Irons, Lasts, and overambition

[nobearsyet]

My favorite pair of boots died recently (a sad thing to be sure, I only owned that pair of stock Justin's for a little over 7 years, too bad you can't get your money's worth out of anything anymore) and being in need of a good replacement pair (as I think Justin might have changed their sizing because their off the shelf boots don't fit me worth a crap) and maybe getting a little overambitious after finishing my first saddle, I have decided to make my own. I read the E-book Johanna posted cover to cover after I printed it off (is that even legal?) and took appropriate measurements and sent them to a last maker, now I am sole shopping and have what is probably going to be a really stupid question, what so the Iron Sizes of soles have to do with anything? Can I buy the biggest ones they make just cut the mdown if they're too big? Also, where do I find the pegs talked about in the e-book?

[celticleather]

'Irons' are an antiquated way of referring to the thickness of leather; see http://www.claytonleather.com/thicknesstable.htm for a conversion.

[nobearsyet]

Thank you, but after looking at your very useful link in which I saved, I now have to ask the other stupid question, if I am building my first pair of boots, what is a good Iron to use? They're going to be all purpose work, riding, rodeo, s!@t kicking, walking, running, farm/ranch, everyday boots, I already know they have to have a spur rifge, and I am planning to follow the "recipe" outlined in the e-book as far as shape and style, boot I will guarantee you this, they will probably be the plainest boots to ever grace the pages of this forum, as soon as that d!@n camera gets here from the guy on e-bay.

Edited August 6, 2009 by nobearsyet

[pancho47]

sounds like you need 11-12 iron

[Kevin]

Irons indicate the thickness of the soles not size. If you are doing leather soles you can cut them to size, but some specialty soles need to be somewhere close to size or you lose some of the design. Here in VA, because of the damp weather, I used ribbed soles and brass tacks instead of pegs, next time it will be soles with siping like deck shoes, which I have seen in tan.

I don't know for sure, but AGS, Cudas in Ashland VA probably has the pegs, they've been around long enough I've gotten hog bristles from them.

Good luck, have fun,

Kevin

[nobearsyet]

Thank Y'all very much, if I have any more questions I'll put them here, so really hope the 2 of you have e-mail reply notifications turned on, also, Kevin, do you have any contact info for AGS?

[rickybobby]

Hi NBY,

I do boot resole work. I have Leather full soles and neolite (rubber) full soles with or without ribs. You will also need rubber heels and some extra sole bend material to make your heel bases. I can get you that.

I use brass tacks instead of pegs and have never had trouble. You will need those and some square nails for the heel bases (holds them on) and rubber heel nails.

Let me know if there is anything else I can get for you.

Rick Jorgenson