Skip to main content

From the Bench

The Bench.

Reels from the workshop. Field notes on shoe care. Forty-eight years of bench knowledge, pinned up for anyone who wants to look.

Watch the Bench

Reels.

Short clips of the cobbler at work — techniques, tips, the things that take 90 seconds to show and a paragraph to explain.

Heel Tip Swap in 90 Seconds 0:38

Heel Repair

Heel Tip Swap in 90 Seconds
De-Yellowing an Air Force 1 Midsole 0:52

Sneakers

De-Yellowing an Air Force 1 Midsole
Silicone-Sealing a Louboutin Before First Wear 1:14

Red Soles

Silicone-Sealing a Louboutin Before First Wear
Re-Gluing a Separated Sneaker Sole 1:02

Sneakers

Re-Gluing a Separated Sneaker Sole

Featured Field Note

Protect Your Louboutins Before the First Wear
Red Soles 4 min read

Protect Your Louboutins Before the First Wear

The red sole is more vulnerable than you think — and far cheaper to protect than to restore. Here's what to do before the box even opens.

Read the post

Field Notes

The Journal.

Heel RepairSneakersRed Soles
Sneaker Restoration: What's Actually Possible
Sneakers 5 min read

Sneaker Restoration: What's Actually Possible

The yellowed midsole, the cracked leather, the scuffed toe box — most of it is fixable. Here's what restoration actually looks like at the bench.

Read
When to Replace Your Heel Tips (Before It Gets Expensive)
Heel Repair 3 min read

When to Replace Your Heel Tips (Before It Gets Expensive)

Most people wait too long. The difference between a $25 fix and a $150 repair is usually just a few weeks of walking on the wrong surface.

Read