wlg190861 Report post Posted November 21, 2015 I want to make some moccasins an I would like to sew a sole to them. Has any one here done this, if so, what is the best leather for a sole or can you buy rubber soles, if so where ? Dan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NVLeatherWorx Report post Posted November 22, 2015 I have gone about it two ways and finally settled on a hybrid of the two. The first method I used was to cut out an outer sole from heavy sole bend leather and then stitch it to the bottom piece before any other assembly; worked great. I then experimented with just adding the rubber sole crepe material (available from Tandy and other suppliers) in the same manner as the sole bend leather; it worked great too but felt a little soft on the feet. I then decided to reduce the leather thickness to a solid 8 to 9 oz. veg-tan and then added the rubber sole crepe to it as the layer that actually hits the walking surface and attached it to the suede sole piece as before and then completed the rest of the assembly. This is the best feeling and most sturdy sole that I have felt yet and have had no issues so far. Hope this helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wlg190861 Report post Posted November 22, 2015 I have gone about it two ways and finally settled on a hybrid of the two. The first method I used was to cut out an outer sole from heavy sole bend leather and then stitch it to the bottom piece before any other assembly; worked great. I then experimented with just adding the rubber sole crepe material (available from Tandy and other suppliers) in the same manner as the sole bend leather; it worked great too but felt a little soft on the feet. I then decided to reduce the leather thickness to a solid 8 to 9 oz. veg-tan and then added the rubber sole crepe to it as the layer that actually hits the walking surface and attached it to the suede sole piece as before and then completed the rest of the assembly. This is the best feeling and most sturdy sole that I have felt yet and have had no issues so far. Hope this helps. I will try your second method, it sounds like a good system. Now all I need to figure out is getting the right size outer sole. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted November 22, 2015 Barge cement and rubber grinding painted on works well. I went to a tire retreaded and they gladly gave me a 5 gallon bucket full. I made a sifter and removed all the larger pieces, that was about half of it. Toss the big pieces and save the small. Stir up a slurry of barge and rubber. Put it on similar to frosting a cake. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TinkerTailor Report post Posted November 23, 2015 Barge cement and rubber grinding painted on works well. I went to a tire retreaded and they gladly gave me a 5 gallon bucket full. I made a sifter and removed all the larger pieces, that was about half of it. Toss the big pieces and save the small. Stir up a slurry of barge and rubber. Put it on similar to frosting a cake. Should I mix the rubber dust and the barge in the blender? Will it change the taste of my smoothies?..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted November 23, 2015 Should I mix the rubber dust and the barge in the blender? Will it change the taste of my smoothies?.....If you use a blender from then on smoothies will be chewy.Just rubber dust, barge, thin if you have to, mix with a stick. Let dry for about a day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites