Ask the Bootmaker podcast with Bobby Myers
- stared as repairer
- goes to Wichita Falls roundup
- tore apart old pair of Acme boots that fit to make pattern for first pair
- lasts from Lisa Sorrell
- first pair fit
- second pair horrible, didn’t fit
- got in touch with Randy through a few other people
- still has first pair of boots
- used cheap bargain-bin leather from a local leather shop
- “They’re not horrible for a first pair.”
- tried inlay on his first pair, since that interested him
- inspired by boots from 40s and 50s
- apprenticed with Randy Moe
- awesome
- he’s really calm
- “that’ll work”, but will give advice
- he’s constantly learning
- they’ll still hang out and talk boots
- he’ll call other bootmakers during conversations to see what they know about things, like Cricket Garcia
- repair learning
- learned finishing work doing repair, especially soles and heels
- see things in boots from other makers
- factory boots: more things to avoid
- more work to repair custom than factory boots
- use different glues
- glued to well that rip welts, etc.
- harder to get apart
- more shape around the shank versus flat-bottomed factory boots
- have to case soles
- uses a glue that he can release with thinner
- has a customer pair he’s done 15 pairs of half soles on
- Master’s and Barge stick so hard you can tear leather
- custom: soles hardly ever separate from welt
- hundreds of half-soles a year, never come unglued
- factories: just one layer of glue, sometimes don’t rough it up first
- favorite leather
- has only done 7 pair of custom
- hasn’t worked with exotics much
- softy buffalo probably favorite
- may be the same as water buffalo calf
- wife completely chose her design
- wished he’d learned patternmaking sooner
- into old vintage stuff generally
- won open level topstitching award
- tulips
- really close stitching lines within the tulips and stems
- had to start wearing reading glasses
- “got lucky”
- want to do: one-piece tops
- Lisa Sorrell gave a presentation on it
- doesn’t feel quite ready
- enjoys doing tops the most
- even enjoys the skiving
- next: wants to do toe foxing, maybe heel foxing