Sandal maker returns

[AlZilla]

I know zip about sandal making but I've always understood that shoemakers prefer horse butt for soles.  Apparently it's very durable.

[deboardp]

5 minutes ago, AlZilla said:

I know zip about sandal making but I've always understood that shoemakers prefer horse butt for soles.  Apparently it's very durable.

I'm going to use 1/8" thick gum rubber, for grip. 50 years ago I used horse sides for my straps. I had heard it stretched less than cow sides. I used cow bend (butt) for bottom soles and found them to be very slippery on certain surfaces. 

[deboardp]

On 11/4/2023 at 8:02 AM, Dwight said:

Harbor freight sells a half ton or one ton arbor press . . . a tad heavy . . . will need bolted to a table top or something . . . but with a larger flat surface . . . and a piece of 2 by 6 that you fashion to slip into the straps and lay flat along the top piece . . . you can put some serious "quiet" pressure on the thing.

If you've never used one . . . that little round table comes off . . . giving you a place to lay a piece of 2 x 6 . . . add the sandal bottom . . . slip in the formed piece for the top . . . pull down on the handle . . . voila . . . done.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-59766.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiMTcyMDQ4MTIiLCJza3UiOiI1OTc2NiIsImlzIjoiNjIuOTkifQ%3D%3D&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20737678297&campaignid=20737678297&utm_content=156191151498&adsetid=156191151498&product=59766&store=3113&gclid=CjwKCAjw15eqBhBZEiwAbDomEobTEjJnQG46i4KEr6GpH-siVkskQNeWXaUPPHRZdlGB2RDMXPCI8RoCYrcQAvD_BwE

May God bless,

Dwight

Dwight, I have been concerned that I would have to  push more than I can manage on the handle of that thing, but in my internet wanderings I found this:

               

The 3 ton is 24" tall, while the 1 ton is less than 12" tall. I want to really press hard.

3 ton press, the big brother of the one you posted.  I wondered how much pressure was exerted when the head of the cobbler's hammer hit the leather top sole, and thought it might be more than 2000 pounds per square inch, so with this 3 ton press, I might be able to use just a portion of the travel, or whatever I can manage with my skinny old man arms, and get a good bond.  It's $259.99, but it seems nice.  I'll probably find some white oak cut-offs at the last job I did in construction (they still like me) to use for a base and for putting on the topsole.

On a side note, I bought Top Fit adhesive for gluing the three soles. Have you ever used it? My memory doesn't work, so I don't remember where I read that it was good, but I bought it. I had used Barge Cement back in the 70's. I'll try it, see if I can pull the leather apart with my hands, or pliers.

I'm going to order the 3-ton.

Edited November 20, 2023 by deboardp
more info

[Dwight]

2 minutes ago, deboardp said:

Dwight, I have been concerned that I would have to  push more than I can manage on the handle of that thing, but in my internet wanderings I found this:

          This is the three ton       This is the one you mentioned.

3 ton press, the big brother of the one you posted.  I wondered how much pressure was exerted when the head of the cobbler's hammer hit the leather top sole, and thought it might be more than 2000 pounds per square inch, so with this 3 ton press, I might be able to use just a portion of the travel, or whatever I can manage with my skinny old man arms, and get a good bond.  It's $259.99, but it seems nice.

On a side note, I bought Top Fit adhesive for gluing the three soles. Have you ever used it? My memory doesn't work, so I don't remember where I read that it was good, but I bought it. I had used Barge Cement back in the 70's. I'll try it, see if I can pull the leather apart with my hands, or pliers.

I'm going to order the 3-ton.

The 3 ton looks like with the longer handle . . . it might put a lot more pressure down in one stroke . . . 

As for glue . . . I use Weldwood contact cement . . . have for 20+ years . . . never had anything come apart yet at the glue joint.  If it is properly applied . . . you can pull it apart . . . but generally speaking what you are doing is tearing the leather . . . not breaking the glue bond.

That is not necessarily true on the hair side of some veg tan leather . . . you have to take a wire brush an scuff it up a big first . . . THEN it will hold.

For my 3 layer Roman sandals . . . I use the Weldwood.

May God bless,

Dwight

[deboardp]

2 minutes ago, Dwight said:

The 3 ton looks like with the longer handle . . . it might put a lot more pressure down in one stroke . . . 

As for glue . . . I use Weldwood contact cement . . . have for 20+ years . . . never had anything come apart yet at the glue joint.  If it is properly applied . . . you can pull it apart . . . but generally speaking what you are doing is tearing the leather . . . not breaking the glue bond.

That is not necessarily true on the hair side of some veg tan leather . . . you have to take a wire brush an scuff it up a big first . . . THEN it will hold.

For my 3 layer Roman sandals . . . I use the Weldwood.

May God bless,

Dwight

I edited the post right after you posted this. I just added that the 3 ton is roughly twice as tall and twice as deep as the 1 ton, and yes, it's a monster.  I'll try using the Top Fit and see how it does for me. My Cobra Class 26 will be here November 30, plus the Cobra burnisher, the small one $575.  I hope this 3 ton will be here around then. I'm gluing gum rubber to the bottom of the three leather soles, which will be stitched, but I won't stitch the gum rubber. That's replaceable, so I don't want to cut the stitches to replace it. Thus I want to press the snot out of it to get a good bond. I'll double coat. If I can pull it off, then I'll try Barge.

[deboardp]

Gluing leather

I just read this article and apparently I won't need a press to give a good bond. Light hammering will do the trick. 

[deboardp]

I'll get a 48" tall tree stump and do the hammering on top of that. It will be quieter then hammering on my bench surface. 

Edited November 22, 2023 by deboardp
Spelling

[deboardp]

On 11/4/2023 at 8:02 AM, Dwight said:

Harbor freight sells a half ton or one ton arbor press . . . a tad heavy . . . will need bolted to a table top or something . . . but with a larger flat surface . . . and a piece of 2 by 6 that you fashion to slip into the straps and lay flat along the top piece . . . you can put some serious "quiet" pressure on the thing.

If you've never used one . . . that little round table comes off . . . giving you a place to lay a piece of 2 x 6 . . . add the sandal bottom . . . slip in the formed piece for the top . . . pull down on the handle . . . voila . . . done.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-59766.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiMTcyMDQ4MTIiLCJza3UiOiI1OTc2NiIsImlzIjoiNjIuOTkifQ%3D%3D&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20737678297&campaignid=20737678297&utm_content=156191151498&adsetid=156191151498&product=59766&store=3113&gclid=CjwKCAjw15eqBhBZEiwAbDomEobTEjJnQG46i4KEr6GpH-siVkskQNeWXaUPPHRZdlGB2RDMXPCI8RoCYrcQAvD_BwE

May God bless,

Dwight

Well, Dwight, I decide to buy one of them, because I don't want to disturb the neighbors below me. I bought a 1 ton from Vevor, with a wheel that quickly positions the ram onto the work item.

one ton Vevor

 

Edited November 27, 2023 by deboardp

[Dwight]

Now of course you will have to show off the new sandals . . . 

I have some serious neuropathy in my feet and hands . . . and one of these days . . . when the weather gets a lot warmer . . . I'll be either making or investing in a pair I'm pretty sure.

Looking forward to seeing your work.

May God bless,

Dwight