12 Last Carving: Sanding

Bill Bird shows how to use a modern purpose built sanding machine for refining the shape of a last. He shows how to feel the shape of a plaster cast and transfer that shape to the last. Bill emphasizes how important the sense of feel is and how it is far more sensitive and sophisticated than our vision.
Bill uses 3 inch wide belts, with both 8 inch and 4 inch diameters. The 8 inch is the classic shoe repairers finishing machine, but the 4 inch allows shaping narrower curves. The surfaces are 24 grit for fast removal of wood.
• Shaping the bottom profile
o Calculating the pitch
o Shaping the front range, crown, tread and brake point
o Using chalk and pitch spacer for reference
o Shaping the heel seat
o Shaping the arch
o Using a plaster cast of the foot to feel the shape of the arch for reference to the last - but not making a total replica of the arch, instead using rectification to give some lee-way for the foot to move.
o Feeling on the cast where the ball of the foot is from the heel and creating a similar feeling on the last.
o A slight curve on the waist for elegance.
• Shaping the upper
o Shaping the lateral and medial lines
o Shaping the top bone plane
o Shaping the back
o Shaping the scoop or sweep for elegance
o Relative straightness to shape the toe
• Re-Marking the lateral and medial lines and re-measuring
o Adding an allowance for the feather edge on the heel seat
o Add a leather patch to bring up the measures if required
• Finishing off with hand sanding

[@ramloganfracic5761]

We should be grateful for the advancement in technology that we can enjoy and learn. Thank you.

[@giudicihandcrafted9936]

I've watched these videos so much, I feel like I know you. Thanks for generously sharing your knowledge. Wish I could study in person with you!

[@artycharr]

amazing stuff! ive seen others on youtube who have their heart in the right place but dont really get the info across, this is informative and well presented!

[@johnparochelli9202]

Thank you so very much! These are well thought out and informative!

[@ramloganfracic5761]

Truly Great. Bless you and your channel

[@vgsergei]

Thanks a lot. Though we make boots for a long time you have given us some new features and strokes to lastmaking. I am only sorry for not having such video in russian. But using your info we will sometime make something equivalent. I firmly shake your hand.

[@chrisfournier6144]

Brilliant!

[@khawk7365]

Thank you yours is best videos I've seen on last making . I've never seen anyone shoe the tolerances before. If you wanted to do pointy toe. How does that effect the 1 to 5 ratio for the back and how about the spring In the front? Thanks for sharing.

[@RuairiODonnellFOTO]

I spent the whole evening watching your last making. Beautiful artistry and excellent teacher. I wish I was your apprentice for a few months.
Do you have a web site for your services? Would like to give you some work, if you are not too busy

[@jthepickle7]

A not-to-be-missed fine point @ 19:45

[@eliasvictorsarayahuamani5575]

Thank

[@psgouros]

Have you covered how to split the last so it can be easily removed from the completed shoe?

[@TheGiduch]

Hello Peter, although this is not a video from this series it might be helpfull
th-cam.com/video/6THsifDnrrk/w-d-xo.html

[@psgouros]

@@TheGiduch thank you, that was indeed very informative and exactly what I was looking for :-)