Comments on: How do I make my pointe shoes last longer? http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/ Discover the Secrets to Conquering Some of The Most Common Pitfalls You Face When Learning Ballet Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:37:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Katherine Hawkins http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-40134 Katherine Hawkins Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:24:56 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-40134 Hi, I have just got my first pair of points and I am very exited and can't wait to dance in them. My dance teacher has said to glue some leather protectors on the front. can you suggest how I (or my Dad) do this and what's the best glue to use. Many thanks Katherine Hawkins Age 11 Hi, I have just got my first pair of points and I am very exited and can’t wait to dance in them. My dance teacher has said to glue some leather protectors on the front. can you suggest how I (or my Dad) do this and what’s the best glue to use.

Many thanks
Katherine Hawkins
Age 11

]]> By: Alexis http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-21247 Alexis Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-21247 Try pointeshoeglue. I got a bottle in a dance store in NYC back in the summer. It works great. A lot better than jet glue. I have never used the floor polish. You can get it on their website, www.pointeshoeglue.com. I think the best thing for your shoes is to make sure you dry them. My teacher makes us tie our shoes to the outside of our bags. Try pointeshoeglue. I got a bottle in a dance store in NYC back in the summer. It works great. A lot better than jet glue. I have never used the floor polish. You can get it on their website, http://www.pointeshoeglue.com.

I think the best thing for your shoes is to make sure you dry them. My teacher makes us tie our shoes to the outside of our bags.

]]> By: samari http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-14955 samari Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:58:19 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-14955 let your shoes sit out for a while after you use them so the sweat doesnt break down the box of the shoe let your shoes sit out for a while after you use them so the sweat doesnt break down the box of the shoe

]]> By: Marissa http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-13277 Marissa Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:33:09 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-13277 abby: I don't think you can make it at home, it's chemically processed. but you can buy it online or at a lot of dance stores. abby: I don’t think you can make it at home, it’s chemically processed. but you can buy it online or at a lot of dance stores.

]]> By: abby http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-13275 abby Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:53:46 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-13275 Does anyone know how to make rosin at home? Does anyone know how to make rosin at home?

]]> By: Charity http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-1498 Charity Tue, 16 Jan 2007 03:58:40 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-1498 I would suggest that you only wear your point shoes on dance appropriate floors. If you find it hard constantly tying and untying shoes I would recommend you buy some thick socks or slipper like things to put over your pointes when not on dance approppriate area. (road, tile, sidewalk, etc.) I would suggest that you only wear your point shoes on dance appropriate floors. If you find it hard constantly tying and untying shoes I would recommend you buy some thick socks or slipper like things to put over your pointes when not on dance approppriate area. (road, tile, sidewalk, etc.)

]]> By: Abbie http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-1411 Abbie Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:41:54 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-1411 I use 'Clear' (Thats the name of the make) floor polish (Sounds odd I know but it's cheaper than real point hardener) I think it may be similar to 'Jet glue' because you paint it on the inside of the shoe to make it hard again here are some tips when doing that: Make sure the shoe has completely dried out before glueing Always do at least two coats (maybe more as one of the above posters said) Pour a little of the glue into the toe of the shoe, then using a paint brush, paint the glue up inside the shoe. After painting ensure the shoe is completely dry before wearing. Don't sniff it (It's a solvent) Try that and hopefully you shoes will last longer, someone I know said she baked hers in the oven, but that sounds a bit crazy to me. If your shoes are still not lasting very long, then try buying them off ebay, you may be able to save enough money to stop it mattering that they arn't lasting. Abbie I use ‘Clear’ (Thats the name of the make) floor polish (Sounds odd I know but it’s cheaper than real point hardener) I think it may be similar to ‘Jet glue’ because you paint it on the inside of the shoe to make it hard again here are some tips when doing that:
Make sure the shoe has completely dried out before glueing
Always do at least two coats (maybe more as one of the above posters said)
Pour a little of the glue into the toe of the shoe, then using a paint brush, paint the glue up inside the shoe.
After painting ensure the shoe is completely dry before wearing.
Don’t sniff it (It’s a solvent)

Try that and hopefully you shoes will last longer, someone I know said she baked hers in the oven, but that sounds a bit crazy to me.

If your shoes are still not lasting very long, then try buying them off ebay, you may be able to save enough money to stop it mattering that they arn’t lasting.

Abbie

]]> By: Avie' http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-1339 Avie' Wed, 03 Jan 2007 04:42:34 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-1339 hmm,my shoes used to last about that long also(I also dance about the same amount you do). Alternating and using Jet glue is about the only fixes really. When you were alternating shoes,did you take the toe pads out and lie them or hang them somewhere where there was good air flow?(like tieing the ribbons together and hanging them on a hook in your room with the fan on. Also,did you let them dry for three days? That's supossed to be the time for airing them out. Now,for how I fixed mine,I used Jet glue and that stuff is truly a miracle.Maybe it didn't work for you bacause you didn't put at least two coats on it? I normally put about four and they last another week,then I put four more coats on after they get soft again. They will still get soft with Jet glue,but you just have to keep using it. They also say your supossed to put it on the inside of your box but I find it find to just put it on the outside as long as your studio (and stage)has some type of "marley" floor,because the glue can make the platform a bit slipperey. If you tried it on the inside,you could try it on the outside or vise-versa. I don't see why it dosen't work for you. Do you use rosin? That may have something to do with it,but I don't know because I don't use rosin on my pointes. Good luck and best wishes, Avie' hmm,my shoes used to last about that long also(I also dance about the same amount you do). Alternating and using Jet glue is about the only fixes really. When you were alternating shoes,did you take the toe pads out and lie them or hang them somewhere where there was good air flow?(like tieing the ribbons together and hanging them on a hook in your room with the fan on. Also,did you let them dry for three days? That’s supossed to be the time for airing them out. Now,for how I fixed mine,I used Jet glue and that stuff is truly a miracle.Maybe it didn’t work for you bacause you didn’t put at least two coats on it? I normally put about four and they last another week,then I put four more coats on after they get soft again. They will still get soft with Jet glue,but you just have to keep using it. They also say your supossed to put it on the inside of your box but I find it find to just put it on the outside as long as your studio (and stage)has some type of “marley” floor,because the glue can make the platform a bit slipperey. If you tried it on the inside,you could try it on the outside or vise-versa. I don’t see why it dosen’t work for you. Do you use rosin? That may have something to do with it,but I don’t know because I don’t use rosin on my pointes. Good luck and best wishes,
Avie’

]]> By: Meredith http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-1334 Meredith Tue, 02 Jan 2007 20:32:06 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-1334 Try getting two or three pairs of pointes and rotating them day by day. Giving the shanks time to adjust and get a break will make them last a little bit longer. By the way; I'm jealous that you get to dance that much. You're soooooo lucky. Try getting two or three pairs of pointes and rotating them day by day. Giving the shanks time to adjust and get a break will make them last a little bit longer.

By the way; I’m jealous that you get to dance that much. You’re soooooo lucky.

]]> By: Zoe http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/comment-page-1/#comment-1330 Zoe Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:03:32 +0000 http://www.balletinfo.com/questions/how-do-i-make-my-pointe-shoes-last-longer/#comment-1330 I assume you mean by "alternating" your shoes, that you change the right foot for the left foot? If so, that's ok, but you should have more than one pair going at once, to let one pair dry out for a day before wearing it the next. Preferably 3 pairs at once, if you are dancing that much, to give the shoes 2 days to dry out between wearings. If you wear shoes that are still slightly damp, the glue never gets a chance to dry out and the shoe disintegrates much quick. If you mean by "alternating" that you are changing pairs of shoes already, then obviously you are doing what I suggest anyway. It is very important to never stuff anything into your pointe shoes after you take them off (lambs wool, pads, etc.) and never wind the ribbons around the heels in an effort to be tidy, that doesn't let them dry out either. After you take them off, you should at least keep them in an outside pocket of your bag, or better, tie them to the outside of your bag and let them air dry. Never bury them in your bag, they will stay wet and lose their shape and die faster. Other than that, there is not really a great deal you can do about it, as you are dancing a lot. (I have never found jet glue to work for me either, some people swear by it.) Ifi you don't mind hard shanks you might try a shoe with harder shanks than what you currently wear, but personally I would rather go through more shoes than deal with breaking in new shoes more than I absolutely have to! I assume you mean by “alternating” your shoes, that you change the right foot for the left foot? If so, that’s ok, but you should have more than one pair going at once, to let one pair dry out for a day before wearing it the next. Preferably 3 pairs at once, if you are dancing that much, to give the shoes 2 days to dry out between wearings. If you wear shoes that are still slightly damp, the glue never gets a chance to dry out and the shoe disintegrates much quick. If you mean by “alternating” that you are changing pairs of shoes already, then obviously you are doing what I suggest anyway.

It is very important to never stuff anything into your pointe shoes after you take them off (lambs wool, pads, etc.) and never wind the ribbons around the heels in an effort to be tidy, that doesn’t let them dry out either. After you take them off, you should at least keep them in an outside pocket of your bag, or better, tie them to the outside of your bag and let them air dry. Never bury them in your bag, they will stay wet and lose their shape and die faster.

Other than that, there is not really a great deal you can do about it, as you are dancing a lot. (I have never found jet glue to work for me either, some people swear by it.) Ifi you don’t mind hard shanks you might try a shoe with harder shanks than what you currently wear, but personally I would rather go through more shoes than deal with breaking in new shoes more than I absolutely have to!

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