Making your own shoes!!!

[highheelsman]

I just found a web site that has what we need to make a mold of your feet so you can make your own shoes!!!

http://www.stssox.com/foot_mold_construction.asp

They sell a special self hardening sock that your just put on and hold your foot in any position that you want and it will harden in about 5 minutes.

This solves alot of my problems with a foot mold. After you make your mold, you can pour in plaster of paris or a fast set silicon rubber mix for your very own custom foot casting!!!!!!!

This is the web site where I found the link on how to do it:

http://greencouple.com/2009/03/08/shoemaking-102-making-lasts/

this web site tells you how to do it.

I hope this helps everyone as much as it has just helped me out

P.S. the cheap solution to this is that you can get some plaster of paris and some gauze and then layer that on your foot. And viola... instant foot mold! it just take longer to dry!!

Just remember to keep your heel up in the air or rest it on a block at the same height that you want your heel to be!!!

[Dr. Shoe]

Great idea in theory... Might try it one day. However, it might be cheaper to buy the lasts as you will be able to buy heels and other components to fit instead of having to make these from scratch.

[euchrid]

I just found a web site that has what we need to make a mold of your feet so you can make your own shoes!!!

The mold is the easy part. How easy is it to make a proper pair of shoes? They're not like airfix model kits are they? particularly when high heels enter the equation.

I think I'll just continue to buy them thanks!

[highheelsman]

Great idea in theory... Might try it one day.

However, it might be cheaper to buy the lasts as you will be able to buy heels and other components to fit instead of having to make these from scratch.

yes I agree, that would be cheaper and most likly easier. but I am shooting for comfort and fit. The last pair I bought was so painfull that I coulden't stand for more that about a minute. That was my own fault though. So after I made them peep toe, they fit good. that got me thinking about just making my own.

I had 2 ideas so far.. I like the erector set high heels in the odd shoes section and I was also thinking about trying to make some with bamboo!

[Histiletto]

Ah, were it that easy. Even with a customized mold or last that fits your feet specifications, the skill and knowledge of making a proper fitting shoe takes a good deal of time and effort for even the skilled cobblers to master the intricate details and be able to modify any differences you decide to include. Of course it is possible to make your own shoes from scratch, but the time, materials, tools, effort, and learning the tricks of the trade will still cost you more in the long run for each pair of shoes then having them custom-made by a life-long skilled cobbler. However, if you're willing to put forth the necessities to make your own footwear, go for it. The logical question here is, why don't all local shoe repair shops offer the custom-made services, if it is so easy? Certainly, if anyone can, they should be able to make a handsome profit in producing such footwear.

[Dr. Shoe]

Ah, were it that easy. Even with a customized mold or last that fits your feet specifications, the skill and knowledge of making a proper fitting shoe takes a good deal of time and effort for even the skilled cobblers to master the intricate details and be able to modify any differences you decide to include. Of course it is possible to make your own shoes from scratch, but the time, materials, tools, effort, and learning the tricks of the trade will still cost you more in the long run for each pair of shoes then having them custom-made by a life-long skilled cobbler. However, if you're willing to put forth the necessities to make your own footwear, go for it. The logical question here is, why don't all local shoe repair shops offer the custom-made services, if it is so easy? Certainly, if anyone can, they should be able to make a handsome profit in producing such footwear.

Actually that isn't strictly true but it is on the right track.

Firstly, a cobbler doesn't make shoes, he repairs them. Only a shoemaker or a cordwainer makes and repairs shoes.

Secondly, the actual making of shoes is not at all difficult as long as you have the right tools and the knowledge, there are very few "tricks of the trade" involved.

What is difficult (and takes more training) is the pattern making and the engineering itself. For example, the heel has to fit the shoe properly otherwise it could kick out or kick under causing the stresses to make the heel collapse with dangerous results. Or it could kick sideways making them difficult to wear and uncomfortable. Then you would have to make a shank. These are make from high carbon steel and often forged into shape and case hardened, do you have the knowledge and the tools to do that?

Making flats is easy, if it weren't then shoes probably would not have been invented in the first place. Heels though takes technical ability.

[highheelsman]

Actually that isn't strictly true but it is on the right track.

Firstly, a cobbler doesn't make shoes, he repairs them. Only a shoemaker or a cordwainer makes and repairs shoes.

Secondly, the actual making of shoes is not at all difficult as long as you have the right tools and the knowledge, there are very few "tricks of the trade" involved.

What is difficult (and takes more training) is the pattern making and the engineering itself. For example, the heel has to fit the shoe properly otherwise it could kick out or kick under causing the stresses to make the heel collapse with dangerous results. Or it could kick sideways making them difficult to wear and uncomfortable. Then you would have to make a shank. These are make from high carbon steel and often forged into shape and case hardened, do you have the knowledge and the tools to do that?

Making flats is easy, if it weren't then shoes probably would not have been invented in the first place. Heels though takes technical ability.

dr. Shoe, I like the way you describe things... you are good at putting things into perspective. I still don't care (yet) how hard it is going to be. I am a very technical minded person and I am up to the challenge. I have a small shop and lots of tools. So I am up to the challenge (I think)! My first shoes might be end up being wood soles and the uppers might be leather screwed on the side with screws. But before it is over, I will make a nice pair of shoes that have the highest heel possible without being platforms.

I know, I have some big ideas here and no experience. But I do have lots of patience and a little time since I am single. So I will come up with something...

I have thought about possibly steaming/boiling thin wood to bend and shape to make soles, and then getting some sort of vinyl at wallmart or the auto part store. I have a ryobi scroll saw and electric sanders to shape the heel itself.

Has anyone ever though about using fiberglass to make heels/ soles?

making a mold of the heel & sole together. I could build layer on layer to make about a 3/8th inch sole. and then use leather/vinyl uppers. how about that idea?

If anyone has any ideas please post them here.

Thanks everyone...

Dr. Shoe, your the best!

[Bubba136]

there isn't a thing wrong with wanting to try to make your own high heels. As Dr. Shoe has said, it will be difficult. But, it is better to try and not do too good of a job than it is not to try at all. Have at it. I wish you good luck.

[highheelsman]

there isn't a thing wrong with wanting to try to make your own high heels. As Dr. Shoe has said, it will be difficult. But, it is better to try and not do too good of a job than it is not to try at all. Have at it. I wish you good luck.

I just went out today and bought some fiberglass mat, resin, and hardner at the auto parts store. And then I went to Toys R Us and I bought a Erector set.... I will upload some pictures of what I come up with (when I come up with what ever it is)

[ftbt]

Well ... I don't know about actually making your own shoes ... but I do like the idea of making a mold of my foot that could possibly be used as a last. I just had 2 pair of custom boots made for me (knee high and crotch high) by an "old-world" shoemaker. (I will get around to posting pics.) Each leg and foot was measured separately (believe or not most people's calves, knees and thighs are not exactly the same .. and a pattern was made for each leg.) Anyhow, the biggest challenge was the last. I am a US men's size 15 with a high arch. The boots came out fine, but my shoemaker indicated that they would fit and look better if I had custom lasts made for my feet instead of doctoring the last that he had ... something that would cost around $400.00! I will have to ask him if these would work instead. Probably a lot cheaper?

[Dr. Shoe]

$400 isn't a bad price for a custom last as it happens. Re using fibreglass for heels: All "fibreglass" is is glass reinforced plastic. For heels all you need to do is make up the resin and pour it into a mould of some kind, you don't need the mat. Steaming wood to make the sole could have merits but if it ever got wet then it could spring back into its original shape. You would be better gluing thin sheets of wood together over a former and preformig the soles that way. Go to your local shoemaker and tell him what you want to do, he might be able to tell you where you can get the parts from. My advice to everyone on this forum is that you should not make high heels unless you know what you are doing. This is because even small details like using the wrong kind of nails can have disasterous consequences!

[highheelsman]

$400 isn't a bad price for a custom last as it happens.

Re using fibreglass for heels: All "fibreglass" is is glass reinforced plastic. For heels all you need to do is make up the resin and pour it into a mould of some kind, you don't need the mat.

Steaming wood to make the sole could have merits but if it ever got wet then it could spring back into its original shape. You would be better gluing thin sheets of wood together over a former and preformig the soles that way.

Go to your local shoemaker and tell him what you want to do, he might be able to tell you where you can get the parts from.

My advice to everyone on this forum is that you should not make high heels unless you know what you are doing. This is because even small details like using the wrong kind of nails can have disasterous consequences!

Your the best Dr. Shoe!

I am going to form the wood layers like you said and then coat it in fiberglass to water proof it....

I have a little mold / cast experience and I made a mold and cast of my hand. I had to wear a rubber glove though to keep anything from sticking to my hand. You might try putting a bread bag over your leg to keep anything from sticking to your skin and pulling hair out when you remove it

I used a silicone rubber mix that hardened in about 5 minutes. You can get it at your local hobby store. Here in Tampa Florida Usa that is Hobbytown USA. If you do make a rubber last, just remember that it will flex and move some. But the good part is that you can move it into any position that you want!

[Guy N. Heels]

yes I agree, that would be cheaper and most likly easier. but I am shooting for comfort and fit. The last pair I bought was so painfull that I coulden't stand for more that about a minute. That was my own fault though. So after I made them peep toe, they fit good. that got me thinking about just making my own.

I had 2 ideas so far.. I like the erector set high heels in the odd shoes section and I was also thinking about trying to make some with bamboo!

If comfort and fit are yer goals, then I would suggest that you first conduct some research into what makes a truly comfortable shoe. There are some mfgrs around who have acheived some fame for their comfortable shoes, and so you might want to start with them and find out just what goes into producing that comfortable shoe. I know I have mentioned this before, but at the top of the list is one that you are going to have trouble find - that's Pollys. The Pollys I bought for my old girlfriend were the only comfortable heels she claimed she had. So besides that really great look, what made those shoes so comfortable for her?

While I admire ambition, what you are going to find, from a purely practical point of view, is that there is no way that you can produce a truely comfortable cost-effective shoe. Even if you figure your time is only worth $1per hr. before it's over you will have spent far and away more than a really nice pair of shoes would cost.