Club Obi Wan

tym

My one quibble with the 405s is that the speed hooks are a little, well, flimsy for a pair of boots at this price level. After 3 years of weekend-only use, mine are loosening and I would not be surprised if they started to pull out altogether. I'm actually looking right now at the all-eyelet shell c...

tym

Worth getting metal heal and toe taps put on if you plan to wear every day on concrete/in urban areas. Especially the heal, which can wear down quickly. I've been using plastic heel taps (don't want to sound like a tap dancer while I walk). They last about 6-12 months, then I replace. What kind of ...

tym

I'm sure it's been mentioned before here but imo the heels wear down very quickly with everyday use and the strings are pretty flimsy. That's said, the 405s are the best shoes I've ever owned in my 42 years. They look better with wear and they're comfy as heck! :TOH: Has anyone tried using heel tap...

tym

I might be in the market for some Alden 405s too. My Chippewas are finally starting to come apart after 6 years. They were resoled a year and a half ago, but I just noticed the sole separating from the right boot at the heel (the nails they use seem to have been too short). Some of the leather is cr...

tym

I think the props guys probably just replaced the bulb with a jerry-riged super bright LED like this http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-LED-bulb-replacement-for-regular-tor/ You can also buy pre-made LED modules. http://www.amazon.com/Mag-Lite-SH33DCW6J-3-Watt-Flashlight-Upgrade/dp/B000I...

tym

tym wrote:Since the gaps were so minor, I wound up re-gluing them myself with some Loctite epoxy I had handy. If the issue worsens, I'll definitely get in touch with Bean.

As an update, there have been no further issues after a few dabs of epoxy, though I do have some Shoe Goo on hand just in case.

tym

Since the gaps were so minor, I wound up re-gluing them myself with some Loctite epoxy I had handy. If the issue worsens, I'll definitely get in touch with Bean.

tym

My boots have been holding up well since I bought them...a bit of wear on the heel due to my walking pattern. However, today I noticed that at the edge of the shoe, there's a bit of separation between the upper and the sole distal to the stitching. I think this is probably from stepping in a puddle ...

tym

The more I think about this, the more I am leaning toward half windsor. If you look at how far that tie rises up on his chest when his hands are up, it looks like my windsor photo. A four in hand knot tends to give the tie a lot more slack, and thus there is less "ride up" to it. In MD's ...

tym

I've always found that four-in-hand knots tend to come out asymmetrical, so I've always tied the half-Windsor (not at all hard to do with a bit of practice). For my ties, the full Windsor results in an obese knot.

tym

It's going to vary a bit depending on precisely what shade your bag is, but I had a reasonable match using Gutermann #520, 100% polyester, in a 33-yard spool. It's also about the exact thickness of the original thread.

tym

In my experience, you do not always get a "better" watch when you spend more money, you just get a name on the dial, and whatever prestige is attached to that name. Ron521, I'll have to second that experience. I have had a similar history with my Omega Speedmaster and have friends with va...

tym

My feet measure between 11.5 and 12 on a Brannock device with medium-weight socks, and I found the 11.5 boots to fit better than the 12's.

tym

I also just got a pair of these boots. Took about two days' worth of wear to break them in. Superb construction, fit, and look. Highly recommended.

tym

^ Excellent point. Thank you for emphasizing the distinction.

tym

Keep in mind that the light itself may have been manufactured after 1925. It may be the latest patent date, but it could have actually been made several years after. This was the case with other items, like fountain pens, for instance. Still, I think putting it circa 1925 (as per the patent date) i...

tym

I'm currently breaking in a pair of LL Bean Katahdin Iron Works Engineers' Boots and am thinking of using Pecard's not for softening the leather but for waterproofing. Will this suffice or should I look into some Sno-Seal?

tym

On another note: sweet boots, huh? :mrgreen: Totally! And it's great that Bean only charges $6.50 for a return, which makes it easy and affordable to play around with sizing. EDIT The 11.5Ds arrived today (no pics yet) and they seem a better fit with mid-weight socks. There's still enough spare roo...

tym

^ Interesting. I know my mom used to go by that rule when I was younger and my feet were still growing but since that time have generally gone for a tighter fit with my shoes. Ultimately, I'll compare the 12Ds and 11.5Ds and see which ones tend to fit better. I wore the 12Ds around the house today a...

tym

^ Thanks for the input. They do fit a lot more securely when fully laced, but I want to give the 11.5Ds a try and see which size feels better on my feet. I'll be sure to report back. Incidentally, the 12Ds have about one index-finger-width of room behind my heel when I push my toes fully forward in ...

tym

Just ordered 'em. We'll see how good the fit turns out to be. :) EDIT: Received them today. They seem big. Without the laces on, if I push my toes up to the front end of the boot, I can fit maybe two fingers behind my heel. However, with the boots laced up they seem better, but I think that's just b...

tym

I usually avoid Wal-Mart like the plague, but the local one indeed had Coats and Clark nylon upholstery thread. The other thread from Jo-Ann didn't seem quite up to the task.

tym

^ Thanks! The 12D boots are earmarked for future purchase.

tym

Chewbacca Jones wrote:Dead-on with mid-weight socks.

Good to know. I used the local shoe store's Brannock device and I look to be just shy of a 12C on the right and 12D on the left with mid-weight socks. I didn't measure the arch length.

I assume I should up-size a fraction to 12D based on the Bean/Chippewa sizing?

tym

I just visited the local Jo-Ann and nearly all of their thread--including the Coats and Clark upholstery thread--is polyester. I did find some nylon overlocking thread by Gutermann. It's quite thin and not tightly woven, so it will fray quite easily. I might try Wal-Mart for nylon upholstery thread ...

tym

^ How much does the Coats and Clark nylon thread fray and knot with use?

tym

Well, I guess it's time for me to dispense with my cost containment for the month.

tym

thefish wrote:That's not my popper video. That's Dan "Bullwhip" Borton, our gracious moderator in this forum.

Oops! Sorry!

tym

Just uncovered this thread as I've recently become interested in these boots. I'm glad to hear that they're top-notch for relatively little money. How is the sizing?

tym

This is a great discussion. I have been cracking a bit as it's warmed up outside and have noticed that the nylon twine I've been using for crackers is a bit disappointing. They've had a tendency to knot, break, or fly off the end of the fall about once per session. Upholstery thread require a little...

tym

I recieved a belt from a military surplus on eBay and the 2 from Sportsman's Guide. The SG belts had the pictures that looked the correct color but are actually the lighter of the OD which is OD #3. The belt from the surplus is a biege/cream color. My authentic WWII belt which is the correct summer...

tym

On a slightly different note, a recent issue of Oxford Today had a photo of a bunch of people in a life drawing class, and by the foot of one man's chair was a Mk VII presumably being used by him in Indy satchel fashion.

tym

VP wrote:Then why pose as Indy taking that BIG PUNCH at the mechanic?

You mean that pose only counts when in fully SA gear?

Darn, I've been doing it wrong all these years!

tym

Lovely jacket! One word of caution, though. I have a US Wings A2-2000, and the stitching for the inner pocket is prone to strain. The pocket corner closest to the zipper started to come undone on mine after 8-10 months of light use; the stitching started to tear away from the lining. I reinforced it...

tym

The closest version now available through WL is the 0122 I believe. Thats the version I have, and the size large has a brown binding at the bottom. This is the glove I wound up keeping (after purchasing several other pairs that have found new lives with family, in the car, etc.). They look quite go...

tym

Under 40 F on my drive to work this morning. I actually had to use the heater in my car!

tym

^ Um, can't you just trim off the excess lining and be done with it? My US Wings A-2 2000 had a lesser degree of what is in your picture, but it doesn't bother me at all. There were a couple of loose stitches that I noticed, so I went a little OCD and reinforced them with needle and thread. The jack...

tym

Well, I think that both sides may be right. How one treats a new leather item would--and should--be different than how one stabilizes antique leather in my mind. Moisture loss and dry rot are major problems with vintage leather--problems that we don't see with fresh-out-of-the-box jacket or whip.

tym

PSBIndy wrote:I wonder if Keifer would make a good Indy?

They'd have to rewrite the character to be an alcoholic.

tym

Yep. Wore my US Wings A2 for the first time this weekend and just gave it a gentle treatment of Pecard today.

I'm ready!

tym

My WPG bag came in unissued condition. However the sling was seriously dry rotted as were the pieces on the side of the bag that hold the rings in place. I replaced these with a similar material. And it's a pretty easy fix too. Check out this thread, which helped me when I had the same issue: http:...

tym

I bought one from WPG in November and it was in NOS condition. There was some dry rot to the webbing and I had to replace one of the webbing ring attachments after it broke.

tym

Thanks!

tym

tym, were you hand washing the cap in cold or warm/hot water? That'll make a big difference! Excellent point. I was using cold/lukewarm, as I recall. The resulting fit is good, though I don't wear the cap much as it has historical significance. My current ballgame cap is my '07 Sox World Series on-...

tym

No, I'm talking about HAND WASHING your cap in Woolite. #-o I hand washed it in normal detergent. The issue with the wool isn't so much the detergent choice but the fact that the water causes the material to shrink mightily. I do own a hat jack but found that letting the hat dry on my head produced...

tym

You'll be amazed just how much grime you'll remove, and that so much dirt and oil was suspended on the leather surface, but is hidden by the nature of the brown color of the leather sweat band itself. That is so true. I have an older wool baseball cap (Red Sox 2004 World Series on-field cap) with a...

tym

Good tip! I don't wear my hat as often, so I've been taking a more reserved approach of a wipe-down with a damp cloth. That might work as an intermediate cleaning between alcohol treatments.

tym

here we go! :D http://www.indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=35964&hilit=webbing Yep, that's the one. I learned a lot repairing my bag with polypropylene webbing. I do have some of the extra samples left over, so if the OP is in need, PM me and I can send some along for a buck or two.

tym

Well, after a few days, I'm pleased to report that the smoky smell is much reduced. Sometimes doing nothing really is the best solution.

tym

Michaelson wrote:Wow!

Regard! Michaelson

What can I say? Cleveland's a polluted dump.

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