electrathon

As long as you put it on the back it is about the correct size. On the front, hugely oversized. Just my opinion.

Not sure about then, but now virtually all leather has been split.

Dwight, I am familiar with the pain issue. I have nerve pain that is constant and agrivating. There is also pain from the arthritis and failed fusion issue, but the constant nerve pain really is tiring. The bottom on the L side is built up about an inch. The leg is shorter than that but there is no movement in the L foot or ancle so if it was built up all the way I would have other issues. I have also learned to walk with it shorter too, so I am used to it. If you are building your own orthotics you need to look uo "Birko cork". It is moldable cork and glue that becomes pliable when heated. I have never made my own orthotics yet, but I will be making my next set. Aaron

Here is what I am dealing with. leg.pdf

One thing I forgot to mention about the lasts. If you are going to buy a set the shape of your finished shoe will be dependant on the last you buy. This seems self evidant, but lasts can be hard to buy as an individual and when they show up it is hard to find your size. Let alone one with the proper visual shape. The main differance you will find with lasts is the toe shape. Long pointed toes, square toes and round toes, all are available. Heal height can also be an issue. More so on womens shoes and cowboy boots than "normal" shoes. Many lasts you find for sale are from the hay-day of the shoe industry, 40 years or so ago. Shoe styles do change, so remember that as you are searching Ebay for lasts. I keep looking at the lift "shape" on the shoes, I am going to round off the part a little more under the ball of the food. I have it nearly flat and shoes have a slight radious inside under the ball area.

A few weeks ago I made my first set of shoes in a class I went to in Southern Oregon. I want to get started on making a second set fixing some if the issues with the first set and keeping my memory active to do the process again. There are a lot of steps in the construction and I by no means want to imply I am anything but a beginner. Shoe construction seems to be a lost art/no mans land so hopefully this may inspire others to undertaking making a pair. If I say something improper or I need to be steered back on course please speak up. To start with shoes are formed over a "Last". A last is not shaped the same as your foot. It is formed to support your foot and be removable from the shoe after it is stretched over it. My situation is unique and this is one of the reasons I wanted to make shoes in the first place. I was hurt pretty bad as a youth, leaving me with a messed up left foot/leg. Normally whatever you do on the right shoe you will do identically on the left. The left last has been modified to add a little extra height for me. This will be hidden inside the finished shoe, so hopefully it will not be too obvious when done. The right last was widened a little also, this is just part of normal last alteration/shoe fit.

Great that you got to get together and learn, one of my favorite things to do. I have to be the first to ask though: In picture two, better looking with or without the mask? Paint in some eyeballs and you would look 20 years old!

The most worst way to try to hand sew is to get one of the automatic sewing awls that have a bobbin built in. It is sort of a manual sewing machine. Do not waste your money.

1 ounce = 1/64" So 6 ounce = 6/64" or 3/32" There is no area of leatherwork where you will get more controversy than hand sewing. Lots of ways to do it, many are correct, some are not.

I didn't mention this earlier but I have a very messed up foot. My reason for learning to make shoes was do that I could make shoes that lessen the pain I have walking. I am currently working on my second and third pairs, one pair will be similar to the first pair we made in class and the other will be made using a pair of Birkenstock repair insoles. I have the lasts for the first pair. The Birkenstocks have a very oddly wide front to them, so I have ordered a pair of EEE wide lasts and I am going to reshape them narrower. I can also add to the toe area by laminating leather and then grinding it to shape. As to using resin, I think it would work. You will likely be using fiberglass epoxy resin, it is available and not too expensive. You will have to be careful driving lasting nails into it, so a wooden bottom may be good. But if you use a wooden bottom you will need to hand carve the bottom to be foot shaped, if that is what you are trying to do. Normal shoes are nearly flat on the bottom, having a slight arc left to right.

Tina, Awesome looking.

You will have to be pretty careful because basalt is usually pretty soft. It is better than nothing though if granite was not available. In general, the denser the stone the better it is.

An assortment. The long narrow ones are 3/4. The horseshoe is 1 1/2. The square ones are 1 1/2. The moose is 1 3/4.

This has sold.

Small flat rate box full of belt buckles. Most are antique brass. $25 paypal gets them all.

Mmmm, just think how good a girl in a leather corset would smell and look!

You can't have too many tools!

Depending on condition I see it priced from $100-$300.

Wall Mart, just use poster board.

Love the belt too, great look.

You have a PM

This is sold

CS Osborn round knife. Handle is tight and not cracked. The blade is very sharp. Will come packaged with bonus extras in the box. $55 paypal gets it shipped to you.

Leather Art by F O Baird. Cover is darkened along the spine. Pages are all intact and has the additional patterns in the back. $55 paypal gets it shipped to you.

These are gone.