Hardening Leather

[Black River Smith]

How do you harden leather for shoe soles or heels?

I bought some really thick stuff that the shop said would be right for heels.  But when I put it on, it cut worse than the leather sole already on the boots.

So how do I make it wear longer / better?

Thanks

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Maybe you could put a thin layer of Vibrum or some such synthetic material over it. 1/4" would do fine. Maybe even a little thinner would work.

[Black River Smith]

Do you have another name for Vibrum?  Don't know what Vibrum is???

Is it like Shelac or Varnish?  Or is it a specific product sold at Tandy?

Thanks for the info

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Vibrum is a synthetic sole material. It can be found cleated like the waffle-stomper boots or smooth for normal use. there are some different variations inbetween, too. Here's a picture of a leatherworking knife I made with Vibrum glued on it for a handle. Actually, both the top two have it on them.

[Nolan Sackett]

How do you harden leather for shoe soles or heels?

I bought some really thick stuff that the shop said would be right for heels.  But when I put it on, it cut worse than the leather sole already on the boots.

So how do I make it wear longer / better?

Thanks

Look for what are called sole bends or sole leather - this is leather especially prepared by compressing (and adding waxes and oils) for shoe soles. I'd check with a local shoe shop - you should be able to buy a single sole or IIRC, Siegel of Ca carries them. Leather Factory also used to have a special shoe catalog - no matter what it ain't cheap.

You could also try taking some 14-16 oz (or glue two layers of 8/9 oz together first), casing it (dampening it all the way through but NOT sopping wet), compressing it in a vice, and then heat hardening - dry it around 120-140 degrees - this is the basic process of how "hardened" leather has been produced for 1000's of years.

[Ozarks Ranger]

I got another question, my old holsters are soft at the tops and are hard to reholster without bending the outside in. I dampened them and put my vaqueros in plastic trying to reform them so they stay open. so heating thim while damp may harden them up some? do I have to sew a piece on the outside out of thicker stuff to keep them open?
Snake ( who doesn't know anything about leather) Eyes

[Ozarks Ranger]

Thanks Marshal, I'll try it tonight

Snake Eyes