An experience like this only furthers knowledge, passion, and respect for the craft... and a bit of frustration. I plan on resoling a pair a couple years down the line. I shall refer to your experience then. Cheers!
I've been a cobbler 25 years, trust me that ain't a bad 1st attempt specially considering the lack of tools you are using. Dont give up you will improve my advice on shoes you did the leather piece you are putting on taper it so its realy thin leather at the end 1st before gluing it on the make the groove much deeper then with the stitches remember your not a machine so dont try and be, make the stitches bigger 1 every 5 to 7mm will be fine you may even be ok 10mm once you pull them tight they will look fine once you have finished lightly sand all of leather including waist then polish with a neutral polish , alot of cobblers paint the waist join on a half sole to make it look a bit nicer but theres no rule I've worked for lots of different companys they all have different ways of doing things and finishing, you obviously like shoes so keep going
@@CobblerBob Hi Bob, do you think I could scrape and glue rubber sole protectors onto these with any success? These are odd looking soles, and I dunno what the white stuff is: www.ebay.com/itm/Lavorazione-Artigiana-Mens-Shoes-Sz-14-Brown-Full-Quill-Ostrich-Leather-Italian/164138676181
I love your videos Bob! I’m surprised as an engineer and sales guy you didn’t go the sales engineering route, those guys make $ cause you gotta go between two worlds which you can do which is really rare
Interesting, I never knew Goodyear welt machines used lockstitching. I've been watching channels like Trenton & Heath but I don't think they ever talked about the stitching when they resole shoes. Thanks for your perspective on this!
Bob, you're hilarious. I mess around with a little leather, like wallets and such. There are a lot of tools that go into hand creating a simple wallet: groover, awl, punches, skives, bevelers, and a lock stitch vise, which I made. I would never mess around with my shoes. Those cobblers have all the fun toys, like the sewing machines that do a lock stitch. Also, they have the trimmers and automatic burnishers. If you haven't researched leather working outside shoes, I would highly recommend it. It gives you a more of an appreciation for cobblers and leather workers.
I've been looking at resoling a few pairs, but honestly, $120+ resole jobs just aren't worth it to me. I'd rather just buy a new shoe. Top of the line resoles with french tips can cost up to $300. Honestly, your work doesn't look too bad at all. If you could find a cobbler who will just do the stitching with a landis in 10 seconds for under $20, that would be very reasonable. The shining, buffing of the uppers can be done by anyone, and that's the part that everyone sees.
tonystark19631 LOL, or here’s another solution I’ve toyed with: Manual Leather Cobbler Industrial Shoe Repair Machine Make Sewing for Bag Tant rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F352159940197
un.garçon thank you! You may also like a recent video I released: ruclips.net/video/fpEpqJ0eO0g/видео.html “Goodyear Welted vs Blake Stitched Construction Shoes”
I buy shoes/boots on eBay to learn on. The game's a little different with women's shoes, I bought two pairs of otherwise excellent knee-high boots, with crappy plastic heels. Guess I'll be learning to stack me some leather, lol. Thanks for the vid!
Bob, I really enjoy your videos. You sure have learned a lot about shoe making through your research and hands on efforts, as evidenced by this RUclips video. I definitely give you an “A” for effort, but my grading in some other areas might be a bit more stringent 🙂. As one individual pointed out, perhaps you can start with smaller leather projects, business card holders, etc. ?? Anyway, keep up the good work.
The hardest part of all is when you hand the finished job to the customer. But if you have a good finished product thair is no problem. This comes from experience and patience
That shoe your working on is one of the easiest shoes for us to resole. The factory doesn't believe in using much cement .even to put protective soles on, I would need to split the new sole, pull all the stiches reglue soles correctly, apply thin protective sole
It’s not always necessary to replace the welt and actually decreases the lifespan to replace the welt with every resole. Some of these shoe brands do that because it’s easier for them than pulling out all the thread and rethreading through the old holes and they also don’t mind you buying new shoes sooner. I always assumed a new welt was a good thing because, well, new usually means good right? Ha
As you mentioned it is DANGEROUS to cut with utility knife, suggest you better wear a pair of " Cut Proof " glove for protection which is not expensive on eBay or Amazon !
It isn't necessary to put a shoe in a jig to set the contact cement on the shoe, you may simply put it on the last and hammer it. However, your jig would be useful if you ever need to do a repair using a cyanoacrylate type cobblers glue.
You may also want to set the join of the welt and the sole by putting masking tape on an edge of your last to protect the upper, pressing edge of the last against the join between the upper and the welt, and hammering the edge of the sole. this will also flatten the stitching and minimize the holes in the welt.
Thank you. Check out the “Resoling at Home” playlist. I get better at Resoling! My Florsheim Royal Imperial resole at home actually came out really nice.
Well Robert, you have failed at being a Cobbler. But since you still have that spatula and your wife's kitchen apron on, go into the kitchen and cook both of us an omelet. JK, great video. I have been contemplating on trying to resole a pair of Timberland moc toe boots that i have had since 2003. Leather is in great shape, and one of the most comfortable. But i guess i would rather pay to have them done. BTW. nice pair of Al Eds. ;)
TheNunakun I’m an 11.5 EE or EEE but those shoes in the video were 9.5D, but I a guy at the office got them. I put rubber protective half soles on them to cover my crappy stitching and protect for out Midwest US winters.
That is a LOT of hard work! I'm actually surprised that you managed to finish it! Maybe you should keep it as a souvenir! I probably would :)
An experience like this only furthers knowledge, passion, and respect for the craft... and a bit of frustration. I plan on resoling a pair a couple years down the line. I shall refer to your experience then. Cheers!
TheNunakun 🙏🏼 thank you, and yes. We learn through failure.
Well said. It definitely furthers interest and passion for the craft I think
I've been a cobbler 25 years, trust me that ain't a bad 1st attempt specially considering the lack of tools you are using. Dont give up you will improve my advice on shoes you did the leather piece you are putting on taper it so its realy thin leather at the end 1st before gluing it on the make the groove much deeper then with the stitches remember your not a machine so dont try and be, make the stitches bigger 1 every 5 to 7mm will be fine you may even be ok 10mm once you pull them tight they will look fine once you have finished lightly sand all of leather including waist then polish with a neutral polish , alot of cobblers paint the waist join on a half sole to make it look a bit nicer but theres no rule I've worked for lots of different companys they all have different ways of doing things and finishing, you obviously like shoes so keep going
Colin Kirby - thank you!!
I've considered doing this, too. Thanks for saving me the effort and heartache!
BTW, the full recraft is only $125. $150 gets you a pair of shoe bags and shoe trees, thrown in.
Wil Turner 😂
@@CobblerBob Hi Bob, do you think I could scrape and glue rubber sole protectors onto these with any success? These are odd looking soles, and I dunno what the white stuff is: www.ebay.com/itm/Lavorazione-Artigiana-Mens-Shoes-Sz-14-Brown-Full-Quill-Ostrich-Leather-Italian/164138676181
Watching your videos is like sitting with a buddy trying to figure out a new hobby. Good stuff. Thanks.
Jaime Gonzalez I appreciate that!
You needed to use a jerk needle to sew the sole to the welt - it helps create a loop to feed the lower thread through.
I love your videos Bob! I’m surprised as an engineer and sales guy you didn’t go the sales engineering route, those guys make $ cause you gotta go between two worlds which you can do which is really rare
Probably the worst stitching I have ever seen but enjoyed watching the video
Love this video! It’s like “ this old shoe” version of “this old house” DIY Tutorial. I imagine I would try doing it on some on my shoes :)
Interesting, I never knew Goodyear welt machines used lockstitching. I've been watching channels like Trenton & Heath but I don't think they ever talked about the stitching when they resole shoes. Thanks for your perspective on this!
You're welcome! There's a part 2 to this if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/on_GbQr65uo/видео.html
Bob, you're hilarious. I mess around with a little leather, like wallets and such. There are a lot of tools that go into hand creating a simple wallet: groover, awl, punches, skives, bevelers, and a lock stitch vise, which I made. I would never mess around with my shoes. Those cobblers have all the fun toys, like the sewing machines that do a lock stitch. Also, they have the trimmers and automatic burnishers. If you haven't researched leather working outside shoes, I would highly recommend it. It gives you a more of an appreciation for cobblers and leather workers.
Mark Duvall LOL, yeah, I kinda dove right into the deep end
I've been looking at resoling a few pairs, but honestly, $120+ resole jobs just aren't worth it to me. I'd rather just buy a new shoe. Top of the line resoles with french tips can cost up to $300. Honestly, your work doesn't look too bad at all. If you could find a cobbler who will just do the stitching with a landis in 10 seconds for under $20, that would be very reasonable. The shining, buffing of the uppers can be done by anyone, and that's the part that everyone sees.
tonystark19631 LOL, or here’s another solution I’ve toyed with:
Manual Leather Cobbler Industrial Shoe Repair Machine Make Sewing for Bag Tant rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F352159940197
Is the machine useful ?
You have to admire the mans dedication.
If you had the right tools, I think you would have had a great result. Nice job finishing it by hand!
i admire your dedication.Thank you for that indepth look.Looking forward to your next video.
Thank you! 🙏🏼
You may not be able to resell them , but that sole you put on will last a lot of years !! Good job 👏
Thanks for this video - really useful to see you show exactly how GYW works.
un.garçon thank you! You may also like a recent video I released:
ruclips.net/video/fpEpqJ0eO0g/видео.html
“Goodyear Welted vs Blake Stitched Construction Shoes”
I really enjoy your videos!. Thanks for doing what you do Robert.
Yes!! It’s the original “Hello everybody it’s Robert Powers!” 😂
I buy shoes/boots on eBay to learn on. The game's a little different with women's shoes, I bought two pairs of otherwise excellent knee-high boots, with crappy plastic heels. Guess I'll be learning to stack me some leather, lol. Thanks for the vid!
love your enginuity
Bob, I really enjoy your videos. You sure have learned a lot about shoe making through your research and hands on efforts, as evidenced by this RUclips video. I definitely give you an “A” for effort, but my grading in some other areas might be a bit more stringent 🙂. As one individual pointed out, perhaps you can start with smaller leather projects, business card holders, etc. ??
Anyway, keep up the good work.
Ed F yeah, that would have been smarter. LOL.
The hardest part of all is when you hand the finished job to the customer. But if you have a good finished product thair is no problem. This comes from experience and patience
That shoe your working on is one of the easiest shoes for us to resole. The factory doesn't believe in using much cement .even to put protective soles on, I would need to split the new sole, pull all the stiches reglue soles correctly, apply thin protective sole
It’s not always necessary to replace the welt and actually decreases the lifespan to replace the welt with every resole. Some of these shoe brands do that because it’s easier for them than pulling out all the thread and rethreading through the old holes and they also don’t mind you buying new shoes sooner. I always assumed a new welt was a good thing because, well, new usually means good right? Ha
As you mentioned it is DANGEROUS to cut with utility knife, suggest you better wear a pair of " Cut Proof " glove for protection which is not expensive on eBay or Amazon !
Make the stitch a closed channel stitch on the outer leather sole. Should help with the crooked lines. Just an idea
It isn't necessary to put a shoe in a jig to set the contact cement on the shoe, you may simply put it on the last and hammer it. However, your jig would be useful if you ever need to do a repair using a cyanoacrylate type cobblers glue.
You may also want to set the join of the welt and the sole by putting masking tape on an edge of your last to protect the upper, pressing edge of the last against the join between the upper and the welt, and hammering the edge of the sole. this will also flatten the stitching and minimize the holes in the welt.
That is hard work .
Good job
Thank you. Check out the “Resoling at Home” playlist. I get better at Resoling! My Florsheim Royal Imperial resole at home actually came out really nice.
Well Robert, you have failed at being a Cobbler. But since you still have that spatula and your wife's kitchen apron on, go into the kitchen and cook both of us an omelet. JK, great video. I have been contemplating on trying to resole a pair of Timberland moc toe boots that i have had since 2003. Leather is in great shape, and one of the most comfortable. But i guess i would rather pay to have them done. BTW. nice pair of Al Eds. ;)
Just curious, what size shoes do you wear? If 9.5, I'll buy these off of you. Serious offer.
TheNunakun I’m an 11.5 EE or EEE but those shoes in the video were 9.5D, but I a guy at the office got them. I put rubber protective half soles on them to cover my crappy stitching and protect for out Midwest US winters.
Valiant effort.
Shouldn’t the needle be curved a bit to avoid stabbing the leather upper?
Fil Mart - yes, a curved needle would definitely help, LOL.
$6?!! where did u get such a deal? The leather on the shoes, looks in great shape!!
Gee_cee -me - a local thrift store
Put glue mixed with brown colour into the groove off the thread to hide it
Lol. You don't need a black and white thread. Just one thread, white, then dye the top after sewing
Watch Bedos leatherwork youtube channel and if you want send him your shoes for re-soling. 👍
OMG....!
the longevity of leather soles is disappointing to say the least.
Perfect shoe (for a homeless teen)
U need to practice a lot before you get it right
And an outsole stitching machine! 😂
when you hand sew leather you need to wet it