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Where do I get rubber sheets for rands?

Original Post
Fortuna Wolf · · Durham, NC · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 20

I found a supplier of soling sheets of vibram grip, xs grip, and xs edge, but only in 3.5+ mm thicknesses. I'm looking for ~2mm sheets of climbing rubber for some rand repair. Anyone know where I can get some in the USA?

ASid · · SF, CA · Joined May 2013 · Points: 15
Fortuna Wolf · · Durham, NC · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 20

I don't think that they need to be made out of climbing rubber, but they often are and it seems to be the best way to do it.  The fiveten kits have rands that are C4.

Asid, that's ridiculously expensive. I can buy a 25"x37" sheet of rand rubber for $60 (except that the supplier is out of stock). 

Mike Womack · · Orcutt, CA · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 2,015
Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492

Inner tube.

Mike Womack · · Orcutt, CA · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 2,015
Gunkiemike wrote:

Inner tube.

seriously though

Fortuna Wolf · · Durham, NC · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 20

Mike, is shipping going to be painful, with it coming from Ireland?

Inner tube is a good idea. I'll try that if I can't find the rand rubber.

Ok, last question. Will I regret getting Vibram XS Edge to resole with?

ROCKMAN2 · · Nederland, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 320

You can get vibram 1.8mm rand rubber from most resolers. Try Rock and Resole. 

No, you won't regret xs edge. Unless you're a boulderer that likes to smear more than edge. 

You will regret not getting your shoes resoled professionally, unless you are a professional, or a mad scientist...  

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Ask Locker.

caesar.salad · · earth · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 75

As someone interested in doing my own resoling, I've wondered this as well.

Fortuna Wolf · · Durham, NC · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 20

I'm an experienced maker of things and feel confident that I can slap some rubber on my old shoes.
Caesar, I'm going to place an order for 1 sheet of 1.8mm Vibram Grip 7510 and 4mm Vibram XS Edge 7530. If you want to split the order we can. Sheets are 25" x 36"
They also have 5mm Vibram XS Edge, but the price is a bit higher. You'd be looking at something like $135-160 to split the two sheets after shipping.

Fortuna Wolf · · Durham, NC · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 20

Lucky me. I called to order and the salesperson said that they do have the 1.8mm grip and 4mm XS grip sheets in stock tomorrow. So if someone wants to go in on XS edge let me know, otherwise I'm ordering XS grip

Fortuna Wolf · · Durham, NC · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 20

Update. Got an email back from Five Ten. Their offerings were a lot cheaper so I ordered a 2.2mm rand sheet and 4.2mm stealth C4 from them. 

For the curious and posterity (because google-fu failed me in finding these answers), prices are obviously subject to change:
Five Ten, (909) 798-4222
Sheets are 3'x3'
Rand was ~$70 and they offer 3,4, and 5mm Stealth C4 for something like $90,$100,and $110

southernleatherco.com
Sheets are 2'x3'
Rand was 7510 Grip 1.8mm for ~$65.
Also have 7510 Grip 3.5mm for ~$80, 7507 XS Grip 4mm for ~$160, 7530 XS Edge 4mm for ~$190 and 5mm for ~$240, and 1qt barge cement for $20

Five Ten also recommended barge cement. If you can't get that easily you can get a quart of weld wood for $10 at most home improvement stores. Barge cement needs to be thinned before use and weld wood can be used straight. 

I'll keep you updated with my attempts. 

caesar.salad · · earth · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 75

Awesome. Thanks for the info. Not gonna order anything now but will in the future.

ROCKMAN2 · · Nederland, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 320

You may want to consider finding/making a last that will help retain the shape of the shoe while it cures. This is an important detail often overlooked. 

Fortuna Wolf · · Durham, NC · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 20

Excellent use case of the 3d scanners and printers at work. Scan foot, print, profit? 

caesar.salad · · earth · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 75
Fortuna Wolf wrote:

Excellent use case of the 3d scanners and printers at work. Scan foot, print, profit? 

I'm jelly.

Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

You don’t need a last to resole your own shoes. Especially a 3D scan of your foot. That is ridiculous, why use a cheap plastic replica when you have the real stinky thing. I will not mention the toe fungus. Just glue the rubber, put the shoes on and practice you standing calf rises exercised for a couple of mins.

 Contact cement does not need to be pressed for a long time. It need a good initial bound. Don’t climb on it for two days, I think that is how long it takes to cure enough to use. Renia, is German version option to barge cement. Some people says is better than Barge. http://www.renia.com/USA/techdata.html

Resoleing your shoes will change in both how they feel and performance. Especially if you start messing with the rands. If you really want to to do a good you do need the original last but good luck with that. 

Also, rand rubber is not sole rubber, it is a lot more elastic and less viscous than sole rubber. Even that you can buy Vibram exgrip rand rubber, I don’t think there is one shoe company that use sole rubber for rands. Sole rubber is more expensive and it will not make a good rubber for rands.

So go with the inner tube. Just make sure you clean ALL the white powder, use acetone further clean it and finally sand it. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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