Do not be surprised if you find yourself wondering about this trend of parents glueing pennies to their child’s shoes. It would help to know why it occurred. Why should one glue pennies to the bottoms of shoes? Well, the idea of gluing pennies to the soles of one's kids' shoes is another thing that some parents have been experimenting with. Now, just in case you think that it is quite crazy to glue pennies onto shoes, please stay with me (pun intended), and I will explain why parents do it.

The creative character of our Vessi shoes is often compared to the idea of glueing pennies to the bottom of the shoes. The waterproof technology of Vessi breaks the conventions of footwear because, with Vessi, you will always be ready for whatever life throws at you. In addition, it highlights the need for a well-built structure for successful and easy walking, which is another factor that Vessi speaks of. Just like the pennies provide an untraditional but highly rational solution, the sole engineering of Vessi provides the most unique support and innovation to every step you take.

Why Glue Pennies to the Bottom of Shoes?

1. To Serve as Tap Dance Shoes

The kid you might have noticed with modified shoes might be learning tap dance. And tap shoes are usually expensive, especially the branded ones; they only offer the tapping sound.

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A parent may consider getting second-hand tap shoes, but they aren't good enough for everyday wear. What would be an easy and inexpensive way to get a decent pair of tap dancing shoes? Yes, you guessed it right!

Glueing pennies into Vessi kids' shoes or any other shoes is economical; some parents might want to take this route.

2. For Fun

Children enjoy slamming their shoes on the floor in the house. Gluing pennies to the shoes is the right way parents should provide their children with an opportunity to have fun as well as have some exercises. They will enjoy the sound produced by the shoes and they will be eager to run and jump from one point to the other.

3. To Enhance Traction

The soles of your shoes might lose their grip over time, providing no grip at all. In that case, the patterns made from glued pennies are useful, creating more traction. However, the traction won't be as great as in the original design.

4. To Keep Your Kids Alert

Children are often seen as having short attention spans. That is why parents glue pennies to their children’s shoes to prevent them from getting distracted while walking. The tap-tap sound can help the kid stay awake while walking, not help the child to lose focus on whatever they were doing.

Steps on How to Glue Pennies to the Bottom of Shoes

Materials Needed

1. Child's shoes

2. Pennies

3. Super glue

4. Sandpaper or a rough surface (if necessary for better adhesion)

5. Protective gloves (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the Shoes

First of all, you should remove dirt, dust, or debris on the soles of shoes. In addition, in case the shoe bottoms are extremely slippery ; we urge that you rub the bottom of the shoe with sand paper or any abrasive surface in order to further improve on the stickiness of the glue to the shoe material.

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Remember that it is important to prepare properly so that you suggest a good bond to the shoe soles and pennies that is permanent.

Step 2: Select a Few Pennies

Ideally, you should have as many pennies as you can—about 8-10 at the very least. Choose the design of pennies you want on the soles or decide how they should be placed. Ensure that the pennies are evenly spread across the sole of the shoe in a bid to gain best chances of stability and traction. It is also important not to place them all together, in a certain area of the house, as it may seem inconvenient during the walk.

Step 3: Apply Glue to the Sole

 

Next, when one has chosen good number of pennies and the sole is free from dust and humidity, then it’s correct time apply glue on the shoe soles. Ensure that you spread the glue appropriately on the sole and at the back side of the penny. They should not apply glue in excess in order to avoid it coming out once it is pressed against the shoe. Furthermore, super glue should be used to glue the pennies to prevent them from falling off whenever the kid is dancing or walking.

However, ensure you use a small craft brush or even a toothpick to ensure that the super glue is spread evenly. Ensuring that the legs are balanced while you are wearing the shoes would be difficult if the pennies are not glued right.

Step 4: Stick the Pennies

 

Pick the right position of the penny and place it exactly at the required part of the shoe sole. Using the shoe held upside down, press the pennies down on the surface heavily to make contact. Next, wipe the pennies down with a towel to remove the excessive glue protruding round them.

Afterwards, place the shoes on the floor on top of the pennies. The weight of the shoe placed on the floor should be enough to consider the pennies to stay put.

 

Step 5: Inspect and Test

After the glue has dried confirm if the pennies are well fixed to the board by pulling them gently. Carefully attempt to move or twist them to see if there are any weak spots. In addition, you need to ensure the shoes level itself correctly on the ground.

Before allowing your kid to wear the shoes, take the shoes to a safe area and perform the penny trick to check whether it will provide the required amount of traction. If one of the sides is greater than another, then take the pennies out and glue them back together properly.

Tips for Glueing Pennies to the Bottom of Shoes

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1. Choose the Right Shoes

Look for shoes that have thick, hard-wearing soles made of rubber or synthetic materials. These materials provide additional surface area for the pennies to stick to and a better hold, as well. We have different categories of  kid's shoe collections  that you and your children can select from.

Outer soles that are thin or delicate, are not good because they do not have the ability to hold the pennies properly and are more susceptible to damage when gluing.

2. Avoid Using Tape

Some parents try to use tape to stick pennies to their kids' shoes, which fails miserably. Glues are more effective than tapes. Tapes usually don't have the same holding power to achieve the desired adhesive. Therefore, avoid using tape. Rather, you should use super glue for this task.

3. Inspect and Change the Coins Over Time

If your child loves tap dancing, those pennies will probably get worn out quite fast. And with time, the shoe's proportions can diminish, which is bad for a tap shoe. Besides, the pennies will eventually wear out, even if the child uses the shoes for walking.

Consequently, you'd need to change the pennies occasionally. This will ensure your child can dance or walk properly on any surface.

4. Avoid Weighing Out the Shoe

Pennies are metal coins. And if you glue too many on the sole, they'll make the shoes too heavy to wear. Walking while wearing overweight shoes can be difficult. Therefore, avoid weighing out the shoes while sticking in the pennies.

5. Allow Enough Drying Time

Once the shoe soles are cleaned, give them enough time to dry so that the glue will hold after application. In addition to that, it is also important to take sometime and allow the glued shoes to dry before testing them. It is important to let the pennies dry well to have a good interaction between the pennies, shoe soles as well as making the mod last as long as possible.

How to Remove the Glued Pennies from the Bottom of Shoes

To switch the pennies or to reduce the possibility of them being at the bottom of the shoes in the future, is not easy, but can be done, with the right tools and methods. Here are the steps to follow:

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Materials Needed

1. Putty knife or box cutter

2. Adhesive remover

3. Rubbing alcohol

4. Clean cloth

5. Mild soap and water

6. A drop cloth

Step 1: Prepare Your Work Area

Ensure you use a clean environment to work on. Cover the floor with polythene paper to avoid having to work on debris that might fall off during the process.

Step 2: Evaluate the Bottom of the Shoes

It is important to note that some glue types can often be harder to remove than others are. If there is any penny that is already loose, try to take it off by your fingers. In essence, if it is strong, do not apply pressure on it and it may take some time before you can remove it.

Step 3: Soak the Shoes

If they are tightly embedded in the shoe sole, you may use warm water with soap to wash them for 15-20 minutes. This will help to moisten the glue and make it easier for you to take off the pennies.

Step 4: Use a Putty Knife or Box Cutter

With a putty knife or a box cutter, gently run them under the edges of the pennies in order to pry them off the sole. Take time and avoid misuse of the knife in that you can accidentally slash or harm the material used in the making of shoes.

If there are still some pennies that do not get washed away, rinse step 3 until all the pennies of it get washed away.

Step 5: Apply Adhesive Remover

To complete the process of cleaning the surface of your furniture, you need to use adhesive remover on the rest of the glued pennies. Let it sit for a few minutes in order to loosen on the adhesive.

Step 6: Scrub Off the Glue Residue

After this, wet another cloth with rubbing alcohol and wash off all the softened glue. Massage in circular manner to obtain an even distribution of color but have to do so lightly so as not to scrape off the material of the shoe.

Repeat step 5 until all the glue comes out.

Step 7: Clean and Dry the Shoes

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After all the glue residues come off, wash the shoes with soap and warm water to let off any residue glue. Then let them dry out thoroughly before you do anything with them.

Frequently Asked Questions: Why Glue Pennies to the Bottom of Shoes

1. Why do people put pennies in their shoes?

Many use pennies glued on shoes to improve the surface area of contact and friction in a bid to avoid slipping on ice or snow. It is easier to walk on the pennies since they are heavier and have a rougher surface hence do not slip easily.

2. Why do parents glue pennies to shoes?

Parents use adhesive to stick pennies on the shoe of their children so as to avoid the costs of buying tap dancing shoes. The kids can always have a good time with it and the parents too seem to enjoy it. Besides, they might be imitating something they saw someone else do and never felt the satisfaction of coins jingling.

3. What is the best glue for pennies?

Super glue is most suitable for affixing pennies to your kid shoes because it is suitable for bonding rubber or synthetic shoe soles. Selecting the right glue for the job always guarantees the pennies are held in place and that the shoe soles are well fixed.