Shoemaking - Pounding and Bottom Filling

Picture of a piece of bottom filler ready to be put into a shoe

Pounding

The upper is pounded down to the last, and toes levelled to the last by means of a mechanical drum (rollers mounted on spindles). The uppers are mechanically hammered down. The purpose of pounding is to last surplus upper down as level to the insole as possible.

Bottom Filling

Picture showing bottom filling at Eaton's factory

Bottom filling means filling in the lasting allowance of the upper on machine sewn work, or the seam of the welt on welted work.

The filling used is sheet cork, felt or Besto bottom filler, a combination of cork and gutta perzia, which has to be heated before use. For machine sewn work, light scrap leather can be used but this is apt to squeak  and, if hard, it may press through the insole, forming an uncomfortable lump.

Picture showing the placing of the shank

Only the foreparts of the shoe are filled by this method. The waist is filled with a shank which should have sufficient cross curvature to give added strength and prevent the waist from breaking during wear.

Rough Stuff Dept	Pricking & Stitchmarking	Folding, Beading & Burnishing	Lasting	Machine Lasting	Sole Attaching	Finishing	Glossary
Clicking	Skiving	Closing	Hand Lasting	Needles and Thread	Heels	Shoe Room