The question of what boots are made of is very interesting. But first, you need to figure out what it is? Felt boots are felt boots made of piled sheep wool. As a prototype of this type of shoes served the felt boots of the nomads of the Great Steppe, which they began to wear another fifteen hundred years ago. Only in the first half of the year before last, this type of shoe gained popularity, it was then that they began to produce it by industrial methods. This type of shoe is now widely known to many Russians.
Very often the very name “felt boots” causes the majority a smile and emotion, as it is associated with something outdated and funny. However, modern manufacturers make them so comfortable that your legs will be heated even in the most severe frosts. Parents, concerned about the health of their babies, buy them children's boots for the winter, which are not only very warm, but also beautiful, as they are decorated with interesting patterns and ornaments. Understanding the question of what boots are made of, one can tell that they were once called cats or wire rods, which is why many are convinced that their roots are far from Russian. The thing is that for the first time the boots were invented by nomadic steppe peoples, they decided to roll up wool, making shoes from this material. At that time, the goal of creating felt boots was not only to keep the feet warm, but also to save them from thorns, which were very numerous in the steppe. In Russia, this idea spread from the steppe nomads.
What are boots made of? Earlier it was said that this type of shoe is made from animal hair, and most often sheep. The color of the finished product depends on the color of the raw materials. For example, to obtain white boots, it is necessary to use sheep wool from Mongolia, and for gray wool from the Caucasus or Central Asia is suitable. The production process begins with the preparation of raw materials. The wool is driven through a special apparatus, after which it is oiled, and then folded into a container. In this form, the raw material enters the carding workshop. The wool is placed in special aggregates. The raw material is combed in the fixture using thorny rollers, and then wound on a reel. Then proceed to the manufacture of the basis for boots, grinding wool with steam, and after that the head of the boots is made out manually. Again, grinding with steam is carried out. After that, all the blanks are sent to a specialized rolling machine.
So, you already understand what boots are made of, and now you need to figure out what to do next? After all these operations, the wool is stretched to get the desired shape, however, it should be twice as large as the future product. After that, the workpieces fall into the felting workshop. And now they are all placed in a large drum made of wood, which is filled with water to produce the first felting. It is the name of this process that has become the basis for the name of the product itself. Then the blanks begin to beat with wooden fixtures, and then again stretched on the unit. Again the boots are wetted, they are given the required shape and size with the help of special pads, and at the end the shoes get dried in a special oven. Modern felt boots are made that way. At the end they are tapped with a block, giving the final size and shape to the products. Next, they remove excess wool, glue a rubber sole and attach tags. Felt boots are ready.
It is important to note that this type of shoe is truly indispensable for residents of areas with a very harsh climate, the only way to escape from the cold. Modifications, for example, Finnish felt boots, make this type of shoe more modern by sticking on top of a variety of materials and supplying the product with a durable sole with a tractor pattern.