Japanese Geta

This is a tutorial on how to make your own pair of Geta. (this is the real way of making them. these are made from one piece of oak instead of 3 glued together.)

It is fairly easy but you do need some moderate wood working skills.
I have made longbows and other stuff from wood before so I know how it will behave

This pair of geta's will be made from Oak.

Step 1: Choosing the wood

The choise of wood is important.
You dont want it too be full of cracks and holes.

I have already mesured and cut out for each foot on the picture below.

Cut about 1 cm from your foot because then you will be able to shape your geta later.

Comments

[siamonsez]

That is a really nice finished product, all the effort that went into it is obvious. I could never see myself walking any distance in these, they weren't meant for streets and sidewalks, but rocky dirt.
My dad has a pair from when he was stationed in Japan in the early '70s and they are heavy and take time to get used to walking in, in the same way I would imagine high heels would, so I don't see how anyone could wear these often unless it was their only option or they were super dedicated.

[fabianfred]

I wear geta every day here in Thailand. They are not available for sale so i got mine from mail order from Japan. I am now starting to built geta for sale in my woodwork shop at home since many students want them and could not afford real ones. As you say these are really beautifully made. I make them with seperate Dai and Ha since this way is easier. The Thais do not know how the traditional ones are made and look anyway. They are strong though since I use two-part epoxy glue to attach the teeth. I do use the correct Paulownia wood. A scroll-saw would make the cutting-out easier for one-piece geta like in this project.
I also like to walk barefoot which is healthier and like getting a foot massage all the time. Geta are hard, but if made from Paulownia not too bad, and still less hard than concrete and without small stones and grit to damage the feet.
One advantage is that they do not throw water up the back of the legs in the wet like flip-flops do.

[ancaf33]

Thanks =)

These are also quite heavy. I have put rubber soles on the teeths and that makes them much more comfortable to walk on sidwalks with =) :P

[fabianfred]

Yours would be heavy made from wood other than Paulownia.
Many people think that adding rubber soles make then less slippery but actually if made from Paulownia which is a soft wood they give more grip without rubber soles.

[LordMekk]

I call the tool either a wood rasp or wood file.

[fabianfred]

the tool in the photo is a half-round file..

[ancaf33]

oki =D thanks for sharing :P

[cap n crunch]

a rasp has protruding teeth a file just has cuts into it

[ancaf33]

yea i know xD cus rasp is the same word as you descibed on swedish and file is called fil on swedish xD :P

[bbrooks5]

I don't quite understand the strengthening of the teeth. I understand how they COULD break, I just don't understand how drilling and gluing will prevent it.

[fabianfred]

The traditional geta are made from Paulownia wood which is very light, does not crack easily, and has some 'give' to mould to ones foot after some use. It does wear away quicker though. To strengthen the teeth the Japanese makers often drill and add dowels of a harder wood for extra strength as a strong blow at an angle could snap off a tooth if they are not strengthened in this way. The more expensive have dowels but ordinary ones do not.

[ancaf33]

When you put plugs down all the way up to the platform when you hit against for example a stone with the teeth it wont brake off cus its against the fibers in the wood, so it provides more strength to the teeth. If you understand?

[wbautista]

I really like your geta. Every since I saw this pair of beautiful geta. I hope there's someone who can make me like that because I'm to young to make such a thing. By the way, I need it to use in my cosplay which is japanese traditional costume from cabal online. Please tell me where in Philippines sell japanese geta, I need to have before december. thank you.

[ancaf33]

Thanks :D
It is not that hard to make, it would be much eaiser if you made them out of softer wood :)

[rkeyzer]

how would you go about makeing single tooth tengu getas the 12' kind

[japanesegeta]

Tengu geta are made of 2 pieces of wood. the top piece is thicker at the center and slotted for the tooth.

[ancaf33]

yes exactly :P

[ancaf33]

yea of course you can make it and there were some fish traders that used that but I think it will be quite hard to walk with them :P

[rkeyzer]

check youtube its hard but possible

[japanesegeta]

They're as easy as left-right, left-right, no special skill to learn, just walk.

[oda-marie]

It`s like Swedish wooden clogs eeyy??

[Arano]

more like trippen(german)/patten(english)

[ancaf33]

NO not at all =(

[richie_114]

Excellent instructable and beautiful geta!

[ancaf33]

Thanks :D

[jessyratfink]

Great tutorial! I've always wanted a pair of these. :)

[ancaf33]

Thanks :D

Well then get on and make them ! :D

[Conker-X]

I saw a guy wearing a pair of these in Geneva.

He was over six feet tall and wearing a rucksack at the time - I was so impressed, I took a sneaky photo of his feet, just in case I ever decided to make a pair.

>K<

[ancaf33]

:D I know i think it is one of the best pair of sandals you can have :P