Felco (Swiss Made) gardening shears (Before & After Cleaning)

All the parts cleaned and ready for reassembly.

Thin rubber half-soles and heels installed on a well worn pair of shoes

I did this type of work growing up, so I know how to repair shoes.  I don't have all the machines but can get the job done with just normal shop tools.  Below is the process.  This pair of shoes are in pretty good condition & are still good for a few more years, but they were inexpensive to purchase.  To have the soles and heels done at a shoe repair shop would cost about the same as buying a similar pair new.  So, it doesn't make economic sense.  If I repair them myself and just pay for the materials (pretty inexpensive & bought through Amazon), then it makes economic sense...

Repairing a pair of shoes.  patching the worn down corners of the heels so that a new layer can be applied on top.

The bottoms were sanded down to be flat & the worn corners were sanded down to be smooth for application of a patch.  Using rubber cement to apply the patches.

Ready for trimming and sanding flat...

Trim most of the rubber with a knife.

Sand the bottom flat and sand the edges close to the final shape.

Patching complete.  Now the heels are flat.

The new heels were trimmed to be pretty close to the final size (about 5 mm over).

Using rubber cement to attach the new heels.  The key to using rubber cement is to apply liberally to both surfaces and allow to dry so that they are no longer tacky.  It feels like it's "too dry" but that's when the two halves will have the best bonding.  Usually, after it just reaches the dry state, you have a few minutes to make the bond.  If you wait too long after the tackiness is gone, it will be too dry and they won't bond properly.  In that case, just another coat of cement will still work.

Sanded the front of the soles (1/2 soles) of the shoe to create a clean and slightly rough surface in preparation of bonding the thin rubber half-soles to the front portion of the shoes.

Same rubber cement process is used.

Using a hammer, apply pressure to the rubber to the shoe interface to create a stronger bond.  I used a metal pipe inside the shoe while hitting with a large head hammer from the bottom of the shoe.  Then trim most of the extra rubber so that it's pretty close to the shoe's sole edge (within a few mm).

After trimming with a sharp knife.

Using a sanding station, sand the excess rubber so that it's flush with the shoe's sole.

After sanding to size (both the sole & the heel).

Using a leather deglazing chemical, the outer upper leather was cleaned (thus the dull finish).  After drying, it ready for apply a colored shoe cream then buffing to a shine.  I didn't take a picture after the polishing but it turned out very nice.  Looks nearly new.

Christmas-New Years break in the UK -- Part 6 -- House Rented in London & the London Science Museum

Three story home with many bedrooms and two baths.  We used three bedrooms...

Entrance area to the Science Museum.   Cool bike display  overhead...

James Watt

James Watt's workshop equipment was on display.  Some pretty cool and complex tools.

A very early (turn of the 20th century) motorized trike.

Small cars from various nations.

The science museum has a pretty amazing collection of early aero engines.  Unfortunately, they're displayed poorly so it's difficult to look at the engines (& to take photos).

Airplane wheel, as it transitions from wire spokes to cast (in this case with an integral drum brake).

Early airplane cockpit with foot operated controls and various levers & a steering wheel...

An actual Enigma machine, as used by the Germans in WWII.