I read the reviews on all the stretchers and was very careful not to over tighten anything, and they are working great on my leather shoes. I was still getting pain from the bones on the big toes, so I used the plastic things and you could see it pushing out in the places where it was hurting my feet. Someone said to use plain rubbing alcohal to wet the areas of pressure and That worked as well. Remember, the stretchers are made of wood and plactic, so don't over tighten. and give it time to work: Larry