Details for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
Description
Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles.
Tasks
- Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
- Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
- Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
- Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
- Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out.
- Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.
- Estimate the costs of requested products or services such as custom footwear or footwear repair, and receive payment from customers.
- Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.
- Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes.
- Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness.
- Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment.
- Make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors' prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs.
- Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
- Place shoes on lasts to remove soles and heels, using knives or pliers.
- Clean and polish shoes.
- Check the texture, color, and strength of leather to ensure that it is adequate for a particular purpose.
- Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules.
- Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
- Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.
- Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products.
- Cut, insert, position, and secure paddings, cushioning, or linings, using stitches or glue.
- Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces.
- Measure customers for fit, and discuss with them the type of footwear to be made, recommending details such as leather quality.
- Stretch shoes, dampening parts and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher.
- Nail heel and toe cleats onto shoes.
- Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.
- Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags.
Interests
- Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
- Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Education, training, experience
- Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
- Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
- Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Knowledge
None found.
Skills
None found.
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