hoverfly

I got the ones I use here on this thread on sale for $20. I would not halved any regrets if I destroyed them. I try not to pay full price.

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Hello, my name is Hoverfly. I am a high heel addict…. Weeeeeeeeeee!!!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: hoverfly on 2002-04-17 04:58 ]</font>

gj

hi where do you get shoe stretching fluid from?
and whith what do you lubricate the wood with?

I'm working on a 3d strecher to get the uppers done aswell

any hints?

GJ

hoverfly

Water........Yes water, Natures stretching fluid and lubricant. All I have done was used some very fine sand paper on the width stretchers and make the wood baby bottom smooth. If you have no sharp edges on the width stretchers pulling them out is no problem. It helps also if you round of the edges to something like a 1/4 radius. If you are stretching leather just slowly work it in, if you need to, make several different sizes to stretch the shoe out in stages. I under stand you are working on a third set of width stretchers, but for me those three things mentioned above, makes it much easer to push them in and pull them out. So I have had not needed to use any thing else to lubricate the wood.

Now as for the uppers... All my footwear that I have bought, some have been a little snug on the top of my foot/ankcle area, but my ankles and calf are on the small side so I have had minimal trouble here. But it seems that after going through the stretching process for width, it also solved my uppers problem. I usually wear an 11 US women's and up so I have not needed to do any major stretching in the uppers area.

But I do have two pairs of boots that are going to need such a job. They are a size 10 US women’s where both the toe box and the uppers are going to need a major stretching job in order for me to wear them. But I have not really had the time to do any serious thinking or experimenting my self, but winter is coming so I will have plenty of time then. Maybe when Firefox reads this thread he might have some thing tell us to help the both of us out. :)

__________________
Hello, my name is Hoverfly. I am a high heel addict…. Weeeeeeeeeee!!!

Slim

I have found that rubbing alcohol works on leather. Just pore it in and them put the boots etc on with sox you don't mind getting wet. I had a pair of size 8's that were tight in the ankle and it worked wonders.

hoverfly

I don't know about using rubbing alcohol, it might dry out the leather in the long run. But as you found out it works out to use on problem areas, shorter drying times, and you would not have to wet the whole boot down either to do it. But I think on whether to use alcohol or not depending on how much stretching you have to do. When you have allot of stretching that needs to be done, it's not good to use your foot as you can end you high heel career in a short time. It's better to really soak the leather in water or so you have plenty of work time, and reduce the risk of ripping the leather.

In my case I got two boots that are two sizes to small, but there is plenty of length for the toes but not for the width of the foot or ankle area. I would start stretching them with the width stretchers, and my last one is just a tad on the small size so I can have a snug fit. Also if you work with hot water (just out of the tap) this seems to make things easer.

Now I got a question...I hear that mink oil work well in stretching. Dose any body have experience with it?

__________________
Hello, my name is Hoverfly. I am a high heel addict…. Weeeeeeeeeee!!!

gj

So i should buy some shoe strechers for my size and not make them myself?

My wife bought some hiking shoes. She has a small bulge on her foot. The shop used a bulge tool to stretch a part of the shoe. Before applieing this tool they sprayed a fluid on the shoe which made the leather a bit hot and more flexible, do you guys/gals have any idea what that was? or could be?

GJ

hoverfly

I built mine because I had the time to do it and it was made with stuff that I had all ready paid for a long time ago. Plus you can make custom fit and alter the shoes physical appearance slightly to suit to your tastes.

I have seen foot stretchers for high heels on E-bay that included stretching fluid for $30.00 US. If you fit into the commons women’s foot sizes you should be able to find something for your self. If you have a large foot, forget it. I have seen them only go up to a size 10US. Come to think of it, I should look futher into that but I am quite sure this is the case. If any body know where to get one that can do a women’s 11/12 US, let me know. From what I have seen, because you are stretching a high heel shoe that bends much sharper at the ball of the foot, a men's foot stretcher will not fit in the shoe properly. Maybe it can be altered??

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Hello, my name is Hoverfly. I am a high heel addict…. Weeeeeeeeeee!!!

gj

Great tip that helps
GJ

Tom-NL

Came across a website that included among other things some information on stretching:

http://www.heelingtouch.com/?page=shop/howto2

hoverfly

Nice, very nice indeed!!! :o Ouch...$61.00 for the western boot stretcher. Obviously this is the one you would use on regular high heel boots as well. The only question is how high of a heel will it accommodate?

I just bought another pair of boots that I have that I like so much, so funds are a little low right now. Maybe I will get my GF to get me one this Christmas. Mmmmmmmm...maybe a down payment....

Thanks Tom!!

Any way you might need to still make one of your own or alter the stretcher for toe boxes that do not come to a point. For those who don't know most western boots have a pointed toe. But buying this will reduce the need to make one or several width stretchers. What's else got my interest is that they have them to stretch length wise to. I found a few pairs of boots I liked, but the toe box was a little to small in length.

__________________
Hello, my name is Hoverfly. I am a high heel addict…. Weeeeeeeeeee!!!