canvas/tennis shoes, here again it makes white canvas appear even brighter. Its really a nice trick, even celebrities use toothpaste on their shoes. It takes some practice though. It shouldn't look obvious :)

[lllshreelll]

Well, on the lace, first It gets deep inside and when you brush it off, the dirt comes off with it. Then If you apply some again, it holds everything together and makes it bright white.

On shoes: It's also used on canvas/tennis shoes, here again it makes white canvas appear even brighter. Its really a nice trick, even celebrities use toothpaste on their shoes. It takes some practice though. It shouldn't look obvious :)

[hellmaster993]

thanks

[hellmaster993]

what is a nes-phone and good luck i wish you the best.

[lllshreelll]

There is no such thing as a Nes-Phone, I just made it up :) (Because I will try to incorporate my old mobile in a Game controller. It looks like a NES Controller) Lets hope it works out.

[hellmaster993]

oh i now know what you are talking about thanks .

[hellmaster993]

wow you made a new thing. good job man .

[lllshreelll]

Wait 'till you see my main project. The problem is, I am not taking pictures, because I am not sure if i will succeed. But if I do, It going to be awesome! I have been working on it for a long time. Its a Nes-Phone. (Not exactly, but basically a phone inside a nes-like game pad.)

[lllshreelll]

Thanks! I was about to fix it, so I thought why not make an instructable. (I got his idea from a dream)