work boots

[utah leather]

does anyone on here make work boots, thinking of trying to make my own ( tired of dealing with where my boots are made, ) everytime I think I have found 100% american made boots they either cost a fortune or they aren't the style I want, or they are made in some other country but claim to be made here. Could you give me advice on where to find all the special tools and stuff to make these                                                                                                                                                                                                     thanks

[bikermutt07]

I don't have the answers. There are only a small handful of people here that mess with footwear. And, even less that deal with lasted boots. 

If time and money weren't so tight the best option I think would be to take Lisa Sorrell's boot making course. You wind up with a pair of lasts that fit you, and a pair of boots that you make.

But, even then, those are cowboy boots. I don't know if she would do a class on work boots.

[utah leather]

does this person have a video so I could follow along, can't travel to do classes

[bikermutt07]

She has a DVD set. It retails for $800.00, I believe. And she is an advertiser here. She is very well known and sought after. I think her base cowboy boots start @ $5,000.00.

[billybopp]

As Bikermutt said, Lisa Sorrell is a site sponsor and well known cowboy boot maker.  She has a youtube channel which is really interesting to check out.   It is more about cowboy boots, but may give you some of idea on what goes into making a boot.  The videos aren't ALL about bootmaking, but generally entertaining in any case.

She also has an online store,  Sorrellnotionsandfindings.com where you can find lasts, tools, the DVD course mentioned(now $850), some leather, and lots of other helpful items.

You might also check out Tim Schroeder's gallery on here, he's made some pretty awesome looking cowboy boots and work boots.  He also has a few threads about boots like this one.

This thread has some info on a work boot video series kickstarter.  

Hope that helps

- Bill

[bikermutt07]

@billybopp, it was Tim who's name I couldn't remember. Thanks. His stuff is great.

[Deryk]

the video should be out in July I wanna give it a try 

http://laughingcrowe.com/

[tomsmith85717]

Any country that doesnt employ near slave labor is going to mean expensive boots. The number of man hours involved in making boots of any quality is at least 5 with really specialized equipment that costs more than a house, or 10-20 man hours with normal standard industrial leather working equipment. If you were to pay someone minimum wage there is between $50 and 200 in labor just for them and that doesnt count insurance or social security. IF the person has any skill what so ever they need to be paid $25-30 per hour to keep them at your shop and if they are working for themselves they really need to be charging $40 to $60. If you can get American made boots for less than $200 you are stealing them if they are custom and less than $300 they are working for the exposure alone. OR you can buy shoes made by slaves or shoes made with inferior components. Shoes that cost less than $100 means someone didnt eat or you are getting plastic that has been glued together. I will get off my soap box now.

[ljk]

my bootmaking is part of a 50 year adventure in sewing, fabric and leather fabrication.

as I age my best attributes are my eyes, hands, and experience.  standing all day is hard.

 youtube and facebook will be your University

. 

start by watching videos till you learn the learn the basics.  then scour junk shops

for footwear that fit your size and style,  pay special attention to "how to measure".

while junking look for tools, tools, tools.

now take your favorite boot apart to learn construction, then start looking

for a last.

you can probably do the whole deal to get started for less than $200. I just

made a pair of penny loafers with a $8 leather package including

veg. and chrome from Hobby lobby on sale.

 

 

[utah leather]

thanks, thats why I thought I would try my hand at it just for myself not making them for anyone else, so I have all kinds of time, I can't find what I'm looking for so I will make my own .