I thoroughly enjoy how Google translates Mamoru’s name for this as “pothole”:
Does anyone know any English names for it?
I have seen it used for shaping stiffeners. Wet the leather, lay it over the hollow, and beat into the concave space.
Shoemakercraft has a nice description for the one he makes himself. It appears in the USMC tools book as a “Moulding block”.
The book of men’s shoe making uses it to curve the outsole around the heel and waist. I purchased the one from Mamoru. I will update Japanese tools post once I get it.
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Thanks so much! I just added to the wiki.
I’d be really interested to see dimensions for a commercial one posted online, if you’re up to it. Length, width and height of block. Diameter and depth of the depression. Seems like something a lot of people could DIY.
Note for others: @lexar4h1 posted a photo and measurements of one from Mamoru here:
Here’s my attempt at a homemade molding block, based mostly on @lexar4h1’s kind notes and measurements.
Mine is roughly 9 inches by 5 inches. It’s made of two scraps of 4S hardwood, for a combined thickness of about 1⅝ inches. The depression’s carved down to the bottom of the top layer.
The top layer is hard rock maple. Maybe that’s good for durability, longer term, with lots of hammering. But it’s certainly not easy to carve.
As a result, I don’t think I’ve got the depression cut out as round or as deep as I’ll want in the end. It’s really slow going with the hook knife and bent gouge I have available.
I might need to rig up some kind of conical sanding pad, chuck it up in a drill, and hammer it with coard sandpaper.
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