I have also been making my first last. I laminated mine as well but cut each layer to reduce shaping needed. I used harder wood for the bottom 2 layers since that is where nails will mostly be used and used softer wood above to make carving easier. I found that my Japanese saw file rasp (Shinto) has been a great help in shaping. Bill Bird is a good source and Harry Rogers is also good. Best of luck to you in your shoemaking!
Really nice video. I would love to make footwear at some point, I don't have the means and tools right now. Though I would model the last after my foot, I'm not sure why they usually look too ponty to ever fit a foot comfortably.
i’m not the most experienced with making footwear, but if it helps you, I got my first supply of leather at the secondhand shop. I bought an old leather coat that was in reasonably good shape. It was very cheap. Now, when it comes to the shape of the last, it’s entirely your business what type of shape you want. Things like pointy toes are about style, and usually the person has to leave a little extra space at the end of the toe anyway, so people don’t usually just make the last exactly the same length as the foot. And not necessarily the same exact shape. That’s the luxury of using that extra bit of space at the front. The first shoe that I made, I found a secondhand pair of the style and size that I wanted, and cut them apart. I used them to make a pattern. Maybe make some small modifications. As I took it apart, I took notes as to how it was put together. because most things will come apart, in the reverse order from which it goes together. And for the lining for that particular Pair of shoes, I choose to use leather chamois that I picked up in the car cleaning section of the dollar store. it’s worth noting that there’s a big difference between the pieces of leather that they offer for chamois, so maybe take your time and have a good look at each piece if you’re going to use that. I didn’t have very much back then, but on a nearly a nonexistent budget, it wasn’t hard to make exactly what I needed and wanted. I sure hope that helps.:)
Thank ! I used wood glue, it was Gorilla's indoor/outdoor. I learned from the book "Last Designing and Making Manual" from George Koleff, it's a good reference for the measurement and the geometry. There is also good videos on last making from Bill Bird.
The wood I used is poplar, it’s still a bit soft to make a good last. I’d like to use beech or maple for the next ones.
Very nice! I look forward your next video!
Thank you, very soon :)
I have also been making my first last. I laminated mine as well but cut each layer to reduce shaping needed. I used harder wood for the bottom 2 layers since that is where nails will mostly be used and used softer wood above to make carving easier. I found that my Japanese saw file rasp (Shinto) has been a great help in shaping. Bill Bird is a good source and Harry Rogers is also good. Best of luck to you in your shoemaking!
Thank you ! It's true, Harry Rogers have good videos ! well done, using hardwood for the bottom could be a good solution !
Really nice video. I would love to make footwear at some point, I don't have the means and tools right now. Though I would model the last after my foot, I'm not sure why they usually look too ponty to ever fit a foot comfortably.
i’m not the most experienced with making footwear, but if it helps you, I got my first supply of leather at the secondhand shop. I bought an old leather coat that was in reasonably good shape. It was very cheap.
Now, when it comes to the shape of the last, it’s entirely your business what type of shape you want.
Things like pointy toes are about style, and usually the person has to leave a little extra space at the end of the toe anyway, so people don’t usually just make the last exactly the same length as the foot. And not necessarily the same exact shape. That’s the luxury of using that extra bit of space at the front.
The first shoe that I made, I found a secondhand pair of the style and size that I wanted, and cut them apart. I used them to make a pattern. Maybe make some small modifications.
As I took it apart, I took notes as to how it was put together. because most things will come apart, in the reverse order from which it goes together.
And for the lining for that particular Pair of shoes, I choose to use leather chamois that I picked up in the car cleaning section of the dollar store. it’s worth noting that there’s a big difference between the pieces of leather that they offer for chamois, so maybe take your time and have a good look at each piece if you’re going to use that.
I didn’t have very much back then, but on a nearly a nonexistent budget, it wasn’t hard to make exactly what I needed and wanted.
I sure hope that helps.:)
👍👍👍
How many days did you finish making the last?
Amazing job! What kind of glue did you use? Where did you learn to do create a last like this?
Thank ! I used wood glue, it was Gorilla's indoor/outdoor. I learned from the book "Last Designing and Making Manual" from George Koleff, it's a good reference for the measurement and the geometry. There is also good videos on last making from Bill Bird.
Hello, I am Rachid from Morocco. I have 18 years of experience dealing with Shoelast. I am looking for factories that need a workforce in this field.
this is one way a hobby-shoemaker can do that. not professional...