Update on my handmade sandals

[Jordan]

After wearing them for awhile I showed them to the owner of the local Tandy shop, He now has them on the showoff wall and said he will be taking them to demo's for the scouts and such. He was impressed, mentioned how they look real professional. I have started on a new pair, and have been photographing the steps and tools I used, I am thinking of maybe putting together some type of small book as I have only seen a ebook offered by tandy that appears to have been done in the late 60's or early 70's. Dunno, maybe there is a market for it, time will tell I guess.

[rdb]

I have a lot of those old 60s/70s books. They're good, but most don't have a step by step photo set. Your idea might just work with an ebook style.

Be careful in your bare feet stepping on the barb wire!

[craftsman827]

what weight leather do you use for the soles ?

[Jordan]

I'm using some saddle skirting from tandy scrap bin 10/11wt I think. the top is 7/8 wt. the first pair was 2 layers of 7/8 wt. a bit thin with the thicker stuff I can sink the thread deeper and increase the wear time. Eventually I want to do some type of rubber sole.

Edited May 24, 2008 by Jordan

[Spider]

Very cool Jordan. I was approached at the fair about making sandals. I have been thinking about it for a while and it sure looks like fun. I'm sure there are a few details to consider but isn't that the case with everything? Anyway, congrats and good luck with the book. I'm sure you will do good with it. Shoot, I'm sure I'll buy it.

[Jordan]

Thanks, I am sure the book thing will be a long process to do it right, I may post tutorial segments as I progress, at the very least I will put some photos up as I progress.

[Jordan]

Some more pics, haven't done any instruction writing yet, just trying to nail down the process first.

[Jordan]

A few more on the progress today

[Jordan]

I have got to remember to stop when my glucose drops, I really messed up the stitching, maybe it will blend when I finish them with some oil.

[Hammerhead]

very nice

thanks for the pics , i think i'm going to make me some sandals

[Jordan]

Thank you, I will be posting some more photos in a day or two of the rest of the steps I took to finish them.

[Jordan]

I got industrious today and finished the sandals. I took alot of photos that I need to resize and put in some kind of sensible order with a little text but here they are. There are a few errors that I will work on with the next ones, most glaring is I need to wait to cut the sewing channels until everything is glued up and the edges sanded so they will line up. Not a problem with my last ones because I hand sewed them. I experimented a bit by melting beeswax into the bottoms and sides on these to see if the bottoms will wear a little longer, it did harden the bottoms quite a bit.

[TroyS]

Jordon, those are the coolest Jeruselum Cruisers I have ever seen! I'm all about the sandals/flip-flops! I hope you don't mind if I use your idea to make me a pair!

Can't wait for the whole tutorial!

Thanks for inspiring!

Troy

[Jordan]

Thanks Troy and be my guest, These are my take on a variety of sandals I have seen or owned over the years. I am sure that others have made similar, so I can't really say that they are entirely original in style or construction. But having made them from scratch from my mind to leather I believe I have not stepped on anyones toes. (pun intended) I figure that if I post anything on this site and another leather nut wants to copy or use my ideas more power to them and I am flattered beyond measure. anyway I think thats why I post stuff to begin with, I enjoy the kudo's when something turns out well and need the helpful comments to do it better next time.LOL

[Jordan]

I have resized the pics to 640x480 and will attempt to put them here in some order that makes sense without alot of text as I have not worked through that yet. I am pretty good verbally with instructions but written down I tend to ramble and generally suck.

[Jordan]

On to the next segment of the grand Hey Zuse Christo's adventure.

[Jordan]

And Viola' or is it walla! all done with my second pair. Oh wait this is a pic of my 1st pair cause I am to busy traipsing around in the new ones to take a pic. Hope this gives you all an idea of what goes into a pair of sandals. There are a bunch of little details that I am still figuring out as I go.... thats what I like about leather projects uh huh uh huh I like it! Enjoy. Sorry bout the horendouse feets but you gotta work with what you got.

Edited June 14, 2008 by Jordan