delormea397 Report post Posted December 29, 2011 Im looking to get in to shoe making...been reading endlessly on it. Stitched some moccasins...but want to try my hand at some real lasted shoes. Problem is...lasts are impossible to find! The only ones i've been able to find are only available in full runs. I really only need one pair..8D. If they had suitable toe spring to allow for a short heel that'd be fantastic. Anyone? any ideas? It's hard to get started in shoe making when 'the last comes first' but youre without a last. Thanks folks! Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KAYAK45 Report post Posted December 29, 2011 You can buy just one last/time from Jones and Vining Last in AR. (870)886.6621 Be careful what you wish for, though. If you want an 8D shoe you will not like the results from an 8D last. Read up more on this subject @ THEHCC.ORG. Best site around for shoe and boot info. Good luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted December 29, 2011 Aaron, You are taking the never ending path of bespoke shoemaking. Good Luck. +1 to Kayak's recommendation for J&V. You need to get their catalog and then measure your foot. You will need your measurements to match up to the J&V catalog. For instance, I wear a 11 1/2 D or E shoe, the J&V last for my foot is a 12C. Having a good set of measurements will allow you to pick the last that fits your foot closest a little under in some measurements or (hopefully) exactly, you can build up the last for any anomalies. Lisa Sorrell did a bunch of boot making videos on YouTube, one of them was about measuring the foot. Art Im looking to get in to shoe making...been reading endlessly on it. Stitched some moccasins...but want to try my hand at some real lasted shoes. Problem is...lasts are impossible to find! The only ones i've been able to find are only available in full runs. I really only need one pair..8D. If they had suitable toe spring to allow for a short heel that'd be fantastic. Anyone? any ideas? It's hard to get started in shoe making when 'the last comes first' but youre without a last. Thanks folks! Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suicide Report post Posted December 29, 2011 Hi guys, You perhaps will laugh, but for SOFTSOLE mocs I got that Chinese piece of.... cake and it surprizingly works. It is adjustable and made frm wood so you can pin pieces to it (not sure about pegs though). Guessing it won't work for hardsoles , but I'm going to give it a try soon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted December 29, 2011 (edited) oops! I double posted. Sorry. Edited December 29, 2011 by Sylvia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted December 29, 2011 Im looking to get in to shoe making...been reading endlessly on it. Stitched some moccasins...but want to try my hand at some real lasted shoes. Problem is...lasts are impossible to find! The only ones i've been able to find are only available in full runs. I really only need one pair..8D. If they had suitable toe spring to allow for a short heel that'd be fantastic. Anyone? any ideas? It's hard to get started in shoe making when 'the last comes first' but youre without a last. Thanks folks! Aaron I saw some lasts on http://www.webstore.com Search for "shoe form" "Shoe sales man sample" and Shoe last. They were listed strangely but people who don't do leather. Here's one for $5, $6 to ship, size 11.5 D http://www.webstore.com/SHOE-LAST-1930S-COBBLERS-FORM-FOR-LEATHER-TO-MAKE-SHOES-,name,13634475,auction_id,auction_details PS Webstore is a lot like Ebay... but sellers don't have to pay fees. ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted December 29, 2011 Hi guys, You perhaps will laugh, but for SOFTSOLE mocs I got that Chinese piece of.... cake and it surprizingly works. It is adjustable and made frm wood so you can pin pieces to it (not sure about pegs though). Guessing it won't work for hardsoles , but I'm going to give it a try soon LOL "Cake" You did a great job on the brown mocs you posted btw. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suicide Report post Posted December 30, 2011 You did a great job on the brown mocs you posted btw. Thanks, very appreciate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moxgrove Report post Posted December 30, 2011 This gal has some good singles. Im looking to get in to shoe making...been reading endlessly on it. Stitched some moccasins...but want to try my hand at some real lasted shoes. Problem is...lasts are impossible to find! The only ones i've been able to find are only available in full runs. I really only need one pair..8D. If they had suitable toe spring to allow for a short heel that'd be fantastic. Anyone? any ideas? It's hard to get started in shoe making when 'the last comes first' but youre without a last. Thanks folks! Aaron This gal has some good singles. http://www.shoedo.com/Frame-6-singlelastpairs4salepage6.html?refresh=1259630834992 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
delormea397 Report post Posted December 30, 2011 Wow! you guys are fantastic. Thats a lot of stuff to look through, I really appreciate that. Time to get busy! Going to find those videos on measuring the foot Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niftycurly Report post Posted January 13, 2012 Hi delormea397, I'm in the same boat - endlessly fascinated by bespoke shoemaking and taking my first steps. Just bought 4 pairs of wooden lasts yesterday from a woman on ebay that was kind enough to go through a stock of 50's Florsheim lasts she had for the sizes I wanted. http://stores.ebay.com/Fragrant-Fields She has about 30 pairs in assorted sizes right now for $15.99/pair. They're wood instead of plastic, which is what I wanted to be able to more easily shape them to fit my own feet. Have you come across the Carreducker blog yet? They're bespoke shoemakers in London who also teach a course - the blog is incredibly detailed and inspiring. http://carreducker.blogspot.com/ Also the Laslo Vass book "Handmade Shoes for Men" is back in stock at Amazon for a ridiculously low $15. As Kayak45 mentioned http://www.thehcc.org/ also has tons of info including digital downloads of some really intense shoe making technical books. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaxAddict Report post Posted September 19, 2012 I'm having some trouble finding -any- last measuring chart, to find out exactly what my last size would be. I could call J&V and talk to them personally about it, but they'll charge me 50 bucks an hour for their time. There has to be a chart out there somewhere. Obviously, each company will be different, but I don't have a preference to who I buy from, as long as I know that company is giving me the right size. Anyone here have a link? I'm at my wit's end trying to track one down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted September 19, 2012 You are taking the never ending path of bespoke shoemaking. Good Luck. +1 to Kayak's recommendation for J&V. You need to get their catalog and then measure your foot. You will need your measurements to match up to the J&V catalog. For instance, I wear a 11 1/2 D or E shoe, the J&V last for my foot is a 12C. Having a good set of measurements will allow you to pick the last that fits your foot closest a little over in some measurements or (hopefully) exactly, you can build up or grind down the last for any anomalies, but not much. Lisa Sorrell did a bunch of boot making videos on YouTube, one of them was about measuring the foot. Art Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freckles Report post Posted February 23, 2014 shoe-last-shop.com shoe lst prize started from 50 ,- and 60 ,- euro based in finland deliverd in 4/6 working days Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
