Samantha's photo album

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August 2013.
Since a while Thierry thinks about making shoes to measure for me. Not easy when you do not know much about leather work, and leather is very difficult to find in our country. Then an idea came to him: make roman sandals: there will be no leather work!

August 11.
The idea is to cut the soles out of a block of cork. While waiting to receive this block, ordered for on the Internet, Thierry found a block of extruded polystyrene, rigid lightweight material, ideal for testing.
So I accompanied him home for the making of the first "prototypes" cut with the scroll saw.

Chez Thierry Fabrication des semelles de polystyrène

Determinination of the exact profile of the sole (that's why I'm here!), then cutting of the soles. Thanks to the laser printer, which enables the making of self-adhesive shapes to guide the cut.

And here's the first fitting, using string for the straps. I can perfectly stand up! You can see that there are already several holes on the side, because it will now be necessary to determine the optimal positioning of the laces.

Les chaussures à mes pieds

This first making highlighted a concern: the saw can cut a maximum thickness of 4.5 cm, and the shoes are 6cm at the widest. The making will have to be done in two halves, glued.
And why not three parts, with a sole? So Thierry cut soles out of thick rubber, and two heel drafts out of polystyrene, in two glued parts, to finalize the procedure.
August 16:
He bought a length of wood, and cut in it four half-heels. The saw labours, this yet lightweight wood is a little hard for it.

Semelles caoutchouc et pièces de bois Collage

Gluing of the parts two by two.

August 17.
The heels are now cut in the other direction, finishing with vibration sander. First assembling, using double-sided tape.

Talons, semelles et assemblage

August 22.
A roll of cork (self adhesive) has just been delivered. Dressing of the shoes. First the heel part.

Talons, semelles et assemblage Collage du liège 1

Then the top.

Done!

Collage du liège 2 Photo en pied

Balance test!

Chaussures recouvertes de liège

Now, the loops where the laces will pass through. D-rings arrived from the United States (by ebay), lack the fixing lugs, Thierry cuts them out of the ones from picture hooks.

August 23.
After fixing the loops and setting the laces, here are my new shoes. I climbed on a stool so that they can clearly be seen!

Photo en pied avec chaussures terminées Chaussures terminées

Close-up.

Avec plusieurs couleurs différentes de lacets

And just exchange the laces to get different shoes!

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