DIY leather boots?

[ducttapetech]

Dolly and Molle has a cow or two to use.

But can they tan it without stinking your workshop up to high heaven? 

Not sure. I just eat cows, never tried to tan one before.

On a serious note, have you checked Tandy? Or is that not are readily available to you lot?
If you are wanting to use tire tread, most motorcycle tires are not steel belted. They usually are nylon belted.

[Don Pablo]

Dolly and Molle has a cow or two to use.

But can they tan it without stinking your workshop up to high heaven? 

Not sure. I just eat cows, never tried to tan one before.

On a serious note, have you checked Tandy? Or is that not are readily available to you lot?
If you are wanting to use tire tread, most motorcycle tires are not steel belted. They usually are nylon belted.

Didn't know that. 
I'm reconsidering using tires, it seems that buying some rubber soles would be the best option for now.

Checked tandys EU again, it seems that I can see a few possible options. 
The trouble is that the pieces they sell are very large, and thus expensive. 
Maybe I should give them a call to find out if they have some smaller pieces?

Also, I've been considering leather weight/thickness. I don't know how thick it should be for this application. 
I wanted 8oz or so(3.2 mm), but I wonder if 5, 6 oz (2, 2.4mm) will do?

[ducttapetech]

8oz will work great for the sole. I would use 5 or 6 oz. for everything else.

[pfrsantos]

8oz will work great for the sole. I would use 5 or 6 oz. for everything else.

Hum... sounds a bit fishy to me...

 

[Don Pablo]

  Thanks for the advice.

So I need about 2 sq ft of 8oz, and about 5 square feet of 5/6oz, for one pair, not accounting for mistakes. 

[pfrsantos]

Thanks for the advice.

So I need about 2 sq ft of 8oz, and about 5 square feet of 5/6oz, for one pair, not accounting for mistakes. 

That's a good thing. Having two square feet, you can stitch it much more easier than if you had rounded feet, like a normal person.
 

[Don Pablo]

Thanks for the advice.

So I need about 2 sq ft of 8oz, and about 5 square feet of 5/6oz, for one pair, not accounting for mistakes. 

That's a good thing. Having two square feet, you can stitch it much more easier than if you had rounded feet, like a normal person.
 

[Grathr]

I have walked quite a bit in Viking shoes with leather soles.
Its hard on your heels and your back unless you are used to walking barefeet.
I also tried to make some myself, wich was a disaster, so I ended up buying a pair from a skilled maker.   
(I was in a real hurry and made a mess of them)

Only advice I can give is to use strong thread. You do not want to restich them because of broken seams.


Looking forward to see the result.



 

[Don Pablo]

I have walked quite a bit in Viking shoes with leather soles.
Its hard on your heels and your back unless you are used to walking barefeet.
I also tried to make some myself, wich was a disaster, so I ended up buying a pair from a skilled maker.   
(I was in a real hurry and made a mess of them)

Only advice I can give is to use strong thread. You do not want to restich them because of broken seams.


Looking forward to see the result.

I see you changed your avatar pic too. That's two people I've noticed in one day. 

These... Marching sandels? Don't have much stitching in the design. You stitch the soles together to hold them in place while you add hobnails, and the sides of the shoe are only joined via stitched at the back of the heel and ankle, but that's it.

Which is good, cause I'm not good at stitching. 

[Don Pablo]

Some more pics I found. Hope you all don't mind. 

[Don Pablo]

That's a hefty price for sandels! 
(Probably very well made though)
https://rigorevali.co.uk/product/mainz-type-caligae/


So you see what I'm basically looking to make. Two pairs, one with hobnails for hiking, and one with rubber soles for the town.

[pfrsantos]

[Don Pablo]

No heel in the sole I notice. That's what I'm doing too. Apparently doing it that way strengthens your Achilles tendon? 

[Gareth]

That's a hefty price for sandels! 
(Probably very well made though)
https://rigorevali.co.uk/product/mainz-type-caligae/


So you see what I'm basically looking to make. Two pairs, one with hobnails for hiking, and one with rubber soles for the town.

Holy smurf!  Looks like I should be making shoes for the Roman army.

[Don Pablo]

That's a hefty price for sandels! 
(Probably very well made though)
https://rigorevali.co.uk/product/mainz-type-caligae/


So you see what I'm basically looking to make. Two pairs, one with hobnails for hiking, and one with rubber soles for the town.

Holy smurf!  Looks like I should be making shoes for the Roman army.

There IS an existing legion or two, I believe, even though the Roman empire disappeared a long time ago. 
Fanatics, haven't they got the memo?

[Syncop8r]

Thanks for the advice.

So I need about 2 sq ft of 8oz, and about 5 square feet of 5/6oz, for one pair, not accounting for mistakes. 

That's a good thing. Having two square feet, you can stitch it much more easier than if you had rounded feet, like a normal person.
 

[Don Pablo]

Opinions on price?
Average size: 12 to 14 sq. ft. (1.11 to 1.30 sq. meters)
4oz-5oz(1.6mm-2mm) = £69/$90(on sale)
6oz-7oz(2.4mm-2.8mm) = £126/$164
8oz-9oz(3.2mm-3.6mm) = £138/$180
Tooling/vegetable tanned leather seems pricey! 
https://www.tandyleather.eu/en/product/craftsman-oak-double-shoulders

Should I go with ordinary chrome tanned leather? The reason I am looking at veg tan leather is because I read that it's what you need if making a leather product that will come in contact with water often, as it will take waterproofing oils whereas chrome tanned won't. Is that bunk or not worth the extra money? 
I've never had to waterproof leather(especially for shoes) so it's not something that I know about.

[ducttapetech]

Sounds right to me. Are the prices for a side?

[Don Pablo]

Whole (untrimmed) double shoulders.

Maybe I should try making these out of cheap chrome leather first.. 

[ducttapetech]

Whole (untrimmed) double shoulders.

Maybe I should try making these out of cheap chrome leather first.. 

That would give you some practice.  Also, that is a quit a bit of leather.

[Gareth]

Also I can't see these being all that waterproof, no matter what leather you use.

[Don Pablo]

Also I can't see these being all that waterproof, no matter what leather you use.

I mean the leather, not the overall sandal. 

[pomsbz]

I use leather4craft.co.uk for my projects. Good company and they usually have specials.

[pfrsantos]

I'd say get a piece of "fake" leather and use it for manufacturing a prototype. It'll let you see what works and what doesn't. You can make some mistakes and try different ways of putting the sandals toghether. When you have a model that looks good, go for the real leather.

I've made some mockups with heavy cardboard, it helps to get the measures right and prevents wasting expensive, good quality leather.

[Don Pablo]

I use leather4craft.co.uk for my projects. Good company and they usually have specials.

Thanks. 
The leather notebook kits there are also interesting. 

I'd say get a piece of "fake" leather and use it for manufacturing a prototype. It'll let you see what works and what doesn't. You can make some mistakes and try different ways of putting the sandals toghether. When you have a model that looks good, go for the real leather.

I've made some mockups with heavy cardboard, it helps to get the measures right and prevents wasting expensive, good quality leather.

That's my plan.