Ask the Bootmaker Bobby Myers

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