replacing zips on boots -help!

wovonb

I have a superb pair of black boots that I love, bought in a sale several years ago for £15. They fit really well and go with everything only problem is both the zips have gone and the local bootmaker quoted £50 :eek: to replace them, well actually he said that is the reason he no longer replaces zips. They are sitting in a bag waiting to be thrown and yet I can't quite bring myself to... so I am asking for any thoughts or suggestions before I say goodbye and start the long arduous task of replacing them (I have a strange fitting foot - wide and flat so boots need to fit and take my arch supports and be a style I like which is a tall order anytime but especially on a budget). Any ideas?

UPDATE
I have mended my boots!!!
Thank you all for suggesting I do it myself. For some reason I wouldn't even have thought of it. In the end it has cost me £1.35 for the zip... and that's it!!!!!!!!! I will even return the leather sewing machine needles I bought as I ended up sewing the new zip to the old so they now pull together and it is fab. Thank you all once again. Plus I discover it makes the boot leg slightly wider which is sometimes an issue for me so I will be able to keep it in mind for future boots too. Make do and mend: I love it!

phizzimum

I had the same problem last year...and yes I did throw the boots away (it took me months to do it though, and I felt terrible!)

the question is, if you have to be quite choosy about boots - will you be able to replace them for less than £50?

wovonb

I would have considered paying the £50 but the boot mender only quoted that as the price, but he no longer actually does it because of the price...

ravylesley

How about removing the zips altogether and punching holes in the leather either side of the zip opening and inserting some very long laces so that you get a laced up fastening.You could insert metal eyelets into the laceholes to tidy them up


Lesleyxx

Kandipandi

Can you not try a local seamstress - who might do repairs to leather jackets/bags perhaps they will have a sewing machine that will accommodate your boots for a lot less than #50.
Dare you try to do it yourself? Get some good needles and a thimble(Essential) and have a go by hand - you have nothing to lose but the cost of the new zip as you are going to have to throw them otherwise.
I imagine it will take an age, but I replaced a zip in a leather handbag this way.

newleaf

Had the same problem myself a couple of years back and couldn't find anyone willing to replace zips, not even my local, very old fashioned, cobblers. Had to chuck an otherwise perfectly good pair of leather boots out, and it really stuck in my crop, particularly because my dear departed Great Grandpa was a cobbler, and could have done it with his eyes shut

Peartree

Do you have a sewing machine? You can get heavy duty needles for machine sewing leather. My local haberdashery sell them so I am sure you can get them on the net. You can also get zips in various lengths. The sewing lines to follow would be clear in leather. Failing that, you could try handsewing, as Quasar suggests, using the holes in the leather from the previous zip.

What I mean is for, say a fiver or so on the needle and zips it might just be worth a go for a much loved pair of boots you would throw away otherwise.

foxgloves

That seems a bit expensive. I broke a zip on one of my long black leather boots last year and our local shoemender put a new zip in for £16. Even at 2 zips that's £32, still a long way off £50. Could be worth seeing if there's another shoemenders around that could do it for cheaper? It'd have stuck in my craw to have had to throw out a perfectly good pair, so I do understand how you feel.

wovonb

Thanks for all the suggestions. Actually I think my sewing machine does leather though I am a complete novice but as you say could be worth a try. Might wait til market day and try and get the zips there. Will let you know how I get on. At least I will feel like I tried and if I manage it I will feel totally thrilled with myself:p