Flat track racers slide their left boot along the dirt through turns, almost like a ski on the surface. That chews through a boot sole in no time, and a foot that catches the track can spoil a slide. A metal over-boot slider deals with both problems at once: it guards the sole against rapid wear and keeps the foot from digging into the track.
Handmade Extreme built one from 2mm thick 304 stainless steel, shaped entirely by hand. The sole outline came from tracing a dirt bike boot onto heavy paper, then the base plate was plasma cut from sheet metal. Hammers over steel blocks and a bench vise gave the plate its curvature. Side rim strips were plasma cut and TIG welded around the perimeter, and the contoured toe cap plus the bent heel strap bracket took hammer shaping, localized heating with a handheld gas torch, drilling and TIG welding.
Two details stand out to me. The toe carries a decorative brogue-style hole pattern, laid out with a stencil, center punched and drilled. And the whole thing, welds and outer surfaces included, was ground smooth and buffed to a mirror polish before being tested for fit with the boot.
There is still work ahead. The maker plans to apply hard-facing material to the bottom with an oxy-acetylene torch later, and to use thinner gauge metal on the sides to cut weight. On materials, the maker noted that a polymer option might have issues with wear rate, and believes a bit of friction is good to give the rider more 'feel'. That friction question seems like the open one worth watching as the design moves on.
Project by Handmade Extreme. Watch it on their YouTube channel: