Instructable of the day: making sandals from used tires
The subject of tire recycling is one that has come up here before, but we didn't really offer up any useful suggestions for the average reader on what to do. Let's change all of that with our latest Instructable of the day. Used tires still have lots of life left in them if you are willing to get a little creative. As you can see by the links at the end of this post, quite a few people have come up with this idea already, but it's new to us. The general plan goes like this: trace out a pattern of your foot, trace that pattern on the tire and cut it out. Glue some sort of foot-bed onto the tire cutout and attach straps. Want instructions that are a bit more specific? See here, here or here. We like the idea of promoting walking and recycling tires at the same time.
[Source: Instructables]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil L. 9:29PM (2/04/2008)
True story:
A friend of mine who's into Renaissance festivals made a pair of boots based on a period design - and I suggested adding tread, courtesy of an old engine timing belt I had just replaced. I saw the results; it worked far better than I had anticipated. Lots of automotive recycling opportunities out there...
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Mort 12:12AM (2/05/2008)
I have a twenty year old pair of rubber sandals. They are held together with duct tape. My S.O. is so embarassed, but I won't buy new ones.
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john riley 6:55AM (2/05/2008)
Sandals with leather uppers and tire tread soles were all the rage when I was in college in the early 70's.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 8:38AM (2/05/2008)
I'll go barefoot before I wear Ho Chi Mins.
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kt 5:33PM (2/05/2008)
Someone at my school is making those, he uses the sidewalls, due to the fact that the steel belting where the tread is will eventually poke out and can cut you.
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Fiona 8:45PM (7/16/2009)
In the 1970's in Australia there was a trend of making "treads" sandals with felt ribbions and using old tyres for the soles. If anyone have a picture of them and/or instructions of how to make them I would love to hear from you.
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