ALLAN PRICE Posted June 12, 2014 Report Share Posted June 12, 2014 chaps, anyone heard of soaking army boot soles in water before hobnailing?apparently it "grips the nails when the leather dries out".....I would have thought that in the same way,when the soles got wet again the nails would be loose again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted June 12, 2014 Report Share Posted June 12, 2014 Many years ago we did many hobnailed boots, it was common practice to soak the soles, it makes the job of driving the hobs home much easier. Not sure about it adding to the grip, first I have heard of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfman Posted June 12, 2014 Report Share Posted June 12, 2014 the theory behind soaking the leather before stitching and hob is because when the leather is dry you break the fibres of the leather thus making it weaker however when it is wet it expands and opens the fibres thus allowing the needle to pass thru without breaking the fibres and the same would apply for hobbing and then when it dries out it does indeed tighten the stitching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 funny how times change. horse shoe plates & hobs! they'll be some folk who've never seen then let alone done them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALLAN PRICE Posted June 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 I do WW2 re-enacting(yeah,i know....its like trainspotting in camouflage.)so I get to repair lots of ammo boots for different groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 I do WW2 re-enacting(yeah,i know....its like trainspotting in camouflage.) No its MUCH worse than that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsc Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Got a book somewhere that showed my Grandads repairs. He was doing army boots just after the war. Sole and Heel plates,toe plates and hobs. 2-3-4-4 formation. 4 shillings and 6 pence.. or to you young ones 22.1/2p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALLAN PRICE Posted June 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 I do WW2 re-enacting(yeah,i know....its like trainspotting in camouflage.) No its MUCH worse than that! I know mate...I was trying to kid myself really..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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