First Sandals

[hackaday]

Thought I'd share with you all the progress on my first pair of sandals. I've been wanting to do this for over a year for a few reasons. First, because nobody seems to make guys sandals that aren't ugly as sin and weigh as much as a pair of workboots. Secondly because I have narrow feet and what is available never really fits right. I bought two different pieces of "Ebay special" leather before I did some research and found out what I really needed. I purchased 2 square feet of B grade hermann oak and two 84" strips of 3/4" from Springfiled. In reality, the final design could have probably been done from just the 2 sqft and cutting my own straps.

This is my first real leather project. Strips were actually cut down to 5/8. Originally I wanted a heel "cup" at the back but couldn't get it worked out how I like so I'm hoping the two vertical bars on the side will hold the foot in place to my liking. The "midsole" is two layers of ~1/8" cork laminated together. I have some pieces of rubber from work that I will use as a sole.

[shtoink]

Dig the user name, it's one of my favorite blogs.

I'm also digging the sandals. I'm not very big on them personally, but that has a lot to do with having crazy Hobbit feet, though. The progress looks great and I am very curious to see the rest of the progress.

On a side note, if it were me, I would run a couple of stitches between each of the tail pairs of your straps on the underside. It'd add an extra bit of reinforcement to them in case the glue ever decides to give out. Totally optional, but I can imagine how disappointing it'd be to take them out for a test drive and get a strap two popped loose after all the hard work put into them.

I can't remember when it was, but there was another guy here who made some flip-flops and mentioned something about protecting the leading edge of the toe from delaminating by having the top layer extend down and under the rubber layer. It was skived down to an appropriate thickness first so as not to mess up the layers. The only reason I mention it is because you are using cork and it might have the potential for being a weak spot.

They are ultimately YOUR sandals and you seem to be on the right track. If it's one thing I excel at, it's over thinking things, so bear that in mind.

[hackaday]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not too worried about the glue giving out. Not in the short run anyway. I used contact cement and it will be bonded to both the cork and the rubber. You would surely rip the cork to pieces before you ever pulled the glue apart. I'm in a rush to get this pair finished as I would like to be able to wear them on our anniversary trip this weekend. I'm sure there will be little tweaks to be incorporated in the next run. Next time I'll probably buy a shoulder so I can make a few pair for the price of buying one pair. My wife has already asked twice if I will make her some. I said it depends on how these turn out.

[shtoink]

I do believe that you can get sections of hide that have been compressed and are meant the soles of shoes/sandals. They are more dense than regular veg-tanned leather, so maybe that isn't what you want for the foot bed, though.

Just don't forget to show us some progress pictures. It'd be cruel to leave us hanging like that.

[electrathon]

Overall looking good. I too would suggest you tie the ends together inside the cork. Depending on the kink of contact cement you may have zero issues to it may be letting go soon. Insole bend leather is the best choice for the insoles, will hold up a lot better than the standard vegetable tan. After you glue the bottom sole on a belt sander with a 36 grit belt will clean up the edges well.

[hackaday]

Thank you all for the comments and pointers. I didn't end up stitching the ends of the straps together since, as I said I'm in a rush on this pair. I used regular old DAP Weldwood original contact cement. I've heard some say not to use it for leather, and others say they've been using it for 20-30 years so I guess I'll see for myself.

Do you have a source for the insole bends? Preferably somewhere that I can get smallish quantities. Is there a significant difference between regular veg tan and the insole bends for use in sandals?

Dito on the belt sander. I left the "blank" quite large so that I didn't need to worry about lining my strap slots up with the finished shape. Today I need to sand it down to the finished profile and finish up my straps since I broke the eye off of my needle last night.

I'm not very happy with where my straps ended up. The lines don't flow smoothly from one strap to another and a few don't line up with the foot properly. My wife tells me no one will notice... but I will so expect a v2 I tell her it's not OCD, it's just if you're going to do something it might as well be done right. You can kind of see what I'm talking about in the second pic.

[electrathon]

Insole bend is available at anyplace that supplies cobblers. Not sure about other areas, but here I know that Oregon Leather In Portland has them. You can but it by the sheet or pre-cut oversized foot shape. For just a few that is my recomendation.

I see the issue on the misalignment, that is definatly an issue to fix on your next set. You had a learning experience and just make sure you do not do it again. Other issues I see are the edges of the leather should have been burnished. Round off the top and bottom strap ends on the front support strap. Get some Fiebings dye and darken up the leather a little, they are going to look less pretty (read icky) after a few coating of foot sweat and dirt rub into them.

Another idea if you are going to make many sets of these is to get a set of shoe lasts to form your straps over. You will easily get the sizing spot on that way.

Aaron

[shtoink]

I'm not very happy with where my straps ended up. The lines don't flow smoothly from one strap to another and a few don't line up with the foot properly. My wife tells me no one will notice... but I will so expect a v2 I tell her it's not OCD, it's just if you're going to do something it might as well be done right. You can kind of see what I'm talking about in the second pic.

I'll agree that it isn't OCD, but I would also chalk it up as a learning experience. This is your first pair and you are building a new set of skills. Just remember, we learn more from our mistakes than we do from our successes.

Chances are pretty good that you'll be on your 5th set and still find things you want to do differently with the next ones. No worries though, it looks like you are off to a great start as a cobbler. I just worry what your wife has in mind for you to make her now that you are on a roll.

After you get the all trimmed and sanded to the final shape you want, there's only going to be one last major hurdle... Breaking them in!

Edited August 1, 2013 by shtoink