blueflyer

I am beginning to make sandals/flip-flops and am exploring the option of stamping out my patterns with a steel rule die. So far I have gotten an estimate for $150 each. The patterns are relatively simple. Is $150 a fair price or can I do better? I believe that tradesmen ought to get rewarded for their skillset but I also don't like getting taken. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks a bunch for the great info Wiz! Looks I will be making a phone call to Bob K. soon.

Greetings, I am starting to make sandals/flip-flops and I am looking for a better way to cut the leather/rubber/padding material. I think the touchest material I will use will be about 6-8 oz leather and maybe 4mm thick crepe soling. I am having a cutting die made as an experiment and would like to use a 3 or 5 ton arbor press for the job. "Plan B" is to jury-rig a 15-ton hydraulic shop press and turn it into my own personal clicker press. Do you guys think this type of pressure would be sufficient for my purposes? Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I started down the same path and then I decided to do the "Chinese Blueprint" method: I've bought about 3-4 different types of sandals and flip-flops and just tore them apart. Pulled apart stitching, cut with an exacto kife through the glue, reverse-engineered the straps, etc... Don't over-think this. They're flipflops. You can go to thriftstores and pick some up for 3 bucks and have at it. Plus, once you've taken one apart that really fit you, there's your template.

Great information and vids. Thanks for taking the effort! Question: Is that "swing arm edge guide" something that comes standard with sewing machines like this or is that something you rigged-up yourself? I am researching a machine to sew leather upper material to foamy/cushiony material. I'm making beach style flip-flops. Thanks again.