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Simple Shoemaking

My favorite shoe/sandalmaking machine





This drill press from Harbor Freight - https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/drills-drivers/drill-presses/8-in-5-speed-bench-drill-press-60238.html - is my favorite shoe/sandal-making machine. Punching a lot of stitch holes is necessary when making ecological footwear, since the layers are stitched together instead of being cementing together with toxic cements. (It is possible to cement footwear together with non-toxic cement, it just takes more time.)


This machine makes punching these holes practically effortless, and speedy. You can insert either drill bits or stitching needles to make the stitch holes, so you can make holes much smaller than is possible with standard punches. And, you can make holes through many thicknesses of leather, which most punches cannot do.



In addition to punching smaller holes, this drill press can punch holes up to 3/8" diameter



And, the press can provide rapid leather slicking/burnishing, using this tool:

https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/catalog/item-detail/65-2961/exotic-wood-leather-slicker/pr_8725. Brush some water on the edge of the sole, then Toconole or beeswax, and watch it shine.


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1 Comment


Ellen Hess
Aug 11, 2020

Brilliant!!!

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