Shoelace Repair

Intro: Shoelace Repair

Don't you hate when the aglets(tips) of your shoelaces crack off, leaving them to fray?
This can be fixed simply and easily.
Edit- apparently noahw beat me to it! I thought of this myself but I found he posted the same thing in December after someone pointed it out.

STEP 1: Materials

All you need is some heat-shrink tubing and a heatsource. I used a lighter. As far as heatshrink tubing goes, you can get a pack with 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4inch diameter tubing in red, white, blue, and transparent for $2.99 at Radio Shack. I used 1/8 because it fit perfect.

STEP 2: Cut and Install Tubing.

Insert the frayed lace into the tube until it is inserted to the length of the old tips and trim the tube. It took some pinching and twisting to get the lace in but the tighter the fit, the better it works

STEP 3: Make the That Tubbing Live Up to Its Name(shrink It!).

Use the lighter to warm the tubing and watch it shrink. Be careful not to apply to much heat and burn it.

STEP 4: Tie 'em Up!

Tie your shoes and admire!

Pardon the blurrieness, my camera doesn't focus well up close.

Comments

[deepcore]

I tried the shrinktube method some time ago, and the problem is that after a short while they fell off. It works better if you place a little glue on the shoelace first :)

[Musicman41]

couldn't you just replace the shoelace with new one or one from an old pair of shoes?

[Oryctolagus habilis]

Another tip for laces (pun intended), whether cotton or synthetic: waterproof them. I hate soggy laces! Get a bottle of any type of Nikwax (which is the best thing for your shoes anyway) & spray a bit in the cap. Coil the laces & mash them around in the cap until saturated & allow to dry. They'll last a lot longer this way & you won't have to get your hands as slimy when you re-tie them in the rain.

[headache2000]

Too much work, just wet about 3/4" of shoe lace in superglue and by the time you get both shoes on it's dry and hard. Although the many colors of heat shrink sure would be more snazzy

[mje]

I've seen a shoelace kit sold at REI that consisted of some pieces of 1/8" cord and half-inch pieces of heat shrink tubing.

[LasVegas]

Wasn't this just posted recently?

[BuilderboY]

Thats a good idea too! Actually, they go through fairly well, especially considering that it is near impossible when the end is all frayed and the hole is tiny.

[theRIAA]

i just replace my shoe laces with black paracord and melt the tips to a point. seems like the rubbery heat shrink wouldn't go through the holes to well?