hibsjo(SCO) Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 had a customer who brought 5 pair in last week for leather sole and heel. 1 pair needing thru sole never been touched before other four pair all been executive half soled at large multiple. great, until i noticed that NONE of them had any of the old stitching unpicked now i spent a considerable time unpicking them so when the customer came back in for them yesterday i told him how poor a job he'd had done the last time. straight over his head thats what i thought! anyway his wife brought another 5 pair in today untouched by multiple hands \:D/ all thru sole dont you just love those multiples carry on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 In my 24 years as a shoe repairer, I was NEVER told to take out the old stitches , before renewing the leather sole, in fact, I was never shown how to use an outsole stitcher for 10 years, I took it upon myself after 15 years of working, to take stitches out, as I believed I could get a better job. So don't be too harsh on people who don't, if they've never been shown, or told, how would they know? You are fortunate enough to have benefitted from some quality traing Jo I'll bet that 80% or more repairers leave the old in Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autolock Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I reckon probably like 99% leave old stitches in,but like you say if youve never been shown you wouldent know any different.i personally worked with a couple of old school repairers then went to accrington and rossendale college in the80s where we had 3 different instructors and not one of them told us to take old stitches out,but you learn something new every day,, also after reading some old posts i was interested to see that riveting the waist was a bit of a no no,,and i was always shown that was the way to do it.i found an old book called the shoe repairers textbook that was written by the principal of cordwainers college london ,and they were using a rivetting machine on the waist of ladies leather half soles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 Thats the beauty of this site, we teach EVERYONE how to do the job properly. I use a stubby awl which is about an inch long & a stubby pair of long nose pliers ( I flattened the end donkies years ago on the grinder) for my picking exploits. Picking out stitches, its the only way to do it! (I'd never even used a stitcher before I got one here!) Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I concur. Autolock I know you are in N. Wales (you aint told me where yet) if you fancy a couple of days with me just to show you the ropes let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 when i got my first shop i always used to remove the stitches as the shop was quiet, and i would ask for a week to do them. as i have moved around and got busier i dont find the time to do it as much. I read this earlier and got a pair of thru soles in so i decided i would remove the stitches. they were a pair of Loake L1, the stitches were as small as you could get and it took me over an hour. it pi**ed me off so much i shut the shop for 15 mins. when i used to do it i could pull the top stitch off all in one go. what was i doing wrong this time? any techniques anyone can share would be great because they look great when they are done, i used the same tools as lee but without the skill i suppose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted February 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 i spent 4-5 hour this week alone unpicking stitching its the job! if they come out in a oner great if they dont tuff shit. if they needed rewelting would you not take the time to do that or are you tooo busy for that as well. it feckin p*sses me off to listen to this crap. this is one of the things which bugs me about repair competitions, on one pair it is a work of art but on every other pair throughthe week thay dont even unpick old stitching Do the job properly everyday or dont bother carry on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 this is one of the things which bugs me about repair competitions, on one pair it is a work of art but on every other pair throughthe week thay dont even unpick old stitching Do the job properly everyday or dont bother carry on! Do you ever watch orange county choppers? they do "Theme Bikes" & they do them well, these bikes have built them a world class reputation, that their daily work is built upon. Same for competition shoe repair work, the people at the top are no fools. their daily work is always going to be a cut above the rest IMO. thats why they can up the game once a year & enjoy the fruits when they do well. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 i spent 4-5 hour this week alone unpicking stitching its the job!if they come out in a oner great if they dont tuff shit. if they needed rewelting would you not take the time to do that or are you tooo busy for that as well. it feckin p*sses me off to listen to this crap. this is one of the things which bugs me about repair competitions, on one pair it is a work of art but on every other pair throughthe week thay dont even unpick old stitching Do the job properly everyday or dont bother carry on! That reminds me, what size blake needle should I use in a dn 76. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted February 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Lee im not knocking the "real" repairers here. theres probably some who can leave stitches in and still turn out a better "looking " repair than me. Laziness is a terrible thing! Oh i cant be bothered today! im in early to unpick some thru soles while ive got a minute but thats just me! carry on1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofatbyfar Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 we always remove old stitches, pain in the arse sometimes, but hey, like hibs says, do the job properly, or dont bother. \:D/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 As long as some of you 'proper' repairers assist those that know no better it's fine. The object here should be to better educate others in order to improve their skills and service to their customers, for the benefit of our Trade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 this is one of the things which bugs me about repair competitions, on one pair it is a work of art but on every other pair throughthe week thay dont even unpick old stitching Do the job properly everyday or dont bother carry on! Do you ever watch orange county choppers? they do "Theme Bikes" & they do them well, these bikes have built them a world class reputation, that their daily work is built upon. Same for competition shoe repair work, the people at the top are no fools. their daily work is always going to be a cut above the rest IMO. thats why they can up the game once a year & enjoy the fruits when they do well. Lee I watch that Lee. I rang them and asked if they could build me a Victor Stitcher themed bike. Paul Snr. They told me to feck off. Could'nt get the parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 You needed Paul Jnr, "that looks sick, doesn't it" Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Yeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 I was never told to unpick stitches when working for the multiples either but I ALWAYS do it now since joining the forum. I've also learnt how to rewelt, something else I was never shown (Cheers, Elfman) =D> The old heel bars have a lot to answer for Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 There is no substitute for the knowledge of us old boys Rick. Cherish us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercoulson Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 You needed Paul Jnr, "that looks sick, doesn't it" Lee OCC we see here is old stuff. Paul Jr and Paul Sr fell out big time, junior set off with Vinny and they run their own customisation business but big issues about who now owns OCC with the apparent effect of it heading for foreclosure depending on who says what. Oh and Gus the dog died in December.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Gus died? Noooooooooooooooooooooooo. . What about Granny OCC is she dead too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercoulson Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 dont know about granny....... http://www.orangecountychoppers.com/news/paul-senior-says-goodbye-to-his-best-friend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T. Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Hi I cant believe some of these post on removing stitches.It is the most basic thing in shoe repairing.Even if you were never shown it before you must of caught on real quick by seeing other shoes come in with 2 or 3 rows of stitching lifting up all over.You have such great looking machines over there but why they don't come with a stitch picker!Even the oldest machines here have them.Do them right or just cut keys. Ray Torcaso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 You boys going to stand for that! comon the brits lets fire a salvo back ducks back under table wearing tin hat gulp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercoulson Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 You boys going to stand for that! comon the brits lets fire a salvo back ducks back under table wearing tin hat gulp. But he's right isn't he? And I have my own table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Yes being serious for once! I cant comment on shoe repairs as I know less than nuffin. But locksmithing.... It's pretty much the same people train for 1 or 2 days and know the job, the forums are full of 'how do I turn a key' 'I found a locked door how do I get in' they are not taught the basics, there is no training guide. so we see locks chopped into the middle door style cutting the tennon joint in half, rack bolts put in the top edge with the grain so they break out B&Q 'safes' sold as 'secure and Insurance' grade They oftem muller a door and then walk away. Its a sad old world when we are about to get another 1/2 a million white collar workers looking to earn a crust - the training schools will clear up on their redundancy money soap box back in the garage tin hat back on table here I come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T. Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Hi Guy's I wasn't trying to insult anyone but just stating my opinion.Even when you picked up the first pair of shoes that were butchered by some you must on known that it looked like crap.If you didn't ask yourself if there is a better way than do the rest of the good repairers a favor and pursue another career.By the way I am sure the machine company's there could put a stitch picker on a bayonet fitting if the demand was there .They don't take out every stitch but if you get 98% of it out with it then you clean the rest with your awl and you have taken 3 minutes out of your day to do it right. FOOD FOR THOUGHT Ray Torcaso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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