The Gallery

[homeboy]

Lance,

Well-done! I think they look great!

Don't take so long next time.

[dw]

Lance,

Very nice looking oxford. The way the topline hugs the side of the last is worth remarking on.

what is the leather, Lance. It's beautiful.

[homeboy]

Latest from the bench for your viewing pleasure. Not pleased about the pics! I AM GONNA BUILD A LIGHT BOX!!

Brandy Kleinkaroo ostrich on dark brown kidskin. Handsewn welts @ 7-8 spi. Paste and pegs built heels. Insole was cut a little different.....more pics coming.

[homeboy]

more.....

[dw]

Jake,

Great looking boots! You'll have to teach me how to do paste heels...without nails hopefully??

I like your new avatar/selfie--you hairy old hillbilly, you.

[lancepryor]

Lookin' good, Jake. We just need to get you to start sewing at 10 spi. Do you use a square awl?

[homeboy]

Thank You both for the kind remarks.

Yeap......paste/pegs......no nails Dee-Dubb. I like the technique......and the results!

Lance, 10 spi is do-able for me, but, really.....why? It takes skill for sure. I do use a square awl at that stitch length. I can see doing 10 spi on dress shoes. Maybe on the next pair just for giggles. Missed you at the meeting last year. Maybe this year!

Take care Fellers, and Thanks once again.

Jake

P.S. Hillbilly? You bet! Leaning towards "red-neck".

[Leland]

jake

[homeboy]

Yes Sir?

[Leland]

Jake
sorry teck problem
nice clean work
hope to visit sometime


Leland in calico rock

[homeboy]

Leland! Hey Partner, I've been meaning to call you. Busy, Busy, Busy!

I was up in your neck of the woods this morning. Will Cody had his home schooling annual test.

I'll give ya a holler. We'll sit and chat about them thar boots we like to make.

Adios, Jake

[meryle]

Earlier today finished my 9th pair of boots-- these are my 2nd pair made under the wise guidance of DW, who also got me thru the first ones almost 5 years ago

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[romango]

Beautiful! And impressive for pair 9!

[homeboy]

I agree....impressive!

[proxy_posting]

another shot...

[paul]

Congratulations Meryle, these look great!

[meryle]

Thanks everybody! I'm super pleased with them It is going to be difficult keeping to this standard of quality (or better) unsupervised, but I'm determined to do my utmost. Going to start on pair #10 later this week.

[paul]

Since we're on a little run of cowboy boots in the Gallery, I'll post my most recent finish.

Black French Calf Tejas style, Brogued with Dick Anderson's gimping gadget.

[homeboy]

Hey Paul,

Those are SWEET! Especially like the effect of Dick's "gadget".

Take care! And post MORE BOOTS!!!

[paul]

Thanks Jake. There's some tight spots where it shows I struggled with it at the sewing machine, and I think I can do better on the next one. Trouble is, I don't know when that will be. Helps it's black.
Paul

[dw]

Thanks Jake. There's some tight spots where it shows I struggled with it at the sewing machine, and I think I can do better on the next one. Trouble is, I don't know when that will be. Helps it's black.
Paul

I can't see any problems with your gimping, Paul.

However, if it helps, a couple tips--I paste some white paper to the flesh or grain side of the patterns and using a divider, make a line about 1.5-2mm from the edge. then I gimp, putting the corner of the gimping tool on that line. The biggest issue here is that the "gimps" tend to spread out on inside curves. Using that line along with carefully positioning the tool can help a lot.

The other issue with this rough and ready (but indispensable) tool is that if you're gimping a toe cap, for instance, with a peak at the center, you can't just start on one side of the toe cap and gimp all the way over to the other side. I find that to do a really good job I have to gimp half the toe cap from the grainside and the other half form the flesh. This takes some careful planning to make the gimping come out right at the peak and so that both toe caps are the same.

[lancepryor]

Here is my latest pair of shoes. These are on a pair of lasts I made a few years ago for a friend, with a soft chisel toe.

The leather is Weinheimer/'Freudenberg' box calf. I did these in the London manner, i.e. the vamp is left whole under the toe cap, so there are two layers of upper leather to last around the toe, which makes things a bit challenging. Beveled, fiddleback waist, 10 spi outsole stitching, all Baker bottoming leather -- insole, welt, outsole, stiffeners, toe puff, and heel lifts (excepting the top lift) -- which is nice to work with.







Lance

[dw]

Very nice work, Lance.

[homeboy]

I agree.....We'll Done!

[romango]

Here are some shorty cowboy boots, made for some very small feet. Size 2.5!

Garlin-Neumann burnishable buffalo. Airbrush antique edges then more coloring using Fiebings Antique finish pastes (cordovan splotches then tan all over) and sealed with an acrylic spray - Fiebings "Leather Sheen".

Blake stitched soles.

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