Custom/Resoled Boots

[thinker0217]

Some Update

 

 

 

BTW, the pants are M-1951 field trousers, which are easy to be found on eBay at a very reasonable price. Very comfortable and functional.

[superfuzz]

make sure you tell raul at willies to stich the bottom of your sole. He does a sloppy job sometimes of just gluing it together.

 

Will do. Thanks for the heads up.

[thinker0217]

Some updates of my Red Wing #8134

They become much lighter after being resoled.

 

 

[BrianTheBootmaker]

Wow! Beautiful resoles. These are a couple of resole jobs I have done in the past couple of months.

These are Redwings pt83 2268. I resoled them and made them flat toes with no celastic.

These were Corcoran Jumpboots I cut down and resoled them with Catspaw.

These are American Works Engineer Boots. Resole job

Enjoy! Looking forward to seeing more resole job

[thinker0217]

Stunning works!!

Brian, did you resole them by yourself?

The shaft-cutting and riveted shank are amazing!

[coleslawyum]

Sup Brian! Glad to see your work on here. Just in case anyone is wondering Brian is a cobbler that still utilizes, hand welting, skiving and cutting. In other words, his craftsmanship is great. He can re-size, re-sole as well re-shape toe boxes. He has a very interesting product which I'm sure he'll announce soon.

 

Hit him off for all of your boot maintenance needs.

[coleslawyum]

While I'm here, some re-soled RW 2268, by the Boots Master, Takeshi Okuyama.

Buckles are Red Wing 50's repros and the soles & heels are 70's Cat's Paws.

 

 

 

Edited November 15, 2013 by coleslawyum

[thinker0217]

Another masterpiece by Mr. Okuyama!!

I heard that Fukurokuju has the exactly same lasts that Red Wing Shoes Co uses, so that the shape of every pair resoled Red Wing boots can be maintained. If this is true, this truly makes Fukurokuju standing out from other cobblers in the world.

[coleslawyum]

Its true, Okuyama-san has a few Red Wings lasts as well as White's, Wesco, etc. He is the best in my opinion, because I really don't need to explain anything to him. He just gets it. His sense of style, level of craftsmanship is very unique to him. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love it.

 

The last time I visited him, he had boots to repair all the way up to his crib, so he had to open bigger place, as well as have a brick and mortar shop to sell his boots (Vibergs, Whites, and Rios). I can imagine he'll be busy for months even without taking on new clients.

[onehundy]

Did you have the steel toe removed from the 2268?

[superfuzz]

Brian, thanks for posting your great resole jobs, can't wait to see more from you!

[BrianTheBootmaker]

Stunning works!!Brian,

did you resole them by yourself?The shaft-cutting and riveted shank are amazing!

Thank you! Yes I am bootmaker/cobbler from Los Angeles. I specialize in vintage repairs.

Brian, thanks for posting your great resole jobs, can't wait to see more from you!

Thank you, I will try to keep posting as much as possible.

I am working on getting specific shoe lasts made for different engineer boots models as well as getting quality brass Roller Buckles for you engineer boot lovers. It's all about the details. ðŸ‘

[garden gnomes in space]

Its true, Okuyama-san has a few Red Wings lasts as well as White's, Wesco, etc. He is the best in my opinion, because I really don't need to explain anything to him. He just gets it. His sense of style, level of craftsmanship is very unique to him. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love it.

 

The last time I visited him, he had boots to repair all the way up to his crib, so he had to open bigger place, as well as have a brick and mortar shop to sell his boots (Vibergs, Whites, and Rios). I can imagine he'll be busy for months even without taking on new clients.

one thing i notice about his re-soles is the flow of the sole, from heel to toe.  Not sure how else to describe it, but it has an organic shape, almost aerodynamic in appearance.  Everything is balanced

[coleslawyum]

one thing i notice about his re-soles is the flow of the sole, from heel to toe.  Not sure how else to describe it, but it has an organic shape, almost aerodynamic in appearance.  Everything is balanced

Yes I agree. He does insist on finishing every pair of boots himself. I've watched him fine tune the soles on the grinder. He's got a very delicate touch that is usually reserved for a dress shoe. From the slight pitch of the heel to the smoothness of the sole, it's unmatched.

 

The other thing to note, and it's just a nerdy detail, is how even his stitches are. Through experience, he sets his tension just right on his Rapid E machine. He also uses the correct thread. If you look at anyone else's work, you'll see how uneven the stitches are in terms of size and straightness.

 

Did you have the steel toe removed from the 2268?

Yes indeed.

Edited November 15, 2013 by coleslawyum

[indigoeagle]

Did you have the steel toe removed from the 2268?

 

Yes indeed.

 

But there is still some reinforcement like celastic in there, no?

[BrianTheBootmaker]

Yes I agree. He does insist on finishing every pair of boots himself. I've watched him fine tune the soles on the grinder. He's got a very delicate touch that is usually reserved for a dress shoe. From the slight pitch of the heel to the smoothness of the sole, it's unmatched. The other thing to note, and it's just a nerdy detail, is how even his stitches are. Through experience, he sets his tension just right on his Rapid E machine. He also uses the correct thread. If you look at anyone else's work, you'll see how uneven the stitches are in terms of size and straightness. Yes indeed.

One day I would love to visit his shop. I respect his work very much.

[coleslawyum]

But there is still some reinforcement like celastic in there, no?

 

Yes, I asked for that to be put in. Its an extra bit of leather.

Edited November 16, 2013 by coleslawyum

[coleslawyum]

Some old pictures I found. More work from Mr. Okuyama.

 

Chippewa. Steel toes removed, leather toe added, hand re-welted, leather outsole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A re-sole from 2008. Before he had his own buckles. Frankly his skill level has improved over the years.

 

[ThinFinn]

hey thinker,

are you also the guy behind the dr.sole tumblr, thanks?!

http://originaldrsole.tumblr.com/post/67828180388/valley-of-fire-nevada#

[thinker0217]

hey thinker,

are you also the guy behind the dr.sole tumblr, thanks?!

http://originaldrsole.tumblr.com/post/67828180388/valley-of-fire-nevada#

Yes, I am ;-)

[thinker0217]

90s Irish Setter #877 by Red Wing Shoes Co.

Resoled & Greaed

[thinker0217]

Some examples from Japanese Masters

There is no shank inside the Red Wing boots built with the traction tread soles, such as #877, #875, and so on. To transform those boots into the sole with heels requires shanks so that the shape of the boots can be maintained and the arch part can be supported.    

[thinker0217]

Resoled Red Wing #8130

Original Dr. Sole #3070 Cushion Wanderer

 

 

[thinker0217]

Resoled Red Wing #866

Original Dr. Sole #3060 Cushion Sportsman

 

[aho]

Keep dropping that knowledge and pictures thinker, this thread is the best thing to happen to sufu in a while...

[thinker0217]

Keep dropping that knowledge and pictures thinker, this thread is the best thing to happen to sufu in a while...

Will do, sir ;-)

[superfuzz]

+1

[rayw44]

Can't agree with Aho more. Thinker I also heard you may have a few interesting engineer boots. Care to share?

[arahat]

Thanks for sharing Thinker. 

 

Love the 877 & 875, if only it featured a true moccasins construction.

[thinker0217]

Can't agree with Aho more. Thinker I also heard you may have a few interesting engineer boots. Care to share?

Not a problem