The Crispin Colloquy

Hope it works. Let us know your results!

Courtney

Hi all,

I'm reasonably familiar with hide glue from a woodworking perspective. It's gelatin, but a bit different from food-grade gelatin.

You can use food-grade gelatin as a glue but it isn't as strong as the stuff prepared for use as glue. Given how strong hide glue is that's probably not a huge issue though. I'll be interested to hear how it works as a shoemaking adhesive.

You can make glue from hooves but it's different from the stuff made from hide and connective tissue - different proteins in the animal parts.

The thing about the sorts of hide glues I'm familiar with is that they aren't very flexible when dry. They stick leather incredibly effectively but flexing the leather will crack the glue join and rapidly allow the parts to separate. I'm assuming this isn't the case with Hirshkleber.

Another source for Spirit/Alcohol Burners is www.Contenti.com. They are about $7. Contenti is clear across the state from me in East Providence RI (ie 30 minutes away) and if anyone wants to get one at the Oct 24th Annual HCC meeting I can get one for you. Or if you want to see it/hold it before ordering direct, I can bring mine.

Also, I've got a bunch of various old shoemaking nails, hammers, knives, tools, etc.. that I'll bring to the HCC meeting. As usual they will be free, or nearly so - I've got to make space and tidy up the workshop.

Roy,

Thank you for the lead on the spirit lamps, however I don't find it. Could you provide a bit more direction to it's location on the web site? Thank you.

Looking forward to meeting you in OSV.
Paul

Paul,

You can find it here: http://www.enasco.com/product/SB28616

Paul,

At the Contenti web site, enter "alcohol lamp" in the "Search for" box at the top right. Or enter its item number 300-020

Roy

I'm looking for a man who gave a seminar at the last AGM Larry Waller hosted. I can't remember his name, but he was making wooden soles/heels for clogs. Does anyone know who I'm talking about and have his contact information?

Lisa

I think that is William Harris. The last email I had for him was:
harris_w_o@yahoo.com
Are you talking about one pair of clog bottoms or a bunch to fit a specific last?
Georgene

Looking for tyhe hard sponge rubber black soling about 1/2 inch for theatrical boots. Has anyone got a source?

Thanks,

JesseLee

Georgene,
Thanks! I've sent an email but so far no luck.

I was telling Qiana about his demonstration and she was interested in ordering a couple to try.

Lisa

Did not know where to post this, but I figured this was as good a place as any. I received Tim's book the other day, and have looked through it. Boy!!! have I got a lot to learn.
Equipment wise, I am also going to need some. I presently have a Tippman Boss, A Tippman Aerostich, A Consew 206 BB and a Singer 29K Patcher. As I understand it,these are not really the machines I need for shoemaking. I also have a 5-1 and a old manual shoe press. I have a fairly well equiped wood and metal shop, so I can probably turn my own awl handles etc. What would a good suggestion be for a sewing machine? Operative word here is cheap. Is a Singer 31-15 a non walking foot and a good choice? I am thinking I can use the table the Consew is on and figure out a way to swap heads back and forth. I am probably going to have a million questions as I slowly ramp up. Thanks
John Lewis

John,

If it has not been said already...welcome to the Crispin Colloquy.

I am not sure that either of the Tippman's will help much nor the patcher...although some modify the latter and swear by them.

I don't know what the Consew looks like but for a flatbed, I don't think you can do much better for the money than a Singer 31 class machine--31-15, 31-18, 31-20, etc..

I think you would feel like you were in hog heaven...and would never be without again...if you could pick up a nice single needle post machine. I have a bottom roller fed Singer (not sure of the designation off-hand) that was pretty common and not all that expensive now used.

If you are going to do outsole stitching by hand, you're probably in good shape. If not you'll need a curved needle stitcher. And if you intend to do all your finishing by hand, you'll need rasps and collices and so forth, otherwise a finisher would be a boon.

But remember that most of this was, at one time done by hand, with the sewing machine being the primary and only machine in a shoemakers's shop. At least you can get started for not so much.

Post a photo of your awl hafts when you get some turned.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

(Message edited by dw on October 24, 2009)

Thanks DW.
I have always been interested in learning new things. The end result is that I know a little about a few things, and a lot about nothing. I have taken advantage of adult ed classes in the area, and have taken Upholstery classes, locksmith classes, machine shop, welding, some woodworking, and welding classes. Leather working learning has been harder to come by, as little instruction has been offered in the local area. I have made a couple of outturned shoes with Glen Leasure when he conducted some classes at John Campbell folk school in North Carolina.

I am a 60 year old "outsourced" read as (laid off)HR Director. The tight economy as well as the 60 year old thing has and probably will continue to mess with me as far as reemployment.

I have had an interest in shoe/bootmaking for a long while, so this might be the new profession so to speak. I am a terrible critic of my self (all deserved) as well as all thumbs most of the time, so I expect a rocky ride.

Funny thing about the sewing machines. When I started in the Upholstery classes, I bought 2 31-15 machines. Used them for a year or so, and then was convinced by others that a walking foot machine was the way to go for upholstery and leather. Now I guess I will start the search again.

I will post some shots of the hafts once I turn them. Question. About how long are yours, and the shank area that the ferule fits over is about what Dia.? Don't have any awls right now, so anything I make would be guessing.

Thanks again for the welcome.

John Lewis

Looking for used 5 in 1 machine and finishing line. If anyone is parting with any tools, please contact me at tkoehn44@yahoo.com. Thanks.

Tim Koehn
Vancleave, MS

John,

The overall length of my hafts are 3½" with the ferrule taking up one inch of that length. But to some extent that size is variable. Most people can use that size but some people with much larger or much smaller hands than I have might be more comfortable with different lengths. Ideally the mushroom shaped base of the haft should be couched in the palm of the hand and the thumb, index finger and middle finger should hold the ferrule almost like using a pen.

Dick Anderson makes a beautiful, seamless, bronze, brass, or steel ferrule that he sells to those of us who like to roll our own. That's what I use. It is about ¼" inside diameter at the narrow end and a bit more than that at the wide end. Neither clumsy nor weak.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

John,

Two photos for you...

The first is a mesquite haft and awl like I described above.

The second is my own recreation of an antique haft that I took a shine to (the antique is on top, mine below). The wood is Arkansas persimmon (aka American ebony).



Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

I have been reading past logs and would like to help solve some situations or not. You might try giving Edwin Hale a call for some of the items some people are having trouble finding. He is also a craftsman and knows others in the field who have been working longer than some of us have lived. His company carries 6 ? different glues( fish, hide, rabbit, etc.), tools ( bulldog and other pincers, knives ), sharpening stones, leathers and many more materials. He is always looking for sources of high grade and hard to find materials. He does his best to help people get what they need whether from him or someone else. Give him a call to find out what else he has and check out his ebay store, Hale and Company. Phone # 805-636-3087. Just a plug I guess. Frank English

I recently received some Barnsley inseaming,sewing,closing,pegging awls from Edwin plus a hard-to-find large black surgical grade Arkansas bench sharpening stone. Great products, fast shipping. And then there's the fun of hearing a trained Shakespearean-quality voice on the phone!
Regards,

Georgene

DW
Thank you very much for the pictures.
After looking around for ferrules, I had come to the conclusion that Mr. Anderson was probably making his own.
Today I went out and got some cocobolo, some cherry, some purple heart, and some persimmon.
I also managed to turn one brass ferrule today, but have to scrounge up some more brass tomorrow. Hopefully, I will have something to show in a few days.
Thanks again for your help. Another 999,999 questions to follow.
John Lewis

Looking forward to the photos

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

I'm looking for a US source on women's high heel parts (sole boards, shanks, preformed heels etc etc). I have a Danish source... though, I'm fearing the VAT tax and import costs on materials...

Thanks...

-Jeff

Jeff,

Give our red headed friend, Georgene McKim a call.

Take a look at her web site.
http://shoedo.com/shoemakingsupplies.html

Have fun.

Paul

Jeff Richard

I would like to endorse Paul’s suggestion. We are very lucky to have somebody like Georgene McKim who is prepared to help other people trying to make women’s shoes. Besides lasts, she sells the all important components such as heels, toe puffs, pre-molded insoles (often with shanks already fitted), shanks, top-line tape, toplifts and a number of other items which are virtually impossible to buy in USA in small numbers. Suppliers of heels for instance normally ask for a minimum of 1000 or more before they will consider any order.

She even has some excellent instructions sheets on how to use the components, which I think she should expand into a book on making pumps and other women’s shoes. As well as the web site mentioned above, Georgene can be reached by email at pres@georgene.net

Frank Jones - HCC Member
frank.jones@noblefootwear.com

Hey Jeff,


Maybe I can help. Which size do you need?

Paul, Frank,
Georgene is a day ahead of y'all. She's gonna have me squared away in no time. The lasts I purchases, oddly enough--- were lasts she originally had for sale. Small circles we travel in mates!

Marcell,

Hold on to those parts and pieces, we'll need them in March!

-Jeff