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Fixing Loose Screws, by Bob Carroll
My teacher, the late Louie DaPron, used to fix his shoes with wooden matchsticks and epoxy which is a very strong glue. A few years ago someone toldme to try it with toothpics and they seem to last even longer. Here's how Ido it. Supplies: (You will need some round toothpics, epoxy glue, a sharp knife, a nail, and a screwdriver.)

Remove taps and screws(I do one tap at a time). Take some roundtoothpics(most are made of birch wood which is a hard wood of sorts)and cutback the pointy ends a little so they're not so sharp. One pic will fill 2holes if you break it in half. Stick pointy end in hole as far as it willgo. Mark pic with a pencil where it starts to come out of hole. Remove picfrom hole and lay on table. Lightly press on pic with sharp knife just belowpencil mark(so it won't stick out of hole) and roll toothpic back and forthso knife cuts into pic just a little all the way around it . Let the kniferoll across the pic and don't cut in too much. As you do each pic stick itback in the hole to save it's place.

Now with all holes prepped with pics mix up your glue. Epoxy is a 2 partglue and you have to mix in equal parts. When it fully hardens it is almostlike steel. I like to use little Dixie cups to mix in. Most glue sets in 5minutes. This means it starts to harden and you need to be done before that.Mix the glue up good and put a little in each hole with one of the pics andkind of squish the glue in there. Now take a pic, dip in epoxy, stick inhole all the way, and break off where you cut with knife. If epoxy comes outwipe away with a rag. If it gets on something clean up with nail polishremover or acetone.

Now take your nail(I use the pointy end of a compass) and stick into centerof tooth pics and work around a little. This makes it easier to get thescrew started in the spot you want. Wipe away any excess glue and positiontap on shoe. Take your screw and start screwing it in. I use a littlebattery operated srew-gun for this. Make sure the screw is going in straightand that you are PUSHING the screw in as you turn. Do each screw a few turnsthen go to the next until they are all almost tight.Don't tighten all theway, leave one or two turns for after the glue dries.

Let the epoxy fully cure(usually 3 hours with 5 minute epoxy) before dancingor adjusting. Try to never loosen your screws, only tighten them. If youloosen it it leaves a small space around threads and this starts yourproblem. I never loosen. I wear my taps a little loose so the sound carriesa bit more and often after a fix the taps feel kind of tight. After youdance in them a little they will loosen just a little. Then just tightenthem as you need to. I wear double soles so I go to the hardware store andbuy a little bit longer screw (you can use these on the heels even withsingle soles.) With the longer screws and epoxy and pics I can go through acouple months of pretty hard tapping without ever having to touch them.

Notes:

1) If you want to move your tap to a different position on shoe let the pics and glue cure before putting in screws.

2)If you wear your taps tight go ahead and tighten all the way and let cure.

3) If you really stripped out the holes bad you can repeat the process after glue cures.

4) A friend of mine uses bamboo chopsticks or skewers (which is way tougherthan toothpics) and she says it works even better.

Good luck and happy tapping.

email: misskathleen@kathleenacademy.com

Kathleen Academy of Dance
411 Route 206, Hillsborough Township, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
908-359-8888

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