Perforating my EG's after the fact

[voxsartoria]

Do you think that lasted trees would be essential to use a drill press on your Edward Greens, or would plain old Woodlores work?

My feeling is that a dozen or so hackysacks would be useful to brace the shoe at various angles, or maybe small bags of a denser rice like Vialone Nano.


- B

 

[bellyhungry]

Classic

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

- B

 

[oDD_LotS]

From a purely academic standpoint, what about using something like a biopsy punch? It's sharp, has a punching action, and is available in a range of sizes. I'm guessing it would make a relatively clean edge, if it would be strong enough to get through the leather. I'm also thinking you'd probably run through quite a few of them in order to keep a sharp edge. All this being said, it's probably not a great idea, and certainly not something to practice on an expensive pair. I'd definitely be interested in seeing someone give a few of the different methods a shot on a beater pair, though.

 

[voxsartoria]

^^ I like the idea of the biopsy punch because the procedure could be reimbursable from Medicaid if you are in the United States.


- B

 

[fxh]

I'd suggest burning the holes with a heated pointy thing like a combination between an awl and a soldering iron. You can control depth, width and you would get a nice blackish edge to the hole. That patina that everyone desires.

Firstly take some paper into a shop that has the shoes with the medallion pattern you wish to copy. Place paper over shoes and then poke holes through the paper into the medallion holes in shoe. This paper then becomes your master pattern.

If you don't have an electric heated awl then you should settle in front of an open fire with a bit of wire that you have sharpened and a bottle of whiskey, drink at least half the whiskey prior to starting.

Do not forget to insert shoe trees into the shoes first. Shoe trees can be purchased online for somewhat more than the price of the whiskey.

Heat the pre-sharpened wire to red hot glowing in the open fire, test on forearm skin, if you feel pain drink more whiskey. When ready, start poking the red hot wire into the leather just a little bit and withdraw it.

Continue until pattern complete.

 

[Bic Pentameter]

Union Works also used to punch initials into the outside of the heel counter of a pair of ready to wear shoes. I remember seeing pictures of lazy cursive S's and R's on the webpage. For what it is worth, I no longer see mention of that service site.

Bic

 

[dsmolken]

Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba

You would need something that would have to cut on the outside edge only.
I had a set of knives for cutting round holes in leather that were exactly like that. A narrow pipe with a sharpened edge on one end and a handle on the other.

Not sure what they're called properly in English, but they do exist.