Paul_ Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 I'm never perfectly happy with my grooved channel and was looking for any advice on how other folk groove leather soles. I currently use a tungsten groover on a fitting on my finisher but the end result never quite looks perfect. I've tried all sorts of different things such as a new blade, an old blade, a steel blade. I've also experimented with quite a few different soles, Gruben, JR, Wares Gold and am currently using Wares Executive. I'm not saying my groove is awful but it's never perfectly clean. It's perfectly adequate but i'm not sure adequate is exactly what i'm trying to achieve! Just wondering how other folk groove soles and have any tips. I was considering a hand groover but have no idea whether that is the answer. I'm at home now so not able to post any images but will add one in the morning. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsy Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Unless on rubber I try to go round in one go and as level all round as poss find the wares the best and also the prime as a budget option I don’t do many to be fair Dave Alce and Paul_ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 It’s not the groove, it’s how you finish it, IMO. if it’s looking ruff, it’s probably because you’re not closing or ironing it afterwards.? Dave Alce, ironplanet uk900, grahamparker and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_ Posted January 31, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Cheers Lee. That's exactly the sort of feedback I was after. I was taught by my father and he was never keen on achieving a perfect finish. I currently knock the groove\stitches down with my hammer. It's obvious now you say it, I need to iron the groove after stitching. I've been looking for a fudge wheel for a while on flea-bay, that would definitely help too. Cheers again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercoulson Posted February 1, 2020 Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 Paul, play with a piece of leather. If you pull against the groover you get rough edges but if you go with the direction of the groover it is a lot better so try both directions with the leather and see the difference. Also play with how quickly you do the groove. Paul_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted February 2, 2020 Report Share Posted February 2, 2020 I also wet the soles after stitching, then hammer the grove as you already do, then use an iron tool & then I use a fudge wheel for detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_ Posted February 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2020 17 minutes ago, Lee said: I also wet the soles after stitching, then hammer the grove as you already do, then use an iron tool & then I use a fudge wheel for detail. On 2/1/2020 at 8:01 AM, petercoulson said: Paul, play with a piece of leather. If you pull against the groover you get rough edges but if you go with the direction of the groover it is a lot better so try both directions with the leather and see the difference. Also play with how quickly you do the groove. Cheers Pete & Lee, I already wet the soles and have some hand irons so i'm sure with some practice and trying different sepeds etc i'll achieve a better finish. I may have come up with another theory too after reading your comment Pete. My father has until recenlty grooved nearly all our soles and he is right handed. In the past 6 months i've started grooving most and i'm left handed. I think I pull the shoe the other way around to my father (will check tomorrow), I wonder if the groover blade is sharper on one side than the other and the way i'm pulling the shoe is using the blunter side. That may be a load of cobblers (sorry!) but I know we have to have different knives and scissors as they are sharp on different sides, we also spin the shoes different ways when finishing heels on the 100 grit band. ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted February 3, 2020 Report Share Posted February 3, 2020 Channel them by hand. Paul_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k4mrc Posted February 3, 2020 Report Share Posted February 3, 2020 wet them before stitching, with really thick sole types make the job a lot easier. imo Paul_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted February 3, 2020 Report Share Posted February 3, 2020 What finisher do you have Paul? Paul_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_ Posted February 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2020 5 hours ago, keithm said: What finisher do you have Paul? A Lynx Keith, I've already thought about your new groover bit but you've told me it doesn't fit a Lynx...shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 Our groover fits the complete 700 series of finishers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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