This is a great system for moccasin soles. I make my own shredded rubber from an old tire using a sharp farriers rasp (horseshoeing rasp). This method is quick, easy and makes no dust or fumes (like a grinder does) and best of all the two sides of the rasp can create two different sized rubber particles. The finer (file) side of the rasp makes very small particles that blend and stick very well for the first coating on the leather, and the coarse side makes slightly larger chunks that stick well to the first coat but give a nice textured traction surface to the soles. Give it a try if you're looking for a rubber source, it works very well and helps recycle a bit of scrap tire. As a bonus, a horseshoe rasp is one of the handiest tools you can have around for shaping axe handles, wooden snowshoe or sled parts and countless other wood-shaping tasks. -John
Nothing I have tried beats a good farriers rasp for shaping tool handles, it is an extremely fast and precise tool that leaves a fairly grippy texture(it should be noted that you probably want a smoother hammer handle if you don't have calluses)
This is a great method to preserve mocs. Thanks for sharing. I'm thrilled with the results on my homemade mukluks that I made last Winter. I didn't have access to a tire recycler so I used a wire brush attachment on an angle grinder and ground down an old tire and got rubber dust that way.The puffs of black smoke and burnt rubber stench from my driveway were crazy. LOL.
Hi Jen. Saw the video of you making the mukluks and loved it. I have been looking for tire dust to glue to my own moccasins and cant seem to find it anywhere. Do you have a video of you grinding the tire? Perhaps I could do the same thing.
I really enjoyed watching you show your abilities and skills on alone. the Strength and resilience you have is incredible and inspires me to find my own. thanks, you so much ky. I also apologize for abbreviating your name.
@@parry4now I would assume not wearing them on cement. Although even on soft ground I would expect them to get holes before 23 years... but maybe he patches them.
junbh2 what type of leather are they made out of? If it’s elk or buffalo that makes sense, because deerskin does not last....even on natural ground. Also, the part of the animal’s hide makes a difference in how it wears.
Ive bought 2 pair in the last 20 years one pair I used for 18 years. I finally broke down a d bought another pair. And after 2 years they still look brand new. Thanks Minnetonka!!!!!!!
My wife and I both got excited to see you. We are both fans of yours since you went on Alone. Thank you for the video! I'm getting ready to make my first moccasins and I'm soaking in as much information as I can
Thank you for your video. I've always been interested in making my own footwear. I just haven't gotten around to doing it. Fixed many a shoe on my travels and loved they way they made Sandals in Mexico with the tread of a tire for the sole. I have no natural Hide(s) and no way or means of getting any so I'm looking at old truck tire tubes and stuff like that. I actually buy old sheets from the "New to You" Store for $2 a pop because I have so many uses for them. I'm on a flannel sheet kick now, imagining how warm some PJ's made with flannel will be. Oh, I'm lazy and instead of painting the soles, I'd use a shallow tray of mixture and just dip or "walk", the sole through the mixture in the tray. But that's just me. Have a great one and good luck.
Hey.... this is great idea. I put a thicker piece of leather on the soles of mine with the rough side facing out ... I should gone this way instead !! Harley
I just went to your website, and see that you have closed your retail business. Perhaps you can update this video to let people know how to obtain the materials to duplicate this process, since you no longer sell the kits. Thanks.
Hello, I just sub'd as I'm making a pair of moccasins for the first time and need some help. I found Robert Badine's channel for his traditionally tanned moose hides and he is making a pair from that hide. He got me started on this moccasin I am now working on that is cow hide. Will be ordering some of Robert's tanned moose hide that is thicker and would like to finish them with the protective coating you are using here. Thank you and looking forward to seeing what you have on your channel.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I have been making moccasins for a few years now and I am always trying to improve and making them for versatile. Water proofing them is my next step. I went to your website and you guys mention there not to use on the hair side but only on the flesh side. Is this still your recommendation even if we sand off a layer to rough it up on the hair side? When you say "glue" are you talking about contact cement for the first layer? I can see in the can it looks clearer than the rubber cement. Just wondering what type of glue you used please, thank you!
There was a company, I believe from NewEngland, that made really nice moccasins in the 60’s and 70’s. Maybe they are still in business. They were very good quality and widely distributed. They started to do something similar to some of their moccasins. You may be able to find more info in old copies of The Whole Earth Catalog. Good Luck and take care. P.S. They might have been made by Quoddy in Maine.
Hi there, I'm about to start moccasins from scratch (tanning onwards). These are such useful videos. Are you able to suggest an alternative to rubber for the soles please?
This is awesome - Been wanting moccasins and have thought about the rubber sole but want to still be able to "ground" myself to the earth - Was thinking, and maybe you've done this already, have you thought about or done the rummer just where the foot makes contact? It would look like a foot print on the bottom of the moccasin instead of the entire bottom being covered - It's a thought :)
Thank you for your comment. When the glue is keep well sealed this is it's natural consistency. But when it gets thicker, you can use a toluene thinner to make it more spreadable. Hope this help!
there is healing in being grounded to the earth. rubber soles interrupts our electrical connection to the earth (grounding). be sure to connect at some point and not constantly be in rubber soled shoes.
I have many pairs without the soles and frequently am barefooted. The soles prolong the life of my favorite moccasins but can appreciate the quality without.
not to be picky but do you need mask for protection from solvent? easy rubber sole good for where i live can be wet thanks now i know i do not need thick sole if no like
I have a pair of rabbit fur boots with the gummy sole and have had for many years..this year the soles are really sticky and stick to floor when I walk..what can I do...I love my boots and have had for many years... Thank you Marilyn
@@randypond7499 I don't remember where we got it but it didn't work that great. We used it to add thickness to the sole of running shoes that were wearing out, and it stayed on for awhile, but not long enough that I would recommend it as a great fix. My guess is that the dust works better. the comment of @user-ff6rr7kq7t below may help explain why
Thanks for the info. Does it work for suede bottoms also, and do I need to ruff up the suede prior to painting? Oh, and can I run the glue, and glue/rubber combo up higher on the perimeter to cover the seam with sewing part? Thank You
hey i want to waterproof some mukluks for snowshoeing. I've got a can of black flexyseal crap they sell on tv. You think that might work? It didn't work to seal my rubber boots.
Hi, I'am from germany and maybe I will make such kind of rubbersoles on moccasins I also maybe will buy. To avoid so much costs for me (buying in the US), could you please tell me exakt name(s) of cement brands like you use, wich I also can buy in germany or other EU- countries ? regards from germany
Where do you end up buying the rubber that you add to the cement? I need to re-sold my mukluks, and have no place local that will do it. I was going to buy crêpe natural gum rubber and cut out my own soles, but I like this idea a lot better!
Hi Wren, we get our rubber dust from a tire re-capping facility. If you don't have access to one, you can purchase a kit from our website here: lureofthenorth.com/product/clothing/footwear/rubber-soling-kit/ Thanks so much for your suppot!
Insulating the body from an electrical connection to the Earth is inherrently unhealthy. The outer soles of my brain tanned smoked moosehide mocs are very tough. They do need regular maintenance. The biggest problem is walking on pavement. On my farm a pair of mocs lasts a few months. My mukluks are 4 years old. Since they only get worn in the snow there is very little wear. I have tie on flexible "treads" made from flexible woven grass that actually work well on ice. I think your idea of adding rubber is a good idea for most people and probably is effective for added traction. It obviously is good for extending the life of mocs as well. For temporary use on pavement I wear military surplus "galoshes" i put them on over my mocs if I have to travel to town.
