How to Make Japanese Wooden Sandals
Japanese sandals are known as "geta." Although they were the main form of footwear for Japanese people before Western wear was introduced after WWII, people today still wear them in both casual and traditional occasions. Beginning woodworkers enjoy this project because of its relative simplicity, being made up of only three parts: the platform for the foot, the "ha" or risers to lift the foot from the surface below, and the strap to hold the foot in place.
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Things You'll Need
- Cross saw
- Sabre saw or wood rasp
- 1/2 inch-thick wood
- Pencil
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Thick fabric strap (tubular shape recommended)
- Wood clamp
- Drill
Instructions
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1
Measure both the length and width of your foot to determine the dimensions you'll need for the wooden platform. Ideally the back of your heel will touch the edge of the wood without going over it. You should be safe adding up to ½ inch in front of your toes and again behind the heel.
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2
Cut the wood with the cross saw, and round the edges with either a sabre saw or wood rasp.
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3
Calculate 35 percent of the platform's length from the front to determine where your front "ha" will go, then mark it with a pencil. Then calculate 15 percent from the back of the platform to determine the placement of the rear ha.
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4
Cut the ha for the geta according to the dimensions of your platform. Geta are a safe distance when they're up to 2 inches from the ground. If your platform is already ½ inch thick, the height of both ha should be 1 ½ inches. They should be as wide as the width of your platform and equal to each other in height.
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5
Attach the ha to the sandals at the locations you marked earlier. Wood glue will work for this project, but use a clamp to ensure the glue bonds the wood tightly. Allow time for it to dry before moving to the next step.
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6
Measure the width of the platform's front, and mark the dead center. From here, measure 15 percent of the platform length from the front and drill at a 45 degree angle into the wood. Mark two locations directly in front of the rear ha on either side of the platform and drill at a 45 degree angle away from the wood below. When you're done, measure the distance between the center hole and one of the side holes, then double that number to come up with the strap's length.
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7
Cut a length of fabric that matches the measurements you just took to form the strap. This strap can be made out of nearly anything, but remember it will come in contact with your foot so it should be soft; a tubular shape works best. Cut the length of strap in half.
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8
Insert one end of each strip into each side hole from above, tying it in a knot below the platform. Insert the other end of both straps into the center hole and tie them together in a knot below the platform. You can alternately leave the strap in one piece and simply insert a loop into the center hole, then bring the strap through the loop before tying the ends beneath the platform, but the first method is more traditional.
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Tips & Warnings
If you plan to wear these geta around the house and you live in a house with hardwood floors, consider attaching some kind of rubber or other noise-reducing material at the bottom of the ha. These sandals are loud on solid surfaces and may disturb neighbors who live below you.
References
- Photo Credit Japanese wooden sandals image by rider from Fotolia.com
