heelma Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I recently found this YouTube video: The guy writes in his comments that he simply glued 8 normal flip flops together! Do you think this can be possible, or is he just playing us for a fool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmc Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Sure it's possible. I can even suggest a glue to use -- Contact Cement (Pliobond or Weldwood or Evostik for those of you "over there"). Guess I'm not sure why though but I'll file that under "to each his/her own". I would be a little bit concerned about stability -- the flip-flops have somewhat spongy soles and stacking up a half-dozen or so pairs to make a tower might be a little bit shaky. Have a happy time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shoe Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 That's precisely how the proprietry wedge flip flops are made. The material is supplied to the factory in the one thickness. You can make wedge heel flip flops this way too... ...Now there's an idea! Graduate footwear designer able to advise and assist on modification and shoe making projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoerepairer Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 if you building up many layers, drill holes in each one one as you go. Try to drill each layer in a different place to form a grid of holes, this will aid strength. By doing this you can reduce the overall weight by a significant amount. Lee Repair Reuse Recycle. Cobbler it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heelma Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 if you building up many layers, drill holes in each one one as you go. Try to drill each layer in a different place to form a grid of holes, this will aid strength. Because the glue fills in the holes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w6ish Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 interesting idea! great video comments too. i was thinking about making my own pair of extreme high heel sandals... i have some wood lying about here and i was thinking about heel designs. i'll keep you posted as to how it goes. (never made shoes before!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shoe Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 Be careful. Shoe making is not actually as easy as you might think and without proper shanks shaped to fit the arch very high heels will be very dangerous to wear. I would advise you to make a pair of wedges instead unless you're a chartered engineer or a qualified shoe-maker! Graduate footwear designer able to advise and assist on modification and shoe making projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabotalot Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 You could also use duct tape to strap old coffee cans to your feet. Just as practical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heelma Posted May 26, 2008 Author Share Posted May 26, 2008 That's precisely how the proprietry wedge flip flops are made. The material is supplied to the factory in the one thickness. You can make wedge heel flip flops this way too... That would be even better. I guess you have to cut the flip-flop in half and only use the back half, in order to get a wedge heel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w6ish Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 sab: that's funny! it brought back a memory from grade school. i did tape 4 soda pop cans together per foot, and made a pair of wedges, then taped them to my socks when i was attempting to costume up like the guitarist in Kiss! i tried walking in them and of course they fell apart under me. much laughter from my friends, who were all Kiss fans at the time. later i asked my older sister if i could borrow her sling backs which had a 4 inch heel and a platform of some sort. she agreed and got them for me. she had given up on them but i took them and wore those. this goes way back to grade 7! we had our stage show set up in my buddy's recreational room and i use to watch myself in the window reflections, those light blue checkered 4 inch heel sling backs on my feet. they were size 7, so this is a long time ago! what i remember about her giving them to me: she handed them over and said: try them on. i said: no way!!! what a fool. i should have right then and there. (i kept the shoes with me until my feet out grew them... what a sad day that was!) as for self made shoes: i'm going to give up on the idea of extreme heels and platforms and try something lower, like maybe 7 inches, and use old black leather i have here and see what i can come up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoerepairer Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 First off, all I can really do is explain the way I do a surgical raise, which you may be able to adapt to your own DIY experiences. Here’s the shoe to be raised http://www.brilee.co.uk/hhplace/004.JPG In this first picture you will see I have taken the original shoe down & prepared the first layer, by drilling holes in it. http://www.brilee.co.uk/hhplace/005.JPG Because the glue fills in the holes? NO! As you will see even the manufacturers place a lot of “Air” with grid in the mould, this is for three reasons To reduce weightTo increase flexibility & comfortTo reduce manufacturing costs (not something we need to worry about for this exercise!)This first layer is then bonded onto the shoe & the second layer is prepared http://www.brilee.co.uk/hhplace/007.JPG Once this layer is bonded you can see that the holes “overlap” each other, this helps increase the bonding strength. http://www.brilee.co.uk/hhplace/008.JPG The finished raise. http://www.brilee.co.uk/hhplace/009.JPG The holes within help lighten the unit, & as you can see in this final picture help preserve some flexibility at the toe. http://www.brilee.co.uk/hhplace/010.JPG Lee Repair Reuse Recycle. Cobbler it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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