M

N

O

P

Fig. M: Carefully cut out the shoes along your plan line. Fig. N: Sand each shoe until it’s smooth to the touch. Fig. O: Thread the narrow end of the ribbon through the thong hole, from bottom to top.

4e. Install the ½" Forstner bit in the drill press. Turn the shoes over and drill about 6" to ¼" deep into the bottom of the shoe at the thong hole location using the existing 1" hole to center the hole you’ll drill with the Forstner bit (Figure L, previous page).

5. Finish the shoes.

5a. Adjust the table on your saw to 20°. Carefully cut out the shoes along your plan line, making sure that the shoe is downhill from the saw blade (Figure M). This creates an elegant taper to the edge of the sandal.

5b. Install the sanding drum to the drill press. Sand each shoe until it’s smooth to the touch, being careful not to sand so much that you change the size and shape of the shoes (Figure N).

TIP: I like to rig up a shop vac to collect sawdust from the drum, otherwise dust flies everywhere!

5c. Make the shoes extra-smooth with a quick sanding using fine-grit sandpaper. Then stain, paint, and/or seal the shoes according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Set them out to dry.

Q

R

Fig. P: Use a quarter to keep the loop 1" wide on the top of the shoe. Fig. Q: Tie sturdy knots in the ribbon, then trim the ends and dab them with glue. Fig. R: Lace a ribbon through the thong loop and the hole in the back of the shoe.

5d. Cut the 2" black grosgrain ribbon into two 9" lengths. With sharp scissors, trim the last inch on 1 end of each ribbon to about 1" wide.

5e. Thread the narrow end of the ribbon through the thong hole, from bottom to top (Figure O). At the top, leave a big loop in the ribbon. Taking care not to twist the ribbon, thread it back down.

 

5f. Pulling the ribbon from the bottom of the shoe, reduce the loop on the top to about 1" — to hold this size, it might help to stick a quarter in the loop (Figure P). Tie a sturdy knot or two on the ribbon (Figure Q), trim the ends, and dab a little glue on the knot, which should fit in the hole you made with the Forstner bit. Repeat with the other sandal.

 

5g. Lace a ribbon through the thong loop and the hole in the back of the shoe (Figure R), and tie however you want. Swap ribbons as often as you like. If lacing around your ankle, use stretchy ribbons for extra comfort.

NOTE: The shoes may be loud on hard surfaces. If you’re shy with this kind of attention, visit your local cobbler and ask for soling that either you or he can attach.