Tools of the Trade

[jake]

Rosemary,

Dick is now keeping an inventory of cocobola wood. He prefers using his own supply. But here's the supplier I bought mine from:

Cocobola Supply Co.
8448 4th Ave.
Hesperia, CA 92345


D.W.,

I'll make a point on bringing it along Homey. But I would have to say your puller works quite well, and like you mentioned, it saves a little strain on your back. I believe D.W. posted a pic of his puller. I saw it work in person, and it's wonderfully ingenious.

Concerning the awl staying in the haft, I have only inserted a saddler's awl for my hand work with saddles. My inseaming awl hafts acquire a great deal of wax during the inseaming process. I just can't imagine messing up such a beautiful piece of wood (big grin). But let me say, if you have one ounce of trouble with the awl staying in the haft, please bring it to my attention. Dick will replace any haft that doesn't hold an awl! If I wanted to use an inseaming awl in that haft, I would drive her home and use it. Let's see if Dick's arrangements work! I'll go ahead and insert one and get back with ya. Good Luck!

[casetradeboots]

DW, Dick, and all,

I can see where using the Andersen last puller would put a strain on the back. I don't have to deal with that problem "yet". DW's puller does sound interesting!

Also must put in 2 cents for the Cutters Exchange. I was having some trouble getting a part for a Singer 51W51, and said to myself, "Sure wish I had a manual!!". Well I got one on the cutters exchange web-site. It required some patience to download but I now have that manual.

Floyd Case

[judy]

Would some-one be so kind as to tell me where the pic of DW's Last Puller is....or could a pic be posted, please.

[casetradeboots]

Everybody,

I should have also included in my last posting, regarding the Andersen last puller, a liitle trick of the tool that Dick gave me. Spray the lasts with a little silicone, I use an automotive product that does not stain the linings. The silicone slicks things up for those of us that tend to last our boots down pretty tight.

Also thanks to Jim Bultisma (?) for the tip on making the "stitch prick pliers"!! No more screwdrivers!!!

[bultsad]

Floyd
That trick belongs to Tex Robin as far as I know. He is where I heard about it, and yes I agree, it is a great technique.
Jim Bultsma

[lenboden]

All,
Better than silicone spray to get a last out of the boot with no harm to the lining, just dust a little baby powder on the lining before lasting. When dry, it almost pops out by itself.

[dw]

Len,,

Well, I've used talc since I began making boots. It is an ancient lubricant that was used in many trades and was once called "French Chalk." I even dust it between my lining and my vamp. And it can be used to keep the insole clean and to keep to boot from squeaking. I use to have a large hypodermic with which I would inject talc between the outsole and insole to stop a squeak...back when I was doing shoe repair.

That said, my lasts don't come out all that easy. Never have.

But my teacher once told me a cautionary story of buying baby powder down at the drug store and liberally powdering up his linings and vamps before lasting. Turns out the baby powder was made from cornstarch and literally glued the last into the boot. He had to soak the boot for hours and pull the last while the boot was wet in order to break the bond. So that's why I always specify talc or talcum powder...because if you're not careful, just buying baby powder can get you into trouble.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[Tex Robin]

DW,
When I go to the dollar store to by powder, I buy whatever is the cheapest. Some is baby powder and some is bath powder. But I have never had any kind of powder to *GLUE* a last in. But I have had all-purpose cement to *GLUE* a last in. I have found that the all-purpose cement and too long pegs are the only things that stick the last in.
I also just looked at my Baby Powder container and it says it is made from Genuine Talc..TR

[marc]

The baby powder I've used is also talc -- although I've had hide glue from a home-made last glue an upper of a fitter to the last (I wound up having to hammer the vamp a bit to break up glue). I think as long as you are (as DW says) careful and check the label, you can get real talc powder in baby powder.

Marc

[dw]

Tex,

I'm all for buying the cheapest. Of course, that's what got Mike into trouble those many years ago. When I go shopping for talc, I often see baby powder listing cornstarch as its main ingredient. So if you check the label, you can tell.

Mike was also using wooden lasts a lot more extensively than we do today, but he never indicated whether the "glue job" was on a wooden last or not. Seems to me it wouldn't make much difference if the cornstarch was applied liberally enough.

One thing about all of this stuff though, is that talc, in particular, is a mineral...in a very fine particulate form. I wouldn't breath too deeply of it, if I were you. I have read that you can develop breathing problems from inhaling too much of it--like with coal dust or asbestos. When you sprinkle it into a boot, prior to lasting, you get this cloud of dust hanging in the air right there where you're sitting. I've used it for years and years but especially in the last four or five years, I've noticed that I cough and seem to get a bit "wheezy" if I breath too much it. So I simply walk ten feet away from where I'm lasting, sprinkle my linings and then walk back to my bench and last the boot. No problem.

The other thing is the fragrance in baby powder as opposed to pure "french chalk." They haven't changed it in fifty or more years. I hate it...it reminds me of babies and changing diapers and such--OK in small doses, but not something I want to relive, at this stage of the game.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[dw]

Judy,

No photo was ever posted. I don't even have a photo of it. I drew up a sketch for a few folks, some time back...but you have to understand, this device is pretty crude--more a "proof of concept" thing than a finished product. I got a brainstorm one day and knocked the thing out in the next two.

It's a crude, clumsy, clunky confabulation of 6"x6"s, heavy guage angle iron, and a makeshift chain. It requires that a person stoop to rig it, hold the boot (and the tongue) just so, and is a bit tippy.

Don't get me wrong...it's *very* functional and works like a charm but it's certainly not ready for prime time. If I could get Dick interested in the concept and interested in applying his wonderful talents to improving it, *then* we'd have something. Of course, Dick has to make money on the tools he makes, and what with the fact that he already makes and sells the last puller that Jake mentioned, along with the fact that my "machine" (it *is* a machine...sort of) is a bit more elaborate, I worry that he wouldn't find it too profitable.

The thing is, however, it's really easy to ignore the little twinges you get when you're young. Throw your back out today and be chopping wood tomorrow. But the damage you do to yourself when you're young...that you ignore or that seems to heal so quickly...comes back to haunt you years later. I broke my neck when I was a youngster...never bothered me much. But at age 56, I get terrible headaches when I have too much tension in my shoulders--like when I've been stitching too long. Any device that can help you avoid that strain on your lower back is a "must have" for someone intending on making this a career.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[gcunning]

Can I share some baby enlightenment? For my children my wife would by the corn starch baby powder. She explained how all the "baby" books said it was not good for babies to breath the talc. Which does make sense.
Also as I was reading the past post I was thinking about the cornstarch problem. We have a science lab where we make a paste out of it. Some starch products make an excellent paste. Denise, (last name I cannot spell) the shoemaker that escaped from Europe, said they make a great paste out of wheat that when put on a toe box and dried can be as hard as any rock.

[dw]

Gary,

Is that Denise Szabo?

I know that pates made from wheat and even potato are used extensively in shoemaking. I was never trained in it though. I'd like to see the recipe for using wheat paste as a toe puff stiffener, however...and some comments on how to use it...??

But a word of caution...and I've never experienced this myself, mind you....a very knowledgable person in the Trade once told me, very seriously, that shoes and boots made with pastes such as that are often the target of cockroaches--who eat the leather, or through the leather to get at the "tortillas" (or lefse) underneath.



Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[pegeen]

Greetings one and all,
This is my first attempt at posting a question here so please forgive any faux pas and gently correct. My question is: Does the "baby powder" in the boots all come out before the boot is done? My concern is allergies. I avoid powders and such in life in general because I tend to react so horribly to the perfumes in said "baby powder". This being a contact allergy rather than problems with inhaling the dust.

Pegeen
New member

[dw]

Pegeen,

There's always some residue left in the boot. That said, you can buy pure French Chalk from some of the big finders such as Ward and Kennedy. You may have to buy five pounds or something like that, but it won't rot.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[gcunning]

Szabo yes, I ended up in his class at Riverside. I kind of questioned him about the strength of the paste and he told me the stuff from Germany when it sat up correctly could not normally be broken. I then asked if water would reactivate it. He said yes, but when dried would come back to the same hardness.
When I get home I will check the name of the paste and procedures.

On the cockroach issue, while in college my grandmother sent me some brownies in a box, wrapped in Aluminum foil. We had a bad cockroach problem in the dorm, the cockroaches ate though the box and through the foil. They woke me up by the sound of them eating through the foil. Yes, I was afraid!! Some may find it hard to believe but that morning holes were all in the foil. So I would assume leather would be easier.

[marc]

I know that in medieval bookbinding, various pastes were used. Some of these are said to have attracted insects and mice over the years, but since there are still many in existance, clearly not all of them. I'd say it was a risk.

My question is why would you want to use something that turned into a sticky past when wet on babies?

Marc

[rosynay]

I am happy to know there is another use for my Estee Lauder bath powder. It also smells devine.

RL

[lenboden]

All,
I spent a few years as a potter, working on a wheel and making my own glazes. Find a tile company and some will sell you a bag of talc. I always bought in 50# bags for about $5 ea. I am sure it os a lot higher now, but ...for 50 #. It is a light gray in color, but when dry will dust out nicley. It is like clay. Used in conjunction with other ingredients will melt and can be made into a glass of various colors. I fired to 2400 degrees. Pretty warm, but the ingredients are similar to limestone from which you get your paints, plaster and sheetrock. I think I still have 20-30 pounds around somewhere. I guess I said all that to say talc is a commonly used ingredient in a lot of things and the price is insignificant.

[Sarah Davison]

On the subject of glue, Denes Szabo told me a good substitute for the wheat paste is Hirschkleber, a German glue. It is available in the states from Atlas International, 1-800-545-6287. It is water base, no toxic fumes.
It comes as a thick paste. Put a small amount, about the size of your thumb, in just enough water to moisten it and let sit for 30 min or so, stirring occasionally. The finished stuff should be about the viscosity of honey or a little thinner. It does harden veg tan very well. I'm sure our European friends know more about this than I do

[Dick Anderson]

To anyone interested in seeing my boot and shoemaking tools I will have them on display at the Sheridan show the 17th 18th and 19th. Just look for the blue tools at the Thornapple River Boots booth.

[dw]

Duncan McHarg or anyone from OZ,

I recently picked up a drag knife that came from somewhere "out beyond the black stump"...ie. Australia. It is NOT a Barnsley (wonder of wonders) but is stamped with what looks like "Js.Jackxxx"--Jackson? Jackman? Maybe just Jack. Does anyone know anything more about the manufacturer?

The drag knife is one inch wide and very thin and well structured. I've not had time to really test the steel yet, I just got it cleaned up and built a sharpening stick for it. But my preliminary assessment is that the steel is just a tidge hard.

Any info would be appreciated...

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[jonathon]

Sorry D.W.,can't help you much there. Mine's a Barnsley to! Hopefully Duncan may be able to chime in on this one.

Cheers.
Jon.

[dw]

Jonathon,

Well, thanks anyway. It may be that this isn't even of Aussie make but imported from somewhere else. But it is the first one I've heard of that wasn't a Barnsley.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[dmcharg]

D.W.
Sorry mate, drawn a blank here too.

Duncan