Adding SOLE to your tubing

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[cool][#0000ff]As promised, here is my pictorial "HOW TO" on adding a protective sole to the bottoms of soft neoprene foot pockets on your waders.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Without a hard protective layer on your neoprenes, you risk wearing holes in them or getting punctures in both the waders and your feet, if you step on something sharp. Some of us wear wading boots between fin and waders. Others wear flats boots or water shoes. Folks with smaller feet can even get by with an oversized pair of tennies or deck shoes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For us big guys, with size 13 or larger feet, there are not many available choices of protective footwear that will fit over neoprene waders stuffed with a couple of pairs of socks over our "plus size" footsies. For many years, I have lamented the fact that wader manufacturers have not bridged the gap between "boot foot" waders and "stocking foot" waders...with something that simply has a thin, hard protective sole on the bottom of the stocking foots. But, NO-O-O-O-O-O. None of them has been receptive to the idea.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have been looking around and have identified many different sources of soles that could be attached, with the proper adhesives. You could use anything from a piece of cut rubber, carpet or any other sturdy material. You could also "recycle" the soles from old athletic shoes, sandals, water shoes or whatever. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My first attempt to add a sole to stockingfoot waders incorporated the still good soles from an old pair of flats boots that were wearing out on the top and which no longer fit well. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The first step in the process was to use a sharp knife to cut away the top part of the booties.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Once you have the upper neoprene foot portion removed from both booties, and hte rough edges smoothed out, you are ready to begin.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are many different kinds of waterproof adhesive that would work for this project. I chose Aquaseal Seal Cement, a product sold in dive shops for making and repairing neoprene wet suits and boots. It costs about $8.50 for a 4 oz. can. That is more than enough to do one set of waders, with a bit left over for future neoprene repairs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Since this is a "contact cement", it is unforgiving. Once you press the two surfaces together, you have a bond. That's why it is good to do only one foot at a time, and to do half a foot at a time...front first and the the back part. This helps with proper alignment and fit.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here is the front half with the adhesive applied. You actually apply two coats...letting the first coat dry about 5 minutes and then applying the second...to both sole and wader foot.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After the second coat has dried at least 10 minutes, carefully align the sole and the wader foot and press them together, starting at the front. Once they are basically stuck, then apply greater pressure, really pushing the two parts together.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Now, keeping the back parts separated, apply the first and second coats of adhesive to both the sole and the wader foot. Again, allow the first coat about 5 minutes, and the second coat at east 10 minutes. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After finishing the first foot, do the second the same way. Once they are firmly stuck and pressed together hard, set them aside for a day or so to allow the cement to finish curing.[/#0000ff]
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