Many were faced with the fact that the selected shoes sit too tightly on the leg, creating inconvenience when walking. Or a favorite pair of shoes that fell in the rain, sat down slightly and became half the size. To cope with such unpleasant situations, you can use a mechanical stretcher for shoes.
What is a stretcher?
Several methods can be used to adjust the shoe to the foot:
- carry shoes at home, putting them on thicker socks;
- use chemicals to soften the material from which the shoes or boots are made, and again spread;
- stretch using a special tool.
The latter option can be combined with a chemical method of stretching.
However, it is worth remembering that it is impossible to increase the size of the purchased pair with a pad for stretching by a significant indicator. The maximum that the brace can do is to reduce the squeezing of the foot with shoes that are too tight, making walking more comfortable.
In order to fit the shoe you like on the foot, experts advise using a mechanical stretcher. The device is a kind of spacer block, consisting of a part for the bow and the head, mounted on an axis with a screw thread for adjusting the stop.
The nose of the pad for stretching for different models of the device can be solid or sliding, used to adjust the width of the shoe.
Kinds
Pads for stretching are of the following types:
- wooden;
- metal;
- plastic.
In the old days, wooden spacers made from improvised material were used as a device for adjusting shoes on the foot.Modern consumers can purchase the desired unit in the store.
There are various types of mechanical stretchers for shoes:
- Classic spacers for adjustment, repeating the shape of the foot;
- a spacer for width adjustment, consisting of two plates connected by a spring;
- a special device for stretching in lifting boots, ankle boots and other shoes with a high boot.
At home, manual devices are mainly used, while professional shoemakers use a special machine for stretching shoes.
Shoe machines are:
- mechanical, where everything is manually configured;
- electric, which have several functions for fitting shoes on the foot.
A set of nozzles for adjusting various shoe models is attached to the machines.
When buying a stretcher in a store, you should pay attention that There are various models designed to work with male and female options. The spacers used for women's shoes are made taking into account the fact that the women's shoe pair has a high heel. therefore the nose of the shoe is designed to fit the appropriate bend of the sole.
Male models of spacers take into account the anatomical feature of the man's foot, which is most often wider than that of a woman. And also the fact that shoes for men practically do not have much narrowed noses and high heels, which are found in women's shoes.
How to use?
There are no special difficulties in using shoe spreaders. The main thing is to choose the right shoe shape, taking into account the characteristics of the shoe pair.
If it is necessary to adjust the size, then you need to insert the extension into the shoe and unscrew the screw to such an extent that the heel rests very tightly against the back and creates pressure on the toe. For the best effect, the inside of the pair can be treated with special chemicals for stretching. It can be a spray, foam or other liquid substances. Having inserted the spacer, you need to leave the shoes for several hours to consolidate the effect.
It is worth remembering an important rule: in order not to spoil the shoes, you can not stretch much at a time. If a significant change in volume is necessary, it is best to repeat the adjustment operation several times, gradually increasing the size.
To adjust the shoes across the width of the foot, use transverse struts or pads with a sliding nose nozzle. Having inserted the block into the boot, the spacers are pushed apart and fixed with the help of side screws, creating the necessary pressure.
Two plates connected to one end by a movable joint, and from the other mount, with which you can change the angle between the plates, are used to adjust shoes in lifting the foot at home. Having inserted and securing the device in the right place, using the adjustment screw create the necessary pressure on the problem part of the shoe. The spread is left for several hours.
After removing the pads, the shoes are tried on and, if necessary, the procedure is repeated until the desired result is achieved.
It is very convenient when at home there is a whole set consisting of struts used for various purposes. Then the owner will be able to fit shoes with any problem on the foot, excluding the increase in the size of the shoe pair.
See how to use a shoe stretcher in the next video.
