I
have been asked a lot about tools and materials to get started making shoes. So
I posted list of 25 must have tools and
materials , with which you can start making shoes without necessity of having
absolutely all shoemaking staff. That's how I started to make my shoes and till
now those tools and materials are still in my first priority of work. I could
forgot few items and I'll be happy to know what you use in your work. It will
be very helpful to all our shoemaking community, so leave your comment below. Follow the link in the bottom to see the full
list of shoemaking tools and materials I published it at Shoemaking Courses Online.
THE LIST
1. Cutting board- this is yours work area,
and it comes in 3 sizes :
450x300x3;
450x300x3;
620x450x3;
900x620x3
I personally use the 45cm (the first one) as this one is for personal use.
I personally use the 45cm (the first one) as this one is for personal use.
2. Adhesive tape - to make it easy on yourself, please pick up good and quality tape, that holds on the last. There are different widths, 2 cm, 5 cm, 14 cm. I don't like to mess up my workspace with unnecessary things so I use the 5 cm wide tape. Because it is good for attaching it on the last and I cut them when I need more narrow stripes. Check my tutorials I do that a lot, very useful trick.
3. Cardboard-
I use it for pattern making, there are many types and most of them are good,
but I use Duplex, it's 180-200 gram. It must be flexible but not too flexible.
4. Metal
ruler - not less than 30 cm.
5. Flexible
Measurement tape - There is a specific type for shoemaking, it doesn't have the
iron peace at the end, like the one that tailor uses. If you can't find the
shoemaker tape, you can cut off the metal peace but remember to always add 1 cm
to your measurements.
6. Compasses - This one will save you a lot of time in pattern making and to be accurate in your work and to avoid mistakes, use it!
8.
Blades for utility knife- They are not less important than the knife itself. As
there are many different knives, there are many types of blades as well, what
you need to look for is blades with 30 degrees angle.
9. Shoe
last- find the right last for the model that you wish to make. Although, there
is last for each model, for beginners I